CSU creates school to train workers for growing environmental movement

Gargi Chakrabarty

Originally published 12:29 p.m., July 22, 2008
Updated 09:23 p.m., July 22, 2008

Brian Lehmann / The Rocky

Jon Seibert, 19, an intern for Solix Biofuels, cleans algae containment units near the Engines and Energy Conversion Laboratory at Colorado State University.

Colorado State University is banking that the green movement is here to stay, announcing plans Tuesday for a unique school to train green collar workers.

The school, at CSU's Fort Collins campus, will be called the School of Global Environmental Sustainability. It will cater to students from various disciplines keen to hone their skills for the nation's growing green industry.

"This is the next logical step in CSU's efforts to find unique ways to become more engaged in the economic vitality of the state," said Joe Blake, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce's president and CEO. "From a business perspective, there is now so much active interest in sustainability."

Companies have long worried about the availability of a qualified green work force, prompting economic development officials to try to come up with solutions.

The issue is particularly troubling since Colorado is competing with states such as Texas, Michigan and Ohio to attract green jobs in the wind, solar and biofuels industries.

Danish wind company Vestas - which is building manufacturing facilities in Windsor that will employ hundreds of workers - has discussed the issue with the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.

Solar companies Abengoa and Ascent Solar Technologies plan to hire scores of Front Range workers in the coming years for their local operations. Industries such as real estate, construction and manufacturing also are looking at sustainable business practices.

"With the recent growth in the solar industry, it is challenging to find skilled scientists or engineers in renewable sciences. These skills are in great demand," said Brian Blackman with Ascent Solar. "It is great to see a local university like CSU establish a school to directly address the supply-side of the talent pool."

CSU Provost Tony Frank said a detailed curricula for the new school has not been determined, but it would span issues such as water, environmental entrepreneurship and public policy. The school will begin offering certificates to students from other disciplines within the first year. Graduate and undergraduate programs would be offered in 2010.

"If we design the certificates correctly, listening to private and business partners, students from this school will become what the new energy industry will be interested in having," Frank said.

Based on feedback from faculty members, Frank said he expects several hundred faculty members from various departments to become affiliated with the school. The school intends to hire professors and researchers - some of whom would work at the school, he added.

Frank also said he didn't know how many students would be initially affiliated or eventually enrolled at the school.

CSU President Larry Penley said environmental researcher Diana Wall will serve as founding director of the school.

In its first academic year from fall 2008 through spring 2009, the school will have funding of $350,000, which will recur annually. CSU hopes to raise $100 million for an endowment over the next 10 years.

CSU graduate student Karen Seaver, 30, of Pennsylvania, said she plans to pursue a doctorate program at the new school. A biology student who joined CSU last summer, Seaver said the school would be the best fit, given her career goal to become a teacher.

"In my career, I have been taking science classes but I'd like to have a broader perspective, maybe take classes in public policy," she said. "I tried, but it is really hard to find a suitable program - it doesn't exist at graduate level. But in the light of this new school, I am considering doing a Ph.D. here."

chakrabartyg@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2976

Energy spike

* There were 104 renewable- energy companies in the seven-county metro area in 2004. Last year, that number jumped to 1,010, although the geographical area increased to include Weld and Larimer counties.

* Colorado ranked 10th among the 50 states in renewable-energy employment with 15,400 workers in 2007 - up 2.6 percent from the previous year, surpassing the nationwide growth of 2.1 percent.

• July 23, 2008

  7:13 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  athought writes:

  Why is this school necessary?!? Couldn't a "green" option be given to the chemical engineering and mechanical engineering students instead? I wonder if this is little more than the science equivalent of urban studies (a degree program already covered by sociology).

• July 23, 2008

  9:04 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  TonyB writes:

  There's lots of algae in Ferril Lake down here at City Park. Tell CSU to come down with rakes and scuba gear and get it.