Grant Will Boost Training for Wind Turbine Blade Repair

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Federal Department of Labor funds will be used to develop curriculum at Clackamas Community College to train local people to repair the rotor blades on giant wind turbines. The college will receive a $30,000 grant from the Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development grant, part of a $5 million grant aimed at growing the regional workforce.

CCC will develop several courses for hands-on training for blade repair technicians. The curriculum will likely lead to national certification for blade repair technicians through the American Composites Manufacturing Association, according to Gayle O’Toole, project coordinator in CCC’s Customized Training and Development Services.

“We’re building a new program to address an emerging need – growing jobs in a new area,” O’Toole said. “We are not aware of another community college in the country that is offering this program.”

CCC will work closely with Miles Fiberglass and Composites in southeast Portland. Miles started working with companies in the wind industry about three years ago, training technicians to travel around the country to repair wind turbine blades. The need for the repair technicians at Miles is expected to increase by 30 to 40 percent in the next year, according to Lori Luchak, president of Miles Fiberglass.

For more information, please contact Gayle O’Toole at 503-657-6958, ext. 3548.