Faces of Wind: Nunez Community College Pioneers Wind Energy Workforce Development in Louisiana
“With my family, it wasn’t in the cards for me to travel to find a wind program, so Louisiana and Nunez are giving us a great opportunity to work in wind energy.”
-Donald Lofton, Student
Image Courtesy of Worldview Films
The path to offer an Associate's Degree in Wind Energy Technology in Louisiana began in 2016 after the completion of America’s first offshore wind farm, Block Island. “The decision for Nunez Community College to create a Wind Turbine Technician program came on the heels of a visit by our Leadership team to Block Island to study their offshore wind industry and its impact to the state of Rhode Island. Louisiana has historically been an energy state and we learned that Louisiana's industries and expertise played a critical role in developing Block Island. The visit illuminated the fact that we are in a rapidly evolving energy economy,” Dr. Tinney, Chancellor of the Nunez Community College, explains.
Leadership at Nunez met Energy Innovation on the Block Island trip, and years later, they reconnected to develop a wind energy workforce curriculum. “As a vital part of our region, our college is uniquely positioned to lead in workforce innovation,” adds Dr Tinney, “We have an obligation to develop training programs that create a workforce not just for today, but for tomorrow. We are proud of the partners and opportunities that are defining our newly launched Sustainable Energy Career Academy because we are not just responding to change —we’re driving it.”
In Fall 2024, after passing inspections by Global Wind Organisation (GWO) auditors and representatives of Energy Innovation, Nunez Community College began admitting students to its new Wind Energy Technology program, becoming the first community college to offer this degree in both Louisiana and the Southeastern United States as a whole.
Leveraging Current Offshore Curriculum
During the wind energy curriculum development, it was realized that much of Nunez’s existing offshore curriculum could be leveraged. For example, their programs in Industrial Technology, Process Technology, and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) already cover many foundational skills that are transferable to wind energy, such as electrical systems, hydraulics, and safety protocols. This enables Nunez to tailor its Wind Energy Technology program to meet industry needs efficiently, while ensuring that students acquire specialized skills for both onshore and offshore wind careers.
“So far, the Wind Energy Technology program at Nunez Community College has been great. It’s a small program, so there’s a lot of interaction with the instructors and program coordinator, Kat Bell, who is just super awesome! With the world increasingly turning towards sustainable, renewable energy, I want to be part of the future. And wind turbines will definitely be part of the future.”
-John Tsai, Student
Image Courtesy of Worldview Films
Program Accessibility & Structure
Nunez designed a flexible program to accommodate students who work full time. Hands-on training is concentrated on one day per week, allowing students to balance work and education. The curriculum also meets the Global Wind Organisation standards. GWO is a non-profit dedicated to standardizing the training and development of the wind industry workforce globally. The organization is recognized as the leading global body for wind industry certifications. Graduates from certified training providers, like Nunez, can work worldwide.
Scholarships & Affordability
Nunez was awarded over $300,000 by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to fund 20 full scholarships for the program. No application is required; students simply need to enroll in the Associate of Science—Wind Energy Technology Program. Students who have never earned a Bachelor’s degree and meet income-based criteria also qualify for Pell Grants.
Facility Upgrades & Industry Partnerships
Working at Heights training structure.
Image Courtesy of Worldview Films.
Nunez has invested heavily in state-of-the-art training facilities and staff, including:
A scaffolding structure for Working at Heights training
A smokehouse for Fire Awareness drills
A mock nacelle for Advanced Rescue Training
A dedicated student lab with 20 computers for wind energy coursework
4 Instructors Trained to be GWO-certified teachers
More upgrades are also planned for the future, like an Advanced Rescue Training Trainer with an improved climbing station and shipping containers for visible roadside training displays.
Building Louisiana’s Wind Workforce
Nunez Community College isn’t just preparing students for today’s jobs—it’s shaping the future of energy in Louisiana. By leveraging the state’s oil and gas expertise and aligning with global wind standards, Nunez ensures that graduates are at the forefront of this once-in-a-generation economic opportunity.
First Cohort Graduates 2026
Students in the first cohort, like John Tsai and Donald Lofton, are grateful for the opportunity to work in the wind industry and are excited to graduate next year.
“So far, the Wind Energy Technology program at Nunez Community College has been great,” John said, “ It’s a small program, so there’s a lot of interaction with the instructors and program coordinator, Kat Bell, who is just super awesome! With the world increasingly turning towards sustainable, renewable energy, I want to be part of the future. And wind turbines will definitely be part of the future.”
“With my family, it wasn’t in the cards for me to travel to find a wind program, so Louisiana and Nunez are giving us a great opportunity to work in wind energy,” shares Donald.
Nunez is currently accepting applications for summer and fall enrollment. Summer classes start on June 2nd, but new students are required to attend orientation either virtually on May 28 or in-person June 3rd.
Reach out to wind@nunez.edu for more information on the program and scholarship information.
