Cape Fear Community College, a North Carolina-based two-year college, received a grant of $200,000 for its Power Line Technician Program.
The grant by Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas will be used to provide training through the technician program. It will also cover the tuition fee and costs of equipment for the course.
“There is a tremendous need for power line technicians in our region,” CFCC President Jim Morton said.
“We are very pleased to be working with Duke Energy to offer this training program for our area. This partnership will help us provide highly-trained employees to meet industry demands in this lucrative field. The college is excited to connect students with this opportunity.”
Duke’s President David Fountain believes that the partnership with the community college will cultivate training and education opportunities for line workers of the future.
“We rely on the skills and expertise of line workers to power our daily lives and depend on this vital role in maintaining and growing the state’s energy infrastructure,” he said.
The grant extended by Duke is part of its $35 million investment in North Carolina’s Community Colleges to put more focus on technical education.