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SOLAR WASHINGTON SEPTEMBER 2012 – MEMBERSHIP MEETING

This Evenings Presenters

• Larry Owens, Instructor - Lake Washington Institute of Technology

Shoreline Community College

• Justin Gau, Instructor - Northwest Washington Electrical JATC

• Jake Wade, Program Implementer- Puget Sound Energy, Green Power and

Renewables

• Howard Lamb, President- Solar Washington

10,000’ view of Solar Training in WA

• All solar training begins with the basics of solar energy - whether it be the photovoltaic effect or principals of thermal energy.

• From here training breaks down into to two skill sets for training. – The installation of…– The selling and system design of…

PV Installer Skill Sets

• Electrical Installer / Electrician (licensed) – Understanding of the NEC and applicable codes– Utility requirements – GROUNDING

• Safety – DOSH (enforcement/education) & WISHA (RCW

49.17)– Live when exposed to sun!

• Specialized PV equipment – Modules & Inverters – Racking

SHW Installer Skill sets

• Plumber / Pipe Fitter (licensed)

• Safety – Standards – Thermal contact – Roof top

• Specialized Skills – Installation of collectors

PV and SHW Sales / Design Skill sets

• Site Analysis

• Basic understanding of technology

• System Design and Engineering

• Measuring system performance

• Financial/Benefit Analysis

• Prepare a system proposal

Solar Training in Washington

• Community and Technical Colleges

• Electrical / Plumbing Trade Schools

• Solar Specific Training in State

• Online

• Vendor / Manufacturer Specific

Community and Technical Colleges

• Lake Washington Institute of Technology• Shoreline Community College• Cascadia Community College• Clover Park Technical College

*program catalogs change often in this area.

Electrical & Plumbing Trade Schools

• IBEW/NECA JATC’s (9 in State)• UA/MCA JATC (5 in State)• CITC • IEC

* several 2 year electrical AAS degree programs

Solar Specific Training Schools

• Solar Energy International –Guemes Island

• Ontility • Heatspring• Everblue

* All out of State schools

Online and Vendor Specific Resources

• 35 plus schools offering training online

• Vendor Specific Training – REC– SMA– Schneider– Solar World – Silicon Energy – Electrical warehouses

Certification

• NABCEP – PV Technical Sales – PV Installer– Solar Heating Installer

• UL

• IREC (certifies training centers only)

Resources

• Solar Washington’s own website! – Click on the Education Tab and go to Education

and Outreach weblinks – Teachers follow link to the Teachers resource

guide from DTE energy

• Solar Pro Magazine