Groundbreaking Today For MPTC Energy Education Center In Beaver Dam

Moraine Park Technical College officials will be breaking ground this afternoon at their Beaver Dam campus for an Energy Education Center. Fred Dean is the Dean of Applied Technology and Trades for Moraine Park. He says there are a number of utilities like WE Energies, Alliant Energy, Madison Gas and Electric and Wisconsin Public Service backing the center. There are also private companies like Michels Corporation who have employee needs. He says a number of private contractors also do installation and repair. He says with retirements and an aging infrastructure there is a need for staff to fill those requirements. MPTC President Bonnie Baerwald says the center and equipment that will go into it represent a $2.3 million investment. She says thanks to their donors they are able to make this happen now rather than later. The Gas Utility Construction and Technician technical diploma will take a year for a student to complete. Construction of the center is expected to start early next month. The public is welcome to the groundbreaking, which starts at 4 p.m.