Merced College will develop classes and training opportunites for students interested in the emerging green-energy industry thanks to a national grant that includes the San Joaquin Valley campus.

The college is one of nine schools in California picked to share a $3 million National Science Foundation grant. Merced College will receive $81,000 annually for four years for curriculum development, technical support, supplies and assistance.

College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita received the grant through its innovative California Regional Consortium for Engineering Advances in Technological Education (CREATE) program, which will provide technical help to Merced College and the others.

The other participating schools are Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, College of the Canyons, Santa Barbara City College, Cerro Coso in Ridgecrest, Pierce College in Woodland Hills. In addition, Oxnard College, Porterville Community College and Lompoc High School are included.

Together, they will establish a regional "renewable energy center" to create training programs.

In Merced, the new center will work in conjunction with the college's established and expanding Industrial Technologies program, said James Andersen, dean of Career Technical Education and Agriculture.

The school also will create a "Green Council" of business representatives to help shepherd curriculum development.

(Photo by mccd.edu)