Montpelier, Vt., Local 300 donated close to 150 textbooks to the Spaulding High School-Barre Technical Center in an effort to educate students about environmentally-responsible careers in the building trades.

The textbooks, valued at more than $5,000, went to the school's electrical construction class and covered topics that include electrical systems, grounding and bonding, digital electronics, AC and DC theory, fire alarm systems and blueprint reading.

"We hope this donation can help teach the next generation of electricians and entice them to pursue an IBEW electrical apprenticeship upon graduation," Local 300 Training Director Jean Watkins said.

In conjunction with the donation, Local 300's mobile solar trailer visited the campus. The vehicle features a one-kilowatt solar array, 32-inch LCD television, Wii game console and custom artwork. It is designed to draw attention to the local union's solar apprenticeship program, touted as "Vermont's only intensive, year-round solar photovoltaic training for electricians."

"The support of community and industry partners such as IBEW Local 300 is what moves our program to the next level," said Penny Chamberlin, director of the technical center.