Rhode Island Invests $200,000 in Community College for Heat Pump Training Program
The Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources has allocated $200,000 to the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) to establish a new HVAC and heat-pump training program at its Lincoln Campus. This initiative aims to address the critical shortage of skilled technicians needed to install and maintain heat pumps, a key component of the state's strategy to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 under the 2021 Act on Climate. The grant will fund classroom curriculum development and hands-on lab equipment, focusing on both new entrants and existing technicians. CCRI plans to launch a pre-apprenticeship program for new entrants in summer or fall 2027, covering refrigeration principles, piping, brazing, and cold-climate heating setups. A shorter, 40-hour course for experienced technicians, focusing on inverter technology, commissioning, maintenance, and dual-fuel optimization, is scheduled to roll out by September 2027. Governor Dan McKee has lauded the grant as a 'smart long-term investment' in career pathways for R...