Happy Earth Week: Here’s Your Chance to Win a FREE SEI Class!

HAPPY EARTH WEEK! Monday, April 22 is officially Earth Day, but at Solar Energy International (SEI) every day is Earth Day. We’re taking this week to celebrate the successes and journeys of our SEI students and alumni. On Earth Day we’re making a BIG announcement: One person in our network is going to receive an SEI online PVOL course of their choosing FOR FREE! Here’s how to enter: How do you celebrate Earth Day every day, and how has SEI helped? Post a photo on social media with the hashtag #SEIcelebratesEarthDay with your story on how SEI training helps you celebrate Earth Day every day and make sure to tag Solar Energy International in your post! We will share your stories across our platforms ALL WEEK and Monday, April 22 we will announce our BIG winner! Participants will also be featured on our blog and in our monthly email newsletter. Submissions can also be emailed to enews@solarenergy.org. Happy EARTH WEEK!

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2019 lab sessions starting soon: Check out new additions to the SEI campus!

Paonia, Colorado is home to Solar Energy International (SEI)’s industry leading solar energy technical training facility. Since the early 2000s, tens of thousands of students have received hands-on experience in installing and commissioning solar systems at our lab yard. SEI offers classes on a variety of critical topics for industry professionals from grid-tied, to battery-based, and more advanced O&M classes. We’re constantly updating our lab yard with the best the industry has to offer to give our students relevant experience on what they will–or are already encountering in the solar industry.

Here are some exciting additions students will experience in the lab yard this year.

New Grid-tied Carport System to Explore:

PV201L: Solar Training- Solar Electric Lab Week (Grid-Direct) will feature a new station! Thanks to Panasonic’s donation of a pallet of 40 HIT modules installed on a Schletter carport, students will now be able to get their hands on the installation and commissioning of this new carport station.

AC-coupled SMA Sunny Island System:

In 2018 we expanded our battery-based systems in our PV301L: Solar Training- Solar Electric Lab Week (Battery-Based)  training by adding a donated BluePlanet lithium ion battery bank to our newly installed Sunny Island system. We also made our Magnum battery-based system compliant with NEC 2017 Rapid Shutdown standards.

Top-Notch Accommodations:

Our BRAND NEW Student Lounge features ethically-sourced (including lots of beetle kill pine) timber-framing. This is the next phase of our Paonia, Colorado campus development and will provide a gathering spot, kitchen, and new bathrooms for students.

 

Check out our lab-based classes coming up at our headquarters in Paonia, Colorado this spring, summer and fall:

PV201L: Solar Training – Solar Electric Lab Week (Grid-Direct)

Put classroom theory into practice with the ultimate hands-­on PV experience available! This five-day lab class offers students the opportunity to work closely with experienced PV professionals and get their hands dirty by fully installing and commissioning a wide variety of system types before testing the system, then de-commissioning and breaking down. You will work with modules, inverters, and racking components from a wide range of manufacturers that are all big players in the PV industry. A low student-to-instructor ratio and the world­-class lab facility at SEI’s lab facilities in Paonia, Colorado or Costa Rica combine to make PV201L the perfect environment for your first hands­-on PV experience.

PV301L: Solar Training – Solar Electric Lab Week (Battery-Based)

This five-day lab class is an amazing opportunity to get hands-­on experience with a wide range of battery-­based PV system components and architectures at SEI’s world­-class lab facility in Paonia, Colorado. Working in small groups with instructors who live and breathe battery-based PV, students install, test, and commission numerous PV systems with energy storage that address a wide range of applications. The labs in PV301L consist of stand­-alone and multimode PV systems, and include AC and DC coupled equipment. Many experienced solar professionals have never worked with batteries – this is your chance to leap to the front of the pack!

PV351L: Solar Training – PV Systems – Tools and Techniques for Operations and Maintenance Lab Week (Grid-Direct)

PV351L is an intensive, advanced training designed for solar professionals already working in the PV industry who want to take their technical skills to the next level­ and gain hands-on experience with a wide range of advanced analytical tools and meters. Through a mix of classroom and lab time, theory is immediately applied in the field, with a focus on commissioning, operations and maintenance, troubleshooting, and performance evaluation. Students gain experience using a wide variety of the latest and greatest tools the industry has to offer, including various multimeters, insulation resistance testers, IV curve tracers, and infrared cameras. Learn the advanced skills required to ensure PV systems operate safely and reliably!

