Western Washington University‘s Institute for Energy Studies is receiving a $150,000 gift of support from Alaska Airlines and $100,000 in various gifts from the Ingersoll Rand Foundation and Trane, a leading global provider of indoor comfort solutions and services and a brand of Ingersoll Rand.
Western established its multi-disciplinary Institute for Energy Studies last spring. The Institute program, the first of its kind in the country, combines science, technology, economics, business and policy and is designed to prepare students to become the leaders, managers and entrepreneurs of the new energy economy.
“The university’s innovative new program will provide students a strong foundation to solve the complex challenges associated with finding energy solutions for aviation and other sectors of the economy. This program will prepare students to compete in the green economy and help position the state as a leader nationally in the next wave of economic expansion and innovation,” said Keith Loveless, executive vice president and general counsel for Alaska Airlines.