OVERLAND PARK, Kan.— On March 25, the Kansas Department of Commerce notified Johnson County Community College of an award of $82,000 in Workforce Solutions Funds to assist the college in the implementation of a solar electric photovoltaic training program.
    JCCC will use the funds to support and develop a program over the next two years to train workers to install and service solar panels for electric generation. According to Jay Antle, executive director, JCCC Center for Sustainability, the increasing demand for renewable energy is, in turn, increasing the demand for people with expertise in PV application.
    “As solar technology improves, traditional coal-powered energy prices go up, and state and federal government solar tax credits increase, there will be more and more people required to configure, mount and maintain solar electric systems — from small private homes to large commercial operations,” Antle said.
    The Kansas Department of Commerce administers the Workforce Solutions Fund to help postsecondary workforce training institutions throughout the state respond more effectively to the workforce training needs of critical industries in Kansas. Funds are strategically invested into projects designed to enhance Kansas post-secondary institutions’ training services and/or training capacity for the benefit of Kansas companies.