Staff Reports, Bakersfield Californian

The Kern Community College District will train technicians for wind and solar jobs in Kern County thanks to a grant from the California Clean Energy Workforce Training Program.

The college district received a $766,000 grant from the workforce training program, the largest of its kind in the nation, according to a press release.

Training programs will take place at Bakersfield College, Cerro Coso Community College, Porterville College and Taft College.

"This region will generate over half the electricity needed to reach California's goal of 33 percent of the renewable electricity by the year 2020," John Means, associate chancellor for economic and workforce development, said in a release.

Labor market data indicates 2,000 new wind and solar jobs paying $16 to $23 per hour will be created over the next five years in the region, according to the college district.

The first training classes begin Jan. 1, 2010; the grant runs through March 2011.