Marmen Energy’s Investment in Southeast Tech Strengthens South Dakota’s Renewable Energy Workforce

Artist rendering of the James Abdnor Center for Advanced Manufacturing at Southeast Technical College.

A strong renewable energy sector depends on more than projects and equipment — it also depends on people. That’s why Marmen Energy’s recent investment in Southeast Technical College is encouraging news for South Dakota.

According to Southeast Technical College, Marmen Energy has committed $1 million to support upgrades to welding labs in the to-be-constructed James Abdnor Center for Advanced Manufacturing and in the Ed Wood Trade and Industry Center.

The investment will help give students greater access to industry-standard equipment and learning environments that better reflect what they will see on the job. That kind of support matters. South Dakota’s renewable energy economy is strengthened not only by new generation and infrastructure, but also by investments in the skilled workforce needed to build, maintain, and support the industry over time.

For SoDak Renewables, this is the kind of collaboration worth celebrating. When industry and technical education work together, students gain clearer pathways into high-demand careers, employers gain access to better-prepared talent, and South Dakota is better positioned to support long-term growth in advanced manufacturing and renewable energy.

That growth has ripple effects well beyond the classroom. A stronger renewable energy workforce helps support new investment, strengthens local industry, and contributes to the broader economic foundation that can expand the tax base and help support schools, roads, and other essential public services.

Investments like this help strengthen the foundation behind the state’s clean energy future — not just through technology, but through workforce development, education, and local opportunity.

Read Southeast Tech’s full story here:

Marmen Energy Invests $1 Million in Southeast Technical College Welding Labs