Eveleth, MN— Mesabi Range Community & Technical College today announced that it has received an equipment donation valued at $300,000 from Clipper Windpower, a premier U.S. wind turbine manufacturing company. The donation of wind turbine equipment, along with access to the Taconite Ridge Wind Energy Center in Virginia granted by Minnesota Power, provides Mesabi Range with a unique opportunity to prepare technical students for the growing number of green jobs required to meet the demands of the expanding U.S. wind energy market.

The donation, which includes commercial-scale interior wind turbine components, provides Mesabi Range’s Wind Energy Technician students with hands-on learning experiences that help to teach critical troubleshooting and maintenance skills.

According to Dan Janisch, Wind Energy Technician Instructor, "This generous donation will provide students a hands-on opportunity to learn how to troubleshoot and maintain utility-grade turbine equipment. Clipper's donation, along with opportunities provided by Minnesota Power for our students to utilize and access the company’s Taconite Ridge Wind Energy Center in Virginia for learning opportunities, makes our program unique in the nation. We would not have been able to launch this program in this manner without the strong support of Clipper and Minnesota Power.”

“We are pleased and proud to support this worthwhile educational effort,” said Dale Betz, Director of Training at Clipper Windpower. “The wind energy industry is projected to grow exponentially over the coming years. Mesabi Range’s leadership in identifying these coming needs and positioning itself as a premier technical trainer is commendable.”

Mesabi Range began its new Wind Energy Technician program this past September, and it currently enrolls seventeen full-time students. Funding for this program was made possible through legislative and Iron Range Resources support. Minnesota State Representative Tom Rukavina, current Chair of the House Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee and a Mesabi Range alum, provided vision and leadership to make this program possible. Mesabi Range has been fortunate to receive much additional support. Clipper has hosted Mesabi Range's instructors at their in-house Turbine Operations Training Course, and Minnesota Power has welcomed the Wind Energy Technician students to their Taconite Ridge Wind Energy Center (located on land owned by United States Steel). "It is our vision to create a world-class renewable energy training center, beginning with wind,” said Dr. Tina Royer, Provost.

The wind industry needs highly-skilled workers. Current students will graduate and move into good jobs in operations and maintenance, construction, and manufacturing. Just as in the past when the Iron Range prospered by helping create the steel industry, now the Iron Range can prosper with renewable energy industries. “The United States is poised to become an exporter of wind components. With our proximity to the port of Duluth and Mesabi Range's training program in place, the Iron Range is uniquely prepared to help create both the parts and the workforce to fuel renewable energy, particularly wind,” said Lisa Janisch, Consultant for Development of Renewable Energy Education and American Wind Energy Association Education Working Group member.

B&K Trucking is donating the shipping via semi from Clipper's Cedar Rapids manufacturing facility, and IMS Inc. and API Electric Company have donated the use of tools.

• Lakeview design prevents infections from spreading , 8/10/2010
• Five artists honored at festival , 8/9/2010
• St. Mary's, Miller-Dwan Auxiliaries Award Scholarships , 8/6/2010
• Hayward Nursery to Continue Production This Year , 8/6/2010
• President Obama congratulates UMD math student UMD, 8/3/2010