WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Herb Kohl announced that the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development will receive a $6 million grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's State Energy Sector Partnership and Training grant award. This grant will increase green job training programs and expand apprenticeships in Rock and Kenosha counties, where employment has been hard hit by auto industry restructuring. Senator Kohl voted in favor of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act when it came before the US Senate last year.    

"Green energy job training is a solid path to the future for skilled workers who have lost their jobs or are employed in struggling industries," Kohl said. "This grant funding allows people to obtain new job skills while at the same time working to expand clean energy programs and initiatives through out the state."  

According to the Department of Labor, the grant will allow the Wisconsin Sector Alliance for the Green Economics (SAGE) project to provide green skills training in construction, manufacturing, and smart grid utility occupations within the energy sector. This will create new apprenticeship programs such as Weatherization Technician, Energy Auditor, and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator. It will enhance several existing apprenticeship programs including Sheet Metal Worker, Steamfitter, Construction Electrician, Electric Metering, Electric Line Worker, and Substation Electrician to prepare workers for long term careers working in the Smart Grid industry to incorporate renewable energy skills and green manufacturing training.    

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