Board Member joins the Solar Training Network

We are pleased to announce an exciting training opportunity for Aur J Beck, one of the Illinois Renewable Energy Association’s board members & the Southern IL Center for a Sustainable Future’s president and was one of only three solar instructors from Illinois who was asked to join the Solar Instructor Training Network.

Aur is the chief tech for Advanced Energy Solutions Group, Inc where he is charge of the Green Geek Squad (their renewable energy installation network).

According to Tehri Parker, Executive Director of the MREA, “Instructors for this program were chosen based on their skills and passion. We are looking for individuals who can quickly scale-up new and existing solar training programs. This is going to take a lot of determination and follow through on the part of the instructors. We knew from Aur’s application, and the past work we have done with him, that he would be an excellent candidate for this program.”

As part of a 5-year, federally funded initiative through the U.S. Department of Energy, the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) is working with partner organizations in seven Midwestern states to provide training to instructors involved in solar photovoltaic and solar thermal installer training programs.

Participants in the institutes will participate in the MREA’s Institute for Sustainable Power Quality (ISPQ)-Accredited Training Program.

Participants advanced through lecture, site evaluation, and hands-on installation experiences on a solar training roof. In addition, course instructors will provide information and facilitate discussion on model training programs, curriculum development, sustainable financing, and training lab design. Upon completion of the institute, participants will have continued access to an online shared resources environment for solar instructors managed by the MREA as part of the Midwest Solar Training Network.

The goals of Solar Instructor Training are to accelerate market adoption of solar technologies by ensuring that high-quality installations are standard and to create sustainable jobs within the solar installation industry.

More information about the Solar Instructor Training Network is available at http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/instructor_training_network.html

More information about the Illinois Renewable Energy Association is available at www.illinoisrenew.org

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Solar Instructor Training Network

Background

The Solar Instructor Training Network was launched in October 2009 to address a critical need for high-quality, local, and accessible training in solar system design, installation, sales, and inspection. Solar Instructor Training is a 5-year effort intended to create a geographic blanket of training opportunities in solar installation across the United States.

In partnership with the U.S. Departments of Labor and Education, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) addresses workforce development barriers within the solar industry. In addition to ramping up its efforts to increase the number of trained workers in the solar industry, DOE finances accreditation of solar trainers and training programs, certification of installers and installation instructors, and distribution of best practices for training programs.

This July 4th, as you celebrate with family and friends, please help
contribute to your state’s energy independence by becoming an member of a renewable energy association. If you’re already a member, we appreciate your past and continued support, but if you’re not, please consider joining  in their mission to promote renewable energy in your state.

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