CNC machining student in the lab atNortheast Wisconsin Technical College campus in Green Bay. (Photo courtesy of NWTC)
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) is partnering with other colleges to identify energy savings and reduce energy use in the manufacturing industry.
“What we found is a lot of really large manufacturers have people on staff that are working on their energy efficiency because that’s a huge cost to manufacturers. Some of the small and medium size manufacturers don’t have those resources,” said Amy Knox, NWTC’s Dean of Trades & Engineering.
NWTC with Southwest Wisconsin Technical College (SWTC) received a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to lead the Wisconsin Energy Partnership (WEP) project.
This is the first time the DOE program has been extended to technical and community colleges.
The WEP aims to identify $4.88 million in energy savings, reduce energy use by at least 19.5 million kilowatt hours, and help manufacturers adopt cleaner energy practices.
The project focuses on three key initiatives:
- Innovate Industry. Through hands-on, work-based learning, students will bring the latest innovations and best practices right to the manufacturing. floor. Free, course-based energy site assessments will jump-start conversations about energy reduction, electrification, and decarbonization. Over three years, the consortium plans to conduct 30 energy assessments and engage at least 90 students in high-impact learning.
- Empower the Workforce. Energy considerations are increasingly complex as the world electrifies and digitizes. Through upskilling programs, manufacturers and industries along the supply chain will equip employees with tools to make informed energy decisions. Topics will range from sensors and cybersecurity to energy analytics and HVAC controls. At least 200 incumbent workers will be upskilled with tailored training to fit industry needs
- Advance Pathways. The biggest concern among Wisconsin employers is the lack of qualified and available workforce with energy expertise. The group will address this by promoting energy career pathways to increase enrollment, with a focus on women and underrepresented populations. They will launch the “Clean Energy Careers” campaign and hold recruitment events to engage these communities.
With the help of a project manager, students will use the skills they’re learning in the classroom to evaluate a company’s energy efficiency. They’ll look at everything from airflow and lighting to energy bills.
Then, armed with that information, the Wisconsin Energy Partnership program can offer suggestions to companies on how they can improve their efficiency – potentially offering new methods or equipment too. Education would be an extension of the survey.
Knox said, “If we provide them this new technology or something or give them recommendations to implement a new technology and then they implement it or they don’t know how to control it or how to maintain it, then that’s a loss. So, the second leg of the grant is to really give them some education and to make sure their existing staff knows how to use it and how to maintain the piece.”
With more than a thousand small to medium manufacturers in the region, finding companies willing to open their doors to the Wisconsin Energy Partnership program shouldn’t be a problem at all.
“By helping manufacturers make the most of their resources and adopt new technologies, we’re not just addressing immediate needs—we’re ensuring the long-term success of our local workforce and industry,” said Ann Franz, Executive Director of Northeast Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance (NEWMA).
She added, “Giving companies this type of resource really helps them and it’s one of those things that they sometimes overlook. They’re so busy making the widget that this is an opportunity to say hey have you ever thought of this and we have a solution.”
Wisconsin’s manufacturers are responsible for 31% of the state’s energy use. The industry is poised to play a significant role in achieving the state’s net-zero energy goals.
For more information, contact Alex Lange at 920-498-7126 or alexander.lange@NWTC.edu
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