Ecotech Institute Launches as First and Only College Entirely Focused on building careers in Clean Technology

Education Corporation of America, a leading owner and operator of private higher education institutions in the United States, announced today the launch of Ecotech Institute, the first and only college focused entirely on preparing America’s workforce for careers in renewable energy and sustainable design.

Ecotech Institute launched its first campus in the Denver metro area, offering seven associate’s degrees and a certificate program for people seeking careers in the emerging cleantech economy. Once its flagship Colorado campus, located in Aurora, is fully established, Ecotech plans to expand across the U.S. to help fuel rapidly growing industries in the clean energy sector.

“The time has come for a higher education institution that is 100 percent focused on preparing Americans for green collar jobs, not merely a department or program inside of an institution,” says Tom Moore, President and Chief Executive Officer of Education Corporation of America. “Having been built by and for the renewable energy and sustainable design industries in collaboration with academic leaders, Ecotech Institute delivers practical career education that can transform people into highly skilled green collar professionals.”

At an event at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science this morning, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter welcomed Ecotech Institute. “Colorado is leading America to a clean energy future by strengthening our ability to compete nationally and internationally for service and manufacturing jobs.  Ecotech Institute’s Colorado campus will help prepare the workforce for those jobs,” said Gov. Ritter. “Colorado’s New Energy Economy is spurring new innovations and energy technologies. We are moving closer to energy independence by expanding homegrown energy supplies.  We are ensuring stable, reliable, sustainable and affordable energy for all Coloradans.”

The museum rooftop includes a solar photovoltaic system with 465 solar panels on the southeast and southwest wings of the museum, which generates a portion of its electrical power.