The need to reduce our dependence on out-of-state sources of energy coupled with rapidly changing energy technologies requires Chippewa Valley Technical College to transform our current energy related technician programs.
Energy Education Impacts Everyone
CVTC positively impacts students, businesses, and our community. The Energy Education Center is a 54,000 squarefoot expansion and renovation project including much needed classrooms and labs. The Energy Education Center, equipped with state-of-the-art training and demonstration technologies, will allow CVTC to address the changing employment needs of the energy technology sector.
The Energy Education Center will:
- Provide training to industries (employees/future employees) on energy technology to reduce costs, increase efficiency, and incorporate renewable energy,
- Supply the workforce needed in the energy technology sector,
- Spur innovation and application of energy technology in the local business community,
- Establish partnerships with area industries to find solutions to their energy issues now allowing business to expand while providing a skilled workforce to meet the growing needs of industry,
- Update CVTC facilities, laboratories, equipment and skills in the rapidly advancing energy technologies.
Energy Technology
The Energy Education Center will focus on energy technology in three areas including Energy Generation, Energy Distribution, and Efficient Utilization/Conservation.
Energy Generation
- Geothermal: using heat from the earth’s core to mitigate heating and cooling costs
- Bioenergy: utilization of once living material to produce energy
- Anaerobic digestion — using waste products from agricultural & other industries to create energy, reduce impact of waste to the environment, and reduce energy costs
- Biofuels — using energy crops such as canola to produce gas and diesel
- Biomass — using plant mass to produce energy
- Wind, Water, Solar: sources of energy for heat and/or electricity
Energy Distribution
- Electrical Power Distribution: electrical power transmission
- Smart Grid Technologies – two way communication between power source and power user, more efficient and more reliable energy “grid”
- Distributed Energy Generation – generating power near the source of use
Efficient Utilization/Conservation
- Efficient Building Design & Construction: energy efficient homes/buildings
- Sustainable Facilities Operations: best use of energy resources with least waste
- Local food production: reducing the carbon footprint of the food supply
- Precision Agriculture: reduced environmental risks & more efficient production