(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced that she has included $800,000 in funding for Gonzaga University’s new Electric Utility Transmission and Distribution Line Engineering Program in an annual Senate spending bill. The program will offer Master of Science degrees as well as certifications for working professionals in engineering. The funding was included in the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations bill. Senator Murray is a senior member of the Energy and Water Subcommittee.
"Now more than ever we need to invest in educational opportunities that meet our economies needs for specialized training," Murray stated. "This innovative program at Gonzaga University will help provide Washington state and the nation with qualified electrical and power engineers, and also help solidify our state’s role in the energy economy of the future."
Gonzaga University’s School of Engineering and Applied Science is establishing a new Electric Utility Transmission and Distribution Line Engineering Program which will offer a multi-disciplined certificate program for working professionals in engineering. The federal funding Senator Murray has secured will be used for curriculum design and transition to an online format, renovation of laboratory space, and the purchase of necessary equipment.
Senator Murray has secured over $1.5 Million in federal funding for this project in previous years.
Gonzaga has partnered with the Department of Energy, Pacific Northwest National Lab, Boneville Power Administration, Avista Utilities, Itron and NextIT to establish this program, leveraging the tremendous resources available in the Pacific Northwest with regard to energy issues.
The Energy and Water Appropriations bill will next move to the full Appropriations Committee for debate later this week. It will then move to the Senate Floor for deliberation.
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