The newest addition to Gateway Technical College’s Horizon Center was praised as a “world-class” training ground for tomorrow’s fuel technology by local, state and federal officials.

Gateway formally opened the Advanced Propulsion Lab at its Horizon Center, 4940 88th Ave., at a ceremony Thursday attended by more than 100 people on Thursday. The 12,800-square-foot addition to the Horizon Center, which opened in 2007, will provide instruction on “green” energy fuel sources, such as hybrid biodiesel and electricity.

‘Green’ energy

Features at the propulsion lab include:

High hopes

The facility received high praise from speakers at the opening ceremony.

Jane Oates, assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Labor for employment and training administration, said she was not involved in the preliminary stages of this project but was very impressed by the final result.

“This is a world-class education and training facility and you should be proud to have it in your community,” Oates said.

Oates also said those with the best employment viability during the recent recession have been those with the best job-training, which this facility would continue to provide.

“This center is going to make that a reality for more Kenosha residents,” Oates said.

Gov. Jim Doyle said Wisconsin had the highest percentage of their population and gross domestic product based in manufacturing of any state. Doyle said the advanced propulsion lab would add to that status.

“High-end manufacturing requires highly-trained and highly-skilled workers,” Doyle said. “It is critical that we have workers to meet this changing world.”

Doyle and Oates also praised the leadership of Gateway and the community businesses and organizations that invested in this project.

“Once again, Gateway has led the way,” Doyle said.

Chief among those partners is Snap-on, sponsor of the “green garage.” Nicholas Pinchuk, president and chief executive officer of Snap-on, said a project of this aim was needed for the area and for the country.

“Technical education is the widest and surest highway to ensure our prosperity,” Pinchuk said. “This is an enterprise of national and international significance.”

Teaching for tomorrow

Scott Pierce, a board member for Gateway, said he thanked school officials and their community sponsors for bringing the center together.

“We are providing our students with the skills they need to succeed in a changing environment,” Pierce said. “You have all made this special opportunity possible.”

Dan Clancy, president of the Wisconsin Technical College System, said the new addition helped Gateway and Wisconsin stand apart in this field.

“This Horizon Center and the new addition sets the bar high and gives the area and Gateway a competitive advantage,” Clancy said.

The center also was put together through planning from the Diesel Technology Advisory Committee, of which Norm Brandes was the chair.

The addition “will service today’s vehicles and tomorrow’s technology,” Brandes said.

Dennis Sherwood, dean of campus affairs for Gateway, said the addition will be adaptable to teach and train students on whatever types of reusable energy emerge as the dominant choice for vehicles.

“You have to prepare for what is going to happen,” Sherwood said. “As one energy source starts to surface, we want to be there. We’re looking ahead.”

Classes for biodiesel technology and alternative energy sources will begin at the new center in September.

The addition cost $2.2 million, with Gateway contributing $1.5 million and the remainder of funds coming from community sponsorship. Construction on the addition began last August.