Dec. 15, 2017 (Dubuque, IA) - Iowa experienced 62% solar jobs growth in 2016 according to the the most recent National Solar Jobs Census conducted by the The Solar Foundation. Growth is expected to continue in the region, and to meet the need for trained and qualified solar workers, the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) will be hosting a Solar Training Academy in Dubuque starting in January 2018.
Earlier this year MREA teamed up with The City of Cedar Rapids, Linn County to help a total of 104 homes in the area install a combined total of 607.22 kW of clean solar energy. It is clear that the state of Iowa is poised for wider solar adoption. MREA's Dubuque Solar Training Academy aims to further facilitate that growth by building the states solar workforce.
MREA’s Solar Training Academy is open to all skill levels and requires no previous training or experience. Students will meet one weekend a month, January - March 2018 for a series of classroom and hands-on classes. Participants are provided with industry-leading solar technical training from some of the top solar educators in the Midwest. Topics include photovoltaic (PV) fundamentals, PV site assessment, and PV design principles and considerations. Upon academy completion, students qualify to sit for the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) PV Associate Exam, an increasingly sought-after solar credential valued by the industry.
“The Solar Training Academy is designed to provide jobseekers with the foundational technical knowledge they’ll need to enter the solar workforce. The Academy also helps students start on a credentialing pathway which should make them more attractive to prospective employers. Our hope is that in holding a weekend training series in Dubuque, we can make solar training convenient for the most people and accessible to those not only from Iowa but from the surrounding areas of Illinois and Wisconsin, too. ” - Adam Mehr, MREA
“I love the flexibility in the MREA Solar Training Academy and using weekend time to hold the classes. The instructors are very knowledgeable.” - Logan Welch, NABCEP Photovoltaic Associate and graduate of the 2016 Dubuque Solar Training Academy.
In the past year, MREA has trained more than 1,030 individuals as part of its mission to promote clean energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable living through education and demonstration. Education is critical to realizing the economic and job growth potential of clean energy not only in the Midwest but throughout the nation.
Solar Training Academy, Dubuque, IA:
Location: Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, 700 Locust Street #195, Dubuque, IA 52001
Dates:
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1/27/18 – 1/28/18
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2/17/18 – 2/18/18
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3/17/18 – 3/18/18
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NABCEP PV Associate Exam: 3/24/18
Instructor: Mike Joyce, Full Spectrum Solar
To register or find more information about MREA’s Solar Training Academies, visit midwestrenew.org/sta, contact Adamm@midwestrenew.org , or call 715-592-6595.
