A community college in Maine is putting together coursework on installation of solar panels as part of its electrical engineering technologies program, according to published reports.

As part of its effort to serve as a regional model for sustainable practices, Southern Maine Community College is using $70,000 in federal grant money to establish an accredited solar training site for a nationwide network of instructors specializing in photovoltaic practices.

"We believe all of our graduates in construction-related fields need those skills if we're going to change our energy future in Maine," Kaylene Waindle, the school's advancement dean, told MaineToday.com. "We want our campus to be a living laboratory for sustainable energy practices."

The move is the latest of the school's environmentally friendly efforts, which include the automotive education building's installation of energy-efficient light fixtures and solar heat collectors. The spring will see the school establish a community resource for sustainability references.

"It's a way we see the college contributing to the future of the state and fulfilling its mission to students," Waindle told the publication.