The Connecticut Business & Industry Association is kicking off the second year of it’s Connecticut Clean Trades Program for high school students this week.
The program gives technical high school students a hands-on introduction to careers in the energy industry. Last year students in the program assessed their schools’ energy use. This year they’ll be creating energy-saving solutions for school administrators and bringing their ideas out into the community to facilitate more energy reduction projects.
Technical schools in Danbury, Milford, New Britain and Norwich are participating in the program, which is still in its pilot phase.
Partnering organizations include the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Energize Connecticut, Connecticut Light & Power and United Illuminating.
DEEP Commissioner Daniel C. Esty said the partnership with the schools will make a major impact on the state’s ability to fill green technology jobs with qualified workers.
“Our goal has been to ensure that the people of Connecticut get lower-cost energy, become more energy efficient and become leaders in the push toward a clean energy future,” Esty said in a release. “It’s imperative, then, that we help students understand and prepare for the opportunities created by this fast-growing workforce need.”
