As you might expect, the facility that houses the Electrical Trades Institute of Northeast Ohio is one of the greenest, most energy-efficient buildings around, with geo-thermal heating and cooling systems, and lights that turn on or off when people enter or exit a room.
Now, thanks to a $50,000 grant from the WEAN Foundation, work will begin to install 36 solar panels, and a wind turbine, right outside the building.
"They'll create 5,000 watts of power during the day. Then at night and during the day, the wind turbine behind us here will be able to create 1,800 watts continuously, if the wind's blowing," says Mark Catello, Business Manager for IBEW Local #573.
More than just conserving energy, this project is a tremendous training tool, so skilled workers can learn how to install similar systems right here in the Valley and around the country.
"They're going to school at night after they're working, on their own time, and they're taking this training, so within a month when this starts to go up and starts operating, this is just going to be a model," explains Catello.
National, state and local leaders were there to kick-off the project, along with Congressman Tim Ryan, who says billions of dollars in private investment and stimulus money are waiting on the sidelines.
"And as this all comes together, I think as people start really investing into green energy, we're going to see a real shot in the arm for old-school manufacturing, but also the research and development right here in our community," says Congressman Ryan.
So with a trained skilled workforce, facilities like this, and the growing demand to go green-- these folks say the future looks bright for our Valley.
