The US Department of Energy has awarded Southeast New Mexico College in Carlsbad – a massive grant to fund education programs to enhance the knowledge, skills, and abilities of current Waste Isolation Pilot Plant workers, while they build and train the next generation of workers at the facility. In all, the award is for 11.7 million dollars. SENM says it will work closely with the DOE and WIPP to design and provide educational and trianing programs, while attempting to address a worker shortage and create a pipeline of well-trained and qualified workers in the future.