The Essex County Vocational Technical School District recently graduated the first class of students who completed four years at the Essex County Bloomfield Tech Green Energy Academy, the Independent Press reported.

The school also told the news source the green energy program has expanded since 2009, when it was started.

“The Green Energy Academy is an example of how we are updating and adapting our curriculum to prepare our students for their future," said Joseph DiVincenzo, Essex County executive. "The cutting edge curriculum focuses their studies on issues affecting our society today and will give them an advantage whether they continue their studies at a college or university or enter the job market. Programs like the Green Energy Academy are providing our students with hands-on training and experience that will prepare them for emerging professions that focus on energy conservation and sustainability."

The Green Energy Academy is a program that trains students in sustainability topics and prepares them for the workforce in the green technologies industry.

The Lawrenceville School in New Jersey is also trying to increase green energy use by building one of the largest photovoltaic systems at a secondary school in the state. The system is expected to provide about 90 percent of the school's electricity.