Exploration for Wind Energy Careers Pilot

The Exploration in Wind Energy Careers Pilot pathway project introduced participants to career pathways in offshore wind and renewable energy through a structured, hands-on approach that combined education, career awareness, and faculty development. Led by Atlantic Cape Community College and Rowan College of South Jersey, the project expanded upon a workshop originally developed by Middlesex College to bring the Exploration in Wind Energy Careers Workshop into a face-to-face learning format.

The non-credit workshop guided participants through three interconnected modules—Energy Careers, Introduction to Wind Energy, and Renewable Energy 101—each designed to foster awareness of job opportunities in the wind sector and inspire students to explore career pathways in this high-demand field. The workshops emphasized the impact of renewable energy on the environment, the state’s vision for clean energy, and practical steps for learners to align their academic and professional interests with emerging opportunities in offshore wind.

Educators also received professional development resources to support curriculum integration and effective delivery of wind energy content in classrooms, laying the groundwork for long-term scalability across institutions. While local challenges such as low visibility of immediate job opportunities briefly affected workshop engagement, participating colleges responded with future-focused messaging and plans for expanded programming in the coming year.

This project not only increased awareness of offshore wind energy careers but also helped inspire student enrollment in related training programs, such as Rowan College of South Jersey’s Wind Power Ready Program—the first Wind Turbine Technician program in New Jersey. The pilot represents a critical early step in establishing a sustainable talent pipeline to support New Jersey’s clean energy goals.