College one of only nine in country selected to lead ‘train-the-trainer’ programs
 
Congressman Mike Michaud and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree today announced that Kennebec Valley Community College (KVCC) in Fairfield will be receiving $2.8 million Department of Energy grant to lead a regional training program for solar-energy installers.
 
“This is really great news for Maine,” said Michaud and Pingree. “It not only highlights the state’s excellent community college system and our leadership in clean energy, but will create good paying jobs that can’t be exported.”
 
KVCC will work with all seven community colleges in Maine, Maine’s high school technical centers as well as community colleges from New Hampshire and Vermont to train and certify photovoltaic and solar heating instructors.  Those certified instructors will then be able to certify students in their local communities to work in solar technology.
 
As part of the program, KVCC will create a mobile lab to demonstrate solar technology at institutions around Northern New England. This will allow students to learn best installation and design practices.
 
“This is going to give us a chance to work with our colleagues to help deliver training to the business community,” said Barbara Woodlee, President of KVCC.  “It’s an exciting partnership and in many ways this will be the first time we have worked together this way.  We are absolutely thrilled to be able to coordinate this effort.  The clean energy industry is going to be very well served by having access to these training opportunities.”

Kennebec Valley Community College is one of only nine institutions in the country selected to lead the solar-installer training programs. The projects will support a national ramp-up and coordinated network of trainer programs, helping address the critical need for qualified solar energy system installers.
 
The Department of Energy announced that $87 million is being awarded to 47 projects across the country to support the development of new solar energy technologies and the rapid deployment of carbon-free solar energy systems.

Other projects receiving this money include solar power research, research effects on power grid, and deploying solar power in urban areas.