The Western Iowa Tech Community College (WITCC) is planning to expand its wind energy technician program first time after being there for around one year. There have been eighty Wind related companies are being set up in the state till now says Iowa Wind Energy Association and many new jobs have been taken place because of the supply of wind and the wind energy industry. At present 25 students have entered into the program and WIT is planning for the future due to the growth of wind energy in northwest Iowa.
The college has joined the Cherokee Area Economic Development Corporation to make the program enter the Cherokee which is located at Sioux City at present but the activity in Iowa’s wind industry is much closer to Cherokee say officials. Dr. Robert Dunker, the Western Iowa Tech president said this decision will benefit the Cherokee community and the college and they are also planning to get a wind turbine for economic development.
Dunker said the wind turbine will help their students and wind technician programs. Cherokee Economic Development is searching a place and wind maps for 1.4 megawatt full-sized turbine. Along with the energy transmission line in Iowa it is time for them to get ready for wind energy growth say Cherokee leaders. Mark Buschkamp, the executive director of Cherokee Area Economic Development Corp said this will an advantage their community as there are many benefits they have analyzed.
The Western Iowa Tech must be able to develop a new facility and also find out housing in Cherokee in program for the students. The projects are mainly depends on USDA from whom Cherokee Economic Development has requested the study and USDA can provide grants if the study comes out positively. Buschkamp expects everything to be ready by late 2012 if it goes as per their plan. The Iowa Lakes Community College in Estherville which started with 15 students has got 150 today including 7 instructor. The college offers technology turbine and wind energy program from fall of 2004.
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