Klamath Falls, Oregon – A new federal funding package will help Oregon play a bigger part in the changing energy landscape of the United States. The Oregon Institute of Technology will get $1.123 million to boost research, education, and training for workers in next-generation energy systems.
The Energy and Water Appropriations bill provides the funds. Its goal is to help the domestic energy sector deal with worker shortages while also boosting broader economic growth and national energy security.
U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley supported the initiative, which helped get more than $100 million for community-focused projects throughout Oregon.
Some of that money will now travel to Oregon Tech’s campuses in Klamath Falls and the Portland metropolitan area. There, new and expanded programs will focus on making hydrogen, solar and solar-thermal technologies, innovative battery systems, and storing energy for long periods of time.
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Naga Korivi, who is the chair of the university’s Electrical Engineering and Renewable Energy Department, will be in charge of the project. He said that Oregon Tech’s long history of combining energy and engineering education puts the school in a good position to create an interdisciplinary model that combines classroom learning with real-world manufacturing knowledge and applied research.
The program should assist speed up the development of new technology for producing energy at home and get students ready for jobs in an industry that is evolving quickly.
University President Nagi Naganathan said in an official release that the money would help improve both workforce development and applied research capabilities.
“We are grateful to Senators Wyden and Merkley for their steadfast leadership and continued support of advanced energy innovation at Oregon Tech,” Naganathan said.
“This investment strengthens our applied research and workforce development efforts, helping meet critical workforce needs in the domestic energy sector. It will drive economic growth, create quality jobs, and advance solutions that improve the lives of Oregonians and strengthen national energy security.”
The goal of the program is to train graduates who can immediately help with innovative energy production and infrastructure by integrating technical training with real-world research experience. Supporters say this plan will help fill long-term deficiencies in the workforce and keep Oregon at the forefront of domestic energy innovation.
