Wilkes Community College pitches guaranteed‑savings energy project and workforce programs to Ashe County commissioners
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Summary
Wilkes Community College presented campus updates to the board, including a Schneider Electric‑backed guaranteed‑energy‑savings program intended to fund deferred maintenance from utility savings and new workforce programs such as a commercial driver's license course serving the high country.
Wilkes Community College President Dr. Rogers and college staff updated Ashe County commissioners on the Ash campus on Nov. 3, highlighting enrollment trends, new workforce programs and a proposed no‑upfront‑cost energy savings project in partnership with Schneider Electric.
Dr. Rogers said the college launched a strategic enrollment management plan and noted recent achievements including a fire‑academy graduation at the Ash campus and a SACSCOC accreditation site visit that yielded no recommendations. He said Wilkes is ranked highly by some national metrics and is eligible for consideration for the Aspen Prize in 2027.
Graham Lewis of Schneider Electric described a state‑authorized guaranteed‑savings model: the company implements facility upgrades (lighting, HVAC and building automation), the upgrades reduce utility and operations costs, and guaranteed annual savings are used to fund the project retroactively over a 15–20 year contract. Lewis said the statute requires the savings to be guaranteed annually and that the overall project be self‑funding aside from state or federal incentives; if savings fall short, the vendor must make up the difference.
College presenters said the Ash portion represents roughly 10% of the college's total campus and utility spend; estimated savings across all campuses were described in the presentation at roughly 23–27%, which would allow the college to fund several million dollars in deferred maintenance without asking county commissions for capital. Presenters requested informal support to proceed into the procurement phase; commissioners signaled informal support (described in the transcript as "5 head nods") so the college and Schneider Electric can continue the state procurement process.
The college also described workforce programs: a commercial driver's license (CDL) course launched in partnership with Caldwell Community and Technical College, which the presenters said produced a six‑student graduating class from an eight‑student start and has a current class in progress. Dr. Rogers noted the college's efforts to align applied engineering, technology and skilled trades programs to local industry needs and invited commissioners to tour the Ash campus facilities.
Provenance: Topic introduction at the moment Dr. Rogers introduced the college delegation (00:15:11). Topic finish after college remarks and Q&A (00:34:40).