DETROIT ? New Century Career Center will host its first class next week to teach a dozen entrepreneurs who have well drilling businesses how to tap into the geothermal heating and cooling industry.

It?s just the first class of what school director and co founder Jeremy Eckhous hopes will be dozens of vocational-training classes to be offered in Southeast Michigan this year.

New Century Career Center will focus on teaching how to install and operate renewable energy technology, particularly geothermal ground source heating systems, and solar thermal systems.. It will also offer a full slate of energy efficiency classes and strategies to maximize Metro Detroit?s existing infrastructure, and to equip workers with 20th century skills in a higher tech 21st century economy.

?In the geothermal world, the first order of business is to dig a geothermal bore, similar to a water well,? Eckhous said. ?Since much of the well-digging business has gone away because of the dearth of residential construction in rural areas of the state, geothermal bore digging represents an opportunity for these people with older economy skills to transition to an emerging industry.?

The cost for the 3-day course is $1050. At the end, the student, after passing an certification exam, is certified as a geothermal installer. The first class, which starts next week, is full, but the school is now taking applications for the second geothermal class that starts March 14th 2011.

?In the city of Detroit there are lots of workers, in economically depressed areas, where workers have lost their jobs through no fault of their own,? he said. ?We are providing an opportunity for them to get involved in renewable energy and we can give them new skills that will be marketable going forward.?

Those students who qualify may be eligible for State and Federal assistance under the No Worker Left Behind and the Trade Adjustment Act (TAA), Eckhous said. When the center gets its final certification from the state, it will be eligible for listing as an approved vendor by Michigan Worker and may offer courses to participants in those programs.

The New Century Career Center is located on 8300 E. Jefferson Ave, Suite 507. For information on the classes, contact Eckhous at [email protected] or (877) 822-5230.

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