The Biden-Harris administration announced Dec. 6 it intends to invest as much as $72 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to expand the Industrial Assessment Centers (IAC) program and create Building Training Assessment Centers (BTAC).
The funds will help establish up to five regional Centers of Excellence while also creating new IACs at trade schools, union training programs and community colleges, according to a Department of Energy press release. The funds will also support new BTACS which will promote energy efficiency and emission reductions in commercial and institutional buildings.
“One way that DOE is investing in the next generation of workers who will lead our clean energy transition is by creating training opportunities at community colleges, trade schools and union programs,” said Secretary of Energy, Jennifer Granholm. “The president’s agenda is allowing DOE to expand our collaboration with education centers across the country to train a clean energy workforce that is diverse, qualified, and prepared to position America as a global leader in clean energy manufacturing.”
Nearly $19 million is available for establishing the Centers of Excellence which will be selected from the highest-performing existing IACs, the release stated. The selected centers will serve as regional hubs for the IAC program and will advise other IACs, collaborate with government and various agencies. Applications are due by Feb. 17, 2023.
The DOE also announced $54 million will be invested in future funding opportunities to create IACs and BTACs, the release stated.
The IAC Program has trained energy engineers with free, hands-on assessments in small and medium sized manufacturing facilities for more than 40 years, according to the release. Since it was created, the program has provided about 20,000 assessments, which makes up more than 90% of the manufacturing base in the United States. The IACs are at 37 universities spanning 28 states.
The IACs normally result in $130,000 in potential annual savings for each manufacturer assessed, the release stated.
