In addition to using California Energy Commission funding for equipment purchases and faculty training, colleges funded through the Community College Alternative Fuel and Vehicle Technology Training Enhancement Program developed and modified curriculum in an effort to improve their existing programs and better prepare students for jobs in this growing field. Some of these new and improved courses are already being offered, and others are set to roll out this spring.

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Earlier this fall, California Energy Commission and community college staff visited several colleges that received funding from the Energy Commission for a firsthand look at how those funds were impacting students across southern California.

Members of the Energy Commission, along with CETI Sector Navigator, Peter Davis and Project Manager, Greg Newhouse, visited San Diego Miramar College, Saddleback College, Cerritos College, and Rio Hondo College on October 17 and 18. While there, they discussed topics such as:

• Student recruiting
• Job prospects for students
• Staying engaged with industry
• The future of alternative fuel vehicle training

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Toyota Mirai

Fuel cells are the focus at Los Angeles Trade-Tech College as it prepares to launch a new course in fuel cell vehicle repair.

The college is working with several mass transit systems that utilize fuel cell vehicles in their fleets and is using CEC funding to purchase the equipment necessary to launch the class this spring. Read More →

De Anza Auto Tech Students

De Anza College has relationships with hundreds of dealers and repair shops throughout the Cupertino area.

CEC funding is helping to drive a new program in the area of Clean Natural Gas (CNG) vehicle repair.
Automotive Technology Instructor Randy Bryant said the college recently purchased a CNG truck that will be a great asset to the college’s work training mechanics to repair tow trucks and other heavy-duty equipment. Read More →

Students visit Santa Clara Valley Transit.

Hartnell College is partnering with Santa Clara Valley Transit to train students to work on two new electric buses that are now part of its fleet.

CEC funding is being used to help establish Hartnell as a training and repair facility for the transit system.
Automotive Instructor Pete Escoto said he is excited about what this partnership will bring to the college and its students. Read More →

Here’s a look at how American River College is using CEC funding to make an impact on prospective students in their areas.

The focus at American River College is on fleet operations and large-scale engines, rather than consumer cars. The college used its CEC funding to purchase a CNG tractor cab that it uses as a recruiting tool. Read More →

Here’s a look at how Bakersfield College is using CEC funding to make an impact on prospective students in their areas.

The CEC funding has allowed Bakersfield College to completely change its recruiting focus by creating classes in hybrid technology that it was not previously able to offer. Read More →

Here’s a look at how Cerritos College is using CEC funding to make an impact on prospective students in their areas.

Cerritos College has been so successful in its outreach that the college is looking to hire someone who will be specifically focused on recruiting.

David Roper, an instructor in the college’s automotive department, said those duties are currently split among instructors, who are also being asked to teach more classes to meet increased demand. Read More →