Mesalands gets Xcel grant

Mesalands Community College plans to use a $25,000 grant from Xcel Energy for scholarships to attract more students to the institute's wind energy program.

"This money will create scholarship opportunities for those interested enrolling on our wind energy program," said Jim Morgan, director of the North American Wind Research and Training Center.

Morgan and Mesalands Interim President Natalie Gillard, received the grant on May 8 from David Essex, Xcel's manager for Community and Economic Development, at the wind center.

Morgan said the grant will help in creating another incentive to those enrolling in the program. He said the scholarships will help with the cost of students who enroll from across the country. Along with the addition of the off campus apartments students have more incentive to come to Mesalands, Morgan added.

"We appreciate all of the support that Xcel has shown the college in the past," Gillard said.

Gillard said there is a high success rate for graduates of Mesalands' wind programs finding employment in the wind energy field. She said Mesalands offers students options including occupational certificates that can be earned in a short period of time or a two-year associates degree.

"The students educated and trained at the North American Wind Research and Training Center are hybrids," Morgan said.

Morgan said the students learn multiple skills, including hydraulics, electronics and engineering. He said a student can go on to a successful career in wind energy or they could find employment in other fields with their skill set.

"This grant will help promote Mesalands wind energy program, a unique program located in Tucumcari," said Mayor Ruth Ann Litchfield.

Litchfield said Xcel's continued support of local entities, organizations and facilities helps in regional growth.

The grant to Mesalands is part of Xcel's support of the training of wind energy technicians, said Mike McLeod, Xcel Energy's New Mexico regional manager for Community and Economic Development.

McLeod said Xcel wants to continue a strong relationship with Mesalands to develop possible partnerships for future training and employment opportunities. He said Xcel is planning to construct two large wind farms in Texas and New Mexico in 2019 and 2020.

One of the farms, the Sagamore Wind Project will be built near in Roosevelt County. The construction of the 522-megawatt facility that will be the largest wind energy facility in New Mexico when it is completed.

McLeod said the Roosevelt County farm is a part of a 1,230-megawatt wind energy expansion for New Mexico and Texas. He said the proposal also includes construction of the 478-megawatt Hale Wind Project near Plainview, Texas, which would be operational in 2019.

"The support for Mesalands' training program is one way to ensure there will be enough skilled labor to maintain the facilities after they are built," McLeod said.

McLeod said that graduates of Mesalands' wind program have employment opportunities all across the United States. He said during the construction of the near-by wind farm, Xcel could create an unique training opportunity for Mesalands students. He said through a partnership there could be a program developed to have the students get 'hands on' experience with the turbines as they are constructed.

"This also helps create opportunities for those local, regional students to find work close to home," McLeod said.