Energy technology programs growing at Idaho State University

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Story Published: Jul 1, 2009 at 6:04 PM MDT

Story Updated: Jul 1, 2009 at 7:12 PM MDT

By Wes Horrocks

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POCATELLO - We've told before about classes that have been cut at Idaho State University because of budget problems, but we've learned that when it comes to energy technology things are actually growing.

Whether its testing valves, or learning how to build a circuit to run a power plant the Energy Systems Technology and Education Center can show you how it's done.

And with growing interest in alternative energy more people are needed. Scott Rasmussen, ESTEC Executive Director said, "We're looking at somewhere around 30,000 technicians in order to make that happen."

This Fall ESTEC will offer a Mechanical Engineering Technology and a Wind Engineering Technology program.

A $2.6 million grant from the Department of Labor and the National Science Foundation is helping pay for the new classes. Rasmussen said, "This entire Energy Systems Technology and Education Center from the very onset has seemed to gain favor with so many different entities."

And that favor can especially be seen in starting salaries. Most people who finish the two-year program are looking at jobs that pay $50,000 a year. Chris Guthrie, Partner's for Prosperity Community Development Specialist said, "There are a lot more people unemployed and there are a lot more people entering the poverty level. So it is more important to have more programs to be able to connect to different people."

And in the future administrators hope to see ESTEC continue expanding.

They're already working on putting together classes for people interested in working with nuclear energy. Guthrie said, "It's exciting and it just opens more doors for more people."

The two new programs will allow about 40 additional students to attend ESTEC.

A new teacher will also be hired to teach in the Wind Energy Technology program.

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