EL PASO -- Hundreds of people will be trained for jobs in the wind and solar power industries and in energy-efficiency fields with federal stimulus money awarded to programs throughout Texas, including El Paso.

The U.S. Department of Labor on Wednesday announced that $12 million would be distributed to three programs in Texas. The grants are part of $100 million awarded nationwide for green jobs training.

Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas, and U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, said the money is from the $787 billion American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, signed by President Barack Obama in February 2009.

A specific amount of money has not been allotted for El Paso, but two local programs will benefit, Reyes said.

The International Training Institute for the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Industry will get $4,995,188 for its offices in Missouri, Ohio, Michigan, California, New Mexico (Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Las Cruces) and Texas (El Paso and Lubbock). The Austin Electrical Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee will receive $4,842,424 for its offices throughout Arizona, Oklahoma, Kansas, New Mexico and Texas.

The National Ironworkers and Employers Apprenticeship Training and Journeyman Upgrading Fund will be awarded $1,943,931. In Texas, that money will benefit only Arlington.

Mike Waldo, director of the El Paso Electricians Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee, said he expected to train between 400 and 500 people in solar and wind energy technologies.

"It will be a real shot for us down here to start getting up to speed as far as renewable energy goes. We're way behind everybody else in the country," he said. "There is more energy bouncing off the ground where we sit here in El Paso than almost anywhere else in country. ... It hasn't been utilized."

The El Paso apprenticeship program, which is part of the Department of Labor, trains about 190 people for five years in the electric field. The students work 40 hours a week and attend classes twice a week.

The students also receive a 50-cent an hour raise every six months for the first three years and $1 an hour raise every six months the last two years of the program.

With the economic stimulus money, Waldo said, more students will have skills in renewable energy.

"The fourth- and fifth-year apprentices will be able to get training in photovoltaic solar energy and wind energy. When they turn out as journeymen after five years, they will have these skills in place," he said. "This is going to be a real shot for us to get up to speed and start developing the industry that should have been developed here a long time ago."

Stephanie Sanchez may be reached at ssanchez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6137.