Tech Students Learn Solar Panel Installation, Wetlands Institute to Benefit

CREST HAVEN — When the sun goes down, 16 adult students are studying solar panels, and how they may brighten the pathway to new careers.
At Cape May County Technical School on Thursday evenings, men and women gather to learn from instructor Dave Appolonia about rooftops installation of solar panels.
Within the next few months, their knowledge will be install solar photovoltaic panels atop the Wetlands Institute on Stone Harbor Boulevard to generate electricity to heat aquariums.
Now in its midpoint, the joint venture is achieving several goals, including saving energy, going “green,” and job training in a new and growing sector.
Cooperation between the Technical School District, acting as the lead agency, Atlantic Cape Workforce Investment Board (WIB), the architectural firm Design Collaborative, and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 351, and $50,000 in funding from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is making the training and installation possible.
Reducing the local, state, national and worldwide “carbon footprint” is an initiative being embraced by all levels of government as well as the private and public sectors.
In this state, former Gov. Jon Corzine set a goal for New Jersey to reduce energy consumption by 20 percent by 2020, (with 20 percent of electrical energy to be produced by alternative, sustainable methods and 2 percent through solar).
A key to getting that “green” message out to the public is through the education process at all levels. From pre-school children through post secondary/college students and adults, all need to be taught the values of energy conservation and how they can make a difference, according to George “Rusty” Miller, district director of Adult-Continuing Education, who has overseen the joint project, first announced in September 2009.
“The Technical School is uniquely positioned to be a conduit to both Atlantic and Cape May counties in providing “green” energy information to: our communities, so they become better informed about how they can become a partner in this “green” initiative, as well as to those individuals seeking employment in this new “green” field of opportunity,” Miller stated.
After completion of the project, Atlantic Cape Community College, Atlantic County Institute of Technology, Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and local school districts will all benefit from the project’s completion through visitation and data collection reference opportunities.
The project will also have a yearly monetary reinvestment value, which will support continued, hands-on solar installation training for adults. Also, employment/apprenticeship opportunities will be profiled to successful program completers in conjunction with the one-stop career centers.
To fund the training of adult students and electrical components associated with a 5,000 watt roof-top solar photovoltaic system to be installed at The Wetlands Institute which would reduce the electrical needs (to support filtration systems that keep numerous fish tanks operative 24/7) at the Institute.
The proposed solar energy array was engineered at no cost by The Design Collaborative and includes a series of 22 solar panels. A portion of them may be taken down and re-assembled for future educational purposes.
The Technical School is providing instruction regarding Grid-Tied Solar Photovoltaic Systems to an adult evening school class from January through mid April 2010.
During the last two weeks of April, adult students in the class and members of IBEW 351 will work together to install the solar system on the Wetlands Institute’s roof.
As part of the project, a kiosk information system will be installed at The Wetlands Institute, interfaced with computer systems at the Cape May County Technical School and other partners to allow individuals on site or at the partner schools to monitor the efficiency of the solar panels.
At the Technical School, the kiosk information will benefit the Pre-Engineering, Heating, Cooling, Plumbing and Electrical, Natural Science Technology, Math and Science classes.
Miller said it is anticipated that the solar panels will generate an electric bill savings of $925 per month to The Wetlands Institute as well as Solar Renewable Energy Credits, SRECs of about $3,000 per year.
The monies realized through the SRECs will be split 50/50 and reinvested into the project as well as into the Cape May County Technical School’s renewable energy program’s teaching aids for in-class student support.
The Wetlands Institute, with its share, will purchase additional solar panels and installation supplies; the Technical School’s Heating, Cooling, Plumbing, Electrical class will purchase solar education teaching aids which will assist students to become more proficient in their solar panel installation skills.
The district projects the articulation agreement between the school and Institute will be in effect for a minimum of five years with an open option to extend the agreement. An open invitation to visit The Wetlands Institute and review the solar energy array will be open to all project partners.
This project provides a public outreach opportunity to the community and beyond in touting the benefits of solar energy and potentially even be an advertisement for the “green” field businesses, Miller said.
As many as 50,000 visitors annually tour the Institute for the natural sciences and get an “up close and personal” tour through the varied displays.
As part of the funding agreement, the tour staff at the Institute will feature the topic of solar energy as part of the infrastructure that supports the program displays as well as the prominently displayed kiosk.
Many elementary and middle school classes, about 8,000 students a year, tour the Institute on the Middle Township marshes, as well as local property owners and out of county visitors. Thus, the magnitude of visitors translates into tremendous public exposure for the concept of renewable energy and for local home or business owners, tangible evidence to sway a personal/business investment in renewable energy.
The students that successfully complete the course and installation clinical will receive a certificate of course completion from the Technical School.
The curriculum being taught is in alignment with the recommendations by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), and will present the students with all the information necessary to apply for the Solar Photovoltaic Installer Certification examination when the individual students meet the required field experience requirement. All adult students will have an opportunity to receive IBEW apprenticeship orientation information and employment opportunities will be shared with the adults in conjunction with the Atlantic-Cape May One Stop Center referrals.
The Technical School District is seeking accreditation from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) to offer the Introduction to Grid-Tied Solar Photovoltaic Systems course credential endorsed by the NABCEP.
“The NABCEP is a nationally-recognized credentialing body formed to set competency standards for professional practitioners in the fields of renewable and sustainable energy. Practitioners who choose to become certified must demonstrate their competence in the field and their commitment to upholding high standards of ethical and professional practice,” Miller stated.
Through training adults for employment opportunities in the next generation of clean energy and educating the public regarding the benefits of “green” energy, this partnership program in solar energy production will provide one of the many cornerstones needed in the state’s effort for a 20 percent reduction in fossil fuel energy consumption by 2020.