Duke Energy gives $130,000 to extend popular Electrical Line Technician program
The grant will cover Durham Tech student tuition, commercial driver’s license training fees, and other program materials.
(Durham, NC) – Duke Energy is extending its partnership program with Durham Tech and the Electrical Line Technician program.
Duke Energy announced earlier this this month a gift of $129,857 for student tuition, classroom materials, and tools. The gift funds the program through the 2023-24 academic year.
The Electrical Line Technician program began in Spring 2019 at the Northern Durham Center campus after Duke Energy provided nearly $200,000 in grant funding to launch the program.
"There is high demand for the electrical line technician program in our community, and we have a waiting list of students eager to enroll,” said Melissa Chappell, Executive Director of the Durham Tech Foundation. “We are delighted that this grant from Duke Energy will ensure the program continues to produce a pipeline of well-trained workers."
“We rely on the skills and expertise of line workers to power our daily lives and depend on this vital role in maintaining and growing the state’s energy infrastructure,” said Indira Everett, Duke Energy’s government and community relations manager. “We’re pleased to continue our support for Durham Tech’s program to provide training and education opportunities for more future line workers.”
This grant is part of the $5 million Duke Energy/Piedmont Natural Gas Community College Apprenticeship Grant program announced in April 2017.
The apprenticeship grant program was administered by NC Community Foundation and Foundation for the Carolinas. Award decisions were made by a committee of representatives from Duke Energy, NC Community College System and NC Department of Commerce.
Since 2004, Duke Energy has invested $45 million in North Carolina’s Community Colleges, with a focus on technical education and support of business and industry.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Nathan Hardin: Durham Tech Marketing and Communications Director; 919-536-7246, ext. 5206; hardinn@durhamtech.edu
Meredith Archie, Duke Energy; 24-Hour: 800-559-3853
About Durham Technical Community College
Durham Tech provides a high-quality, affordable and convenient technical and career education to more than 18,000 students who want to build lifelong skills, gain career experience, achieve certifications, or begin working toward a bachelor’s degree or university transfer experience.
The school offers more than 100 credential programs under a structure that combines curriculum and continuing education programs to help students enter their career sooner successfully complete their credential. In 2019 alone, the College expanded its program offerings to include cosmetology, culinary arts, and electrical line technician.
For more information, visit www.durhamtech.edu.
About Duke Energy
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of the largest energy holding companies in the U.S. It employs 29,000 people and has an electric generating capacity of 51,000 megawatts through its regulated utilities and 2,300 megawatts through its nonregulated Duke Energy Renewables unit.
Duke Energy is transforming its customers’ experience, modernizing the energy grid, generating cleaner energy and expanding natural gas infrastructure to create a smarter energy future for the people and communities it serves. The Electric Utilities and Infrastructure unit’s regulated utilities serve 7.8 million retail electric customers in six states: North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. The Gas Utilities and Infrastructure unit distributes natural gas to 1.6 million customers in five states: North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The Duke Energy Renewables unit operates wind and solar generation facilities across the U.S., as well as energy storage and microgrid projects.
Duke Energy was named to Fortune’s 2020 “World’s Most Admired Companies” list and Forbes’ “America’s Best Employers” list. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos, videos and other materials. Duke Energy’s illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.