Lake Michigan College

April 30, 2008

BENTON TOWNSHIP, MI - To address the projected shortage of energy industry professionals, Lake Michigan College will launch a new Energy Production Technology degree program this fall in collaboration with D.C. Cook Nuclear Plant in Bridgman and Palisades Power Plant in Covert.

The College and energy industry experts will host free information sessions about the program for prospective students on Saturday, May 17, at the LMC Mendel Center on the Napier Avenue campus, from 9 a.m. to noon; and on Wednesday, June 11, at the LMC South Haven campus from 6 - 9 p.m.  Representatives from LMC, D.C. Cook Nuclear Plant and Palisades Power Plant will be on hand at both sessions to answer questions about the program, as well as about career opportunities in the field.

Many of today's nuclear energy professionals are nearing retirement age, and qualified workers will be needed to take their place. According to the Nuclear Energy Institute, about 30 percent of the nuclear energy workforce will retire within the next five years. Locally, over 300 nuclear job openings are anticipated over the next 5 years.

"We are pleased to be working so closely with the Cook and Palisades plants on an initiative of such great regional significance," stated LMC President Dr. Randall R. Miller. "Being able to provide training for local residents that will prepare them to fill the staffing needs of these critical area employers is the essence of our existence as a community college."

Cook and Palisades have been active partners in the research, development and implementation of the program. Both companies will serve as vital colleagues on the advisory committee that will provide ongoing input and evaluation of the program.

"We project that more than 35 percent of our workforce will need to be replaced because of retirement or attrition over in the next five years," said Mike Rencheck, AEP senior vice president and chief nuclear officer. "It is going to take a qualified workforce to support our continued operation and we would like to hire residents from southwest Michigan and northern Indiana to fill those positions. This new program at Lake Michigan College offers a way for people to prepare themselves to participate, benefit and prosper in our exciting future."

The Energy Production Technology degree requires prospective students to meet rigorous performance standards in the areas of math and science. Program coursework will include electronics, math, chemistry, thermo-fluid sciences, physics, English and other general education courses.  Courses specific to the nuclear industry are also included, with many taught by adjunct instructors from the industry.

The Energy Production Technology program will lead to an Associate in Industrial Technology degree with concentrations available in Chemistry, Crafts, Health Physics-Radiation Protection and Power Plant Operation.

Upon completion of the program, students will be prepared to work locally and throughout the country as technicians in operations, mechanical maintenance, electrical maintenance, chemical laboratory, health physics and instrumentation and control maintenance.

"The careers available in our local nuclear industry, and throughout the country, are high-skill, high-wage positions," emphasized Dean Souden, LMC executive dean of Career Education. "What is great about the Energy Production Technology degree program is that it will focus on training workers who are new to the industry, as well those currently working in the field and who want to move up."

Industry internship opportunities will be available through Cook and Palisades Power Plants for students. According to Steve Martin, superintendent, operations initial training, Palisades Power Plant, the internships will provide valuable nuclear power plant experience for select students from the program.

"We are looking forward to working with the college to provide a hands-on experience for a number of the students," he said. "Our company and the industry will need well-trained workers to fill existing jobs as current workers retire and new jobs as the industry expands. Students who are selected for the internships will have an opportunity to enhance their technical skills while also learning first-hand about the industry's emphasis on safety, security and attention to detail."

Those planning to attend the information session can pre-register by calling Zomar Peter, Admissions and Guidance Services at (269) 926-2124 or by email at peter@lakemichigancollege.edu.

For additional information about the program, contact Ken Flowers, Department Chair, Industrial Technology at (269) 927-8100 Ext. 3032; or Marjorie Zibbel, Associate Dean, Community and Business Services, at (269) 926-4297.

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The Cook Nuclear Plant is located on a 650-acre site on the shores of Lake Michigan in Lake Township near Bridgman, Michigan. It is owned and operated by Indiana Michigan Power (I&M), a unit of American Electric Power (AEP). The 1,030 net megawatt (MW) Unit 1 and 1,077 net MW Unit 2 combined produce enough emission-free electricity to supply more than one and one half million average homes. The site employs more than 1,300 people. Unit 1 began commercial operation in 1975 and is licensed to operate until 2034. Unit 2 began commercial operation in 1978 and is licensed to operate until 2037.

Cook is the largest taxpayer in Berrien county, paying state and local taxes of approximately $13.5 million annually. I&M, headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana, serves 575,000 customers in Indiana and Michigan. AEP is one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, delivering electricity to more than 5 million customers in 11 states. AEP's headquarters are in Columbus, Ohio.

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Palisades Power Plant is located on 432 acres in Covert Township, six miles south of the city of South Haven. It is owned and operated by Entergy Corporation, headquartered in New Orleans, LA.  Palisades has a rated electrical output of 798 megawatts, enough to meet the needs of a city of 500,000 residents. The site employs more than 700 people. The plant started commercial operation on December 31, 1971, and is licensed to operate until March 24, 2031. Palisades is one of Van Buren County's largest employers and is its largest taxpayer, paying approximately $7 million in state and local taxes annually.

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Lake Michigan College is a two-year community college with four campuses in Benton Harbor, Niles and South Haven, Michigan. It serves over 7,000 credit and non-credit students annually and offers a wide range of one- and two-year career programs, as well as programs and degrees designed to transfer to four-year institutions. The LMC district includes all of Berrien County, as well as Covert Township and the South Haven Public School district in Van Buren County.