The Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH) and Lakes Region Community College (LRCC) received approval for a $1.2 million Training for Residential Energy Contractors (TREC) grant from the New Hampshire Executive Council to meet workforce needs for energy contractors. A $32.4 million contract with Everblue, also approved by the Governor and Executive Council, will support the implementation of the Home Energy Rebate’s (HERs) Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) program in New Hampshire, while LRCC will lead the TREC training, working in close coordination with Everblue on programs that are expected to continue through 2029.
For many rural New Hampshire households that rely on high-cost fuels, electrification with cold-climate heat pumps as well as other energy-efficiency measures are expected to significantly reduce overall residential energy costs.
“This is an opportunity to build and deliver an impactful program,” said Patrick Cate, president of LRCC. “These initiatives will truly benefit everyone involved – from the training participants who will learn new skills, to their employers who will be able to provide additional services to customers, to the homeowners saving money on their energy bills. And the program includes substantial tuition awards and support for TREC participants.”
As part of this program, LRCC will develop specific career training pathways for key positions, such as heat pump and electrification specialists. In addition to LRCC courses, the college will work with manufacturers and distributors to provide advanced training pathways for heat pump installers and similar technical positions. A core TREC offering will be “Home Energy Rebates Advisor” trainings that will enable contractors to integrate HEAR rebates with their energy, HVAC or electrical work.
“The TREC program will also support participants and their employers with business and soft skills trainings,” explained Andy Duncan, LRCC energy training coordinator. “As part of its implementation strategy, LRCC will work throughout New Hampshire with other community colleges in New Hampshire, as well as organizations and trade groups that support residential energy efficiency workforce development.”
The Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH) and Lakes Region Community College (LRCC) received approval for a $1.2 million Training for Residential Energy Contractors (TREC) grant from the New Hampshire Executive Council to meet workforce needs for energy contractors.
UNH is creating a hub for collaboration with business and government
Tom Hayes, ‘87, former CEO of Ocean Spray, will deliver the commencement address at the University of New Hampshire undergraduate ceremonies on May 16. A respected leader in the food industry, with more than three decades of experience guiding major consumer brands, Hayes will offer words of inspiration to the class of ‘26.
Keene State College’s (KSC) Safety and Construction Sciences programs recently hosted a three-day summit that brought students, faculty, alumni and industry leaders from across the country to address the future of the occupational safety profession and the growing demand for qualified safety professionals.
The board of directors of the Education Alliance for New Hampshire (EANH) has voted unanimously to close the organization’s operations following the loss of significant federal funding that has historically supported its core college access programs, the organization said in a press release.
EDUCATION By: Tim Winkeler In New Hampshire, and across America, it is not easy to find a job. From artificial intelligence to economic uncertainty, job-seekers are struggling to find not only specific careers, but also broader career paths that will…
The availability of affordable yet well-maintained housing has become a perennial issue in New Hampshire communities and in the New Hampshire Legislature. While local and state policies and programs may open pathways to increased housing opportunities, policies alone won’t create new housing or keep existing homes in safe and livable condition.
Property taxes pay for 70% of public education costs in NH
In a tour of New Hampshire ahead of this year’s elections, former U.S. transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg spoke in favor of increasing government support for child care in a roundtable discussion at the Granite YMCA in Concord.
