(Estherville)– Officials with Iowa Lakes Community College say they’ll start offering a program on Wind Turbines a year from now.
President Mike Hupfer tells KUOO news the program will be the first of its kind in the state of Iowa. He says the explosion in the development of wind energy in our area of the state and elsewhere is what led to their interest in the program. Hupfer says the industry offers some good pay as well to those who maintain turbines…up to 65-dollars an hour in some parts of the country.
Hupfer expects there will be a lot of local interest in the program, siting the Flying Cloud Wind Farm just west of Spirit Lake and the development of wind farms in other parts of the region.
Hupfer says the college itself is thinking about erecting wind turbines at its campuses in Estherville and Emmetsburg. He says a feasibility study from an engineer is due back by the holidays. Based on the outcome, he says the college’s board of directors will decide whether to proceed with one or both turbines or none at all.
As far as the new educational program goes, Hupfer says they’ve already received approval from the Iowa Department of Education. He says they’re currently looking for a qualified instructor.
Hupfer says Iowa Lake’s Wind Turbine Course will lead to a two-year Associate in Science Degree.
