Madison College is leading a Wisconsin Energy Partnership to help small and medium-sized manufacturers reduce their energy footprints.
Madison College, Southwest and Northeast Wisconsin Technical Colleges and the K-12 Energy Education Program at UW Steven’s Point, were awarded a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains Industrial Training and Assessment Center (ITAC) program.
The goal is to bolster small and mid-sized businesses in Wisconsin by reducing energy costs and using new technologies, says Ken Walz, director of the CREATE Energy Center at Madison College.
“We are engaging our clean energy faculty and students to drive energy efficiency in local businesses,” Walz says. “By providing solar photovoltaics, energy storage, and electric vehicle technology, we will deliver actionable recommendations that lead to cost reductions and enhanced competitiveness.”
Wisconsin business owners can apply for the Wisconsin Energy Partnership energy assessment services in early 2025. For more information, contact Walz at 608.246.6521 or kwalz@madisoncollege.edu.
The initiative extends to K-12 schools fostering energy awareness in future generations.
The ITAC initiatives are:
• Innovate Industry Through hands-on, work-based learning, students will bring the latest innovations and best practices to the manufacturing floor. Free, course-based energy site ssessments will jump-start conversations about energy reduction, electrification, and decarbonization. Over three years, the consortium is expected to conduct 39 energy assessments while engaging at least 90 students in high-impact learning.
• Empower the Workforce Through upskill training, manufacturers and industries along the supply chain will arm employees with the tools to implement energy decisions. Topics will range from sensors and cybersecurity to energy analytics and HVAC controls. At least 265 incumbent workers will be upskilled with more than 117 trainings.
• Advance Pathways The group will promote energy career pathways to increase enrollment, focusing on females and special populations. They will launch the “Clean Energy Careers” campaign and hold 39 recruitment events.
The Wisconsin Energy Partnership aims to identify $4.88 million in energy savings, reduce energy use by at least 19.5 million kilowatt hours, and increase enrollment in energy degree programs in the partnering agencies by 25 percent.
Wisconsin manufacturers account for 31 percent of energy use and play a crucial role in Wisconsin’s economic and energy landscape. Recent technology advances and new federal financial incentives for energy infrastructure, make it an ideal time for businesses to improve their operations and strengthen their balance sheets.
Madison, Southwest, and Northeast Wisconsin Technical Colleges will be part of the first cohort of two-year colleges in the country working with the DOE Industry Assessment Center program.
Madison Area Technical College is the lead institution for the CREATE Energy Center funded by the National Science Foundation.
