Project-C4 addressed a proverbial “chicken-or-egg” question about Midwest renewable-energy technician training at the time the proposal was submitted.  The conundrum summarizes, thus:  1) It’s generally accepted we need to transition from our fossil-fuel paradigm to a more sustainable energy strategy; 2) Midwest renewable energy deployment cannot effectively launch and grow without access to a properly trained workforce; 3) Community colleges typically do not support technician-training for fields with no current job demand.  This conundrum, leads to sensible questioning, “Which must we do first?  Do we begin training renewable-energy (RE) technicians and hope RE jobs soon arrive; or, wait until RE deployment is well underway and hope to subsequently, and quickly, train the needed workforce?”  The C4 answer is, “Neither; and, both.”  C4 asserts it is appropriate for community colleges to engage in solar market stimulation while simultaneously training solar technicians. 

   Goals and notable outcomes of Project-C4 are: 

   “Goal 1) To improve undergraduate technology education by training community college faculty to advance their knowledge of solar photovoltaic technology and teaching skills.”  

   We developed the C4 model at Kankakee Community College (KCC) as a demonstration site.  Then, aiming toward replicating C4 elsewhere, we gave training to instructors outside KCC on RE course and curriculum development, giving free access to KCC’s training materials. C4 replication was guided by the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA), a C4 sub-awardee. 

   Resulting from C4 efforts, project PI Wilhelm was recognized by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) as their 2013 Clean Energy Trainer of the Year.  KCC was also recognized by IREC as their 2014 Clean Energy Training Provider of the Year.  These national awards are justified by the high pass rates of KCC’s student-cohorts who sat for the NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) Solar-PV Entry Level exam.  The national average pass rate for the exam is about 60% -- 60% of those who sit for the exam, pass.  KCC’s pass rate was never lower than 78%; and, continually improved to the most recent pass rate of 100%. 

   Supporting project replication, C4 produced promotional and educational videos, freely shared with other colleges.  A recent email from Jenny Heinzen of the MREA said:  “As Training Coordinator and instructor for the MREA, I adore good [short] tutorial videos I can play in the classroom or in an online course that help students understand an otherwise complicated concept to visualize…Tim Wilhelm of KCC has made such videos and posted them on YouTube. Two of them I use every time I run the PV Site Assessor Training (PV 201) and PV System Design (PV 202) courses – one on magnetic declination, and another on inter-row shading. They’re informational, fun, and effective.” 

   Since fall of 2014, 639 students gave been trained at 10, C4 replication schools. 

   “Goal 2) To establish a renewable energy job market transformation model for community colleges to incorporate into their existing renewable energy programs.”  

   C-4 gave free solar-PV training to local electrical contractors and to electrical inspectors in three Midwest States.  It also provided public outreach, education, and orientation for homeowners via free, open-to-the-public, “Solar Power Hours,” developed for C4 by the MREA.  These “Power Hour” sessions also offered attendees free solar site assessments, performed by KCC’s students, as part of pursuing the MREA’s ANSI/IREC-accredited Solar Site Assessment certificate. 

   Power Hours spread beyond the KCC area into cities near the University of Illinois and Illinois State University.  Resulting from interest generated by these Power Hours, the MREA connected with the Illinois Green Economy Network (IGEN) to explore interest in a solar group-buy program.  This led to one of the most significant outcomes of Project-C4.  In the area around ISU, over 204kW of solar-PV was purchased and installed.  Near U of I, the solar group-buy hit 605kW.  

   Since April of 2015 MREA hosted 117 Solar Power Hours in 35 communities in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois, reaching 2,613 individuals.  

   Encouraged by attending a C4 Power Hour, several local businessmen started a new solar company here.  They asked PI Wilhelm to reproduce (pro bono) the C4 Power Hour as a marketing tool.  Wilhelm agreed, performing a Power Hour for an audience of over 100 area farmers.  A KCC student attended this event.  Wilhelm introduced the student to the new solar-business owners.  They immediately hired him.  Less than one year later, he is their Sales Manager and recently sold a 27kW solar project in the KCC area. 

“Goal 3) To enhance the infrastructure for RE technician training at community colleges with a community-of-practice to develop and improve C4.” 

    C4 manifested annual “Solar Instructor Summits.”  Chris Nichols of the USDOE’s SunShot Program attended these Summits in 2014 and 2015, leading her (quietly, prior to the formal White House announcement) to invite the C4 community-of-practice members to join USDOE’s new Solar Training Network, enhancing and expanding C4’s community-of-practice efforts.

Last Modified: 10/30/2016
Modified by: Timothy Wilhelm