Community College Energy Training Act of 2017

Community College Energy Training Act of 2017

This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE), in coordination with the Departments of Labor and Agriculture (USDA), to create a joint program under which the Departments award grants to community colleges to provide workforce training and education in sustainable energy industries and practices, such as: (1) clean energy; (2) high-performance green building construction, design, and redevelopment; (3) sustainable energy technologies; (4) water, energy, and resource conservation; (5) recycling and waste reduction; and (6) sustainable agriculture and farming.

DOE, Labor, and USDA must:

• ensure that at least one-half of the grant funds are awarded to community colleges with existing sustainability programs leading to certificates, credentials, or degrees in such industries or practices; and
• give priority to community colleges that plan to use the grant to carry out programs developed and maintained through consultation with such industries and practices.