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SEI, Colorado Solar and Storage Association (COSSA) and GRID Alternatives team up to host Solar Career Expo

The free Solar Power and Energy Storage Mountain West Expo connects industry employers with prospective clean energy career seekers

The Expo is powered by Solar Ready Colorado, a partnership between Solar Energy International, GRID Alternatives, and the Colorado Solar and Storage Association

AURORA, Colo. — Solar Energy International (SEI), Colorado Solar and Storage Association (COSSA), and GRID Alternatives are teaming up for the third year in a row to bring the Solar Power and Energy Storage Mountain West Expo to the Denver Metro Area. The free event will take place on April 16 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency in Aurora. The event will once again be co-located with COSSA’s Solar Power Mountain West 2019 Conference, taking place from April 12- April 16.

The Expo is an exploration of different jobs and employers in the solar and renewable energy industry. People interested in learning more about what jobs are available in solar from some of the biggest companies in Colorado are invited to attend to learn about the industry and network with industry employers.

The event is slated to have representation from around 20 Colorado Solar Industry employers including Sunrun, Namaste Solar, Pivot Energy, and more. The event brings together networking and learning opportunities to highlight your potential pathway into the growing solar workforce.

According to a Solar Foundation report released on March 20, Colorado is 8^thin the nation for solar jobs, with the industry projected to grow by nearly 8% in 2019.

Doors will open at 1:30 p.m. and attendees are free to tour two rooms full of representation from the Colorado solar industry.  The Solar Career Expo is co-located with COSEIA’s Solar Power Mountain West Conference, and is free to attend, even if you aren’t registered for Solar Power Mountain West.

The Expo continues for the third year as a part of the Solar Ready Colorado program. Solar Ready Colorado is a statewide effort through Solar Energy International (SEI) and industry partners to expand the activities of outreach, recruiting, and training to the rapidly growing Colorado solar industry and jobs market. Through industry partnerships and support from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, the program provides a dedicated outreach and recruitment effort as well as technical training through SEI’s long running, non-profit 501(c)(3) technical training program to those interested in entering the Colorado solar industry.

Register for the Career Expo and Solar Power Mountain West: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/solar-power-mountain-west-2019-tickets-52828704076?utm-medium=discovery&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&aff=escb&utm-source=cp&utm-term=listing

Solar Energy International (SEI)– Solar Energy International (SEI) was founded in 1991 as a nonprofit educational organization. Our mission is to provide industry-leading technical training and expertise in renewable energy to empower people, communities, and businesses worldwide. SEI envisions a world powered by renewable energy.

Colorado Solar and Storage Association (COSSA) formerly known as Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association (COSEIA)– Established in 1989, the Colorado Solar and Storage Association [formerly the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association (COSEIA)] is the award-winning nonprofit association leading Colorado’s solar and storage industries. Our mission is to expand solar and storage markets and to generate jobs and prosperity for the people of Colorado. Together with hundreds of solar and storage business members we work to advance clean energy policies, remove market barriers, highlight emerging trends, and increase solar  and storage education.

GRID Alternatives– GRID Alternatives was founded during the 2001 California energy crisis by Erica Mackie, P.E., and Tim Sears, P.E., two engineering professionals who were implementing large-scale renewable energy and energy efficiency projects for the private sector. The vision that drove them was simple: free, clean electricity from the sun should be available to everyone. Through GRID Alternatives, they developed a model to make solar PV technology practical and accessible for low-income communities that need the savings and jobs the most, yet have the least access. By taking a broader approach to solar as not just an environmental good but also a real-world solution to a real-world economic problem in these communities, GRID Alternatives is helping to set the stage for large-scale solar adoption nationwide.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Chris Turek
SEI Director of Marketing and Communications
Solar Energy International (SEI)
www.solarenergy.org
39845 Mathews Lane
Paonia, CO 81428
970-445-8919
chris@solarenergy.org

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SEI Co-Founder and Newest Board Member, Johnny Weiss, Travels to Tanzania

Johnny Weiss, retired Co-Founder and newest board member, is currently in Tanzania working
with SEI alum, Lukas Kariongi, in developing local solar capacity.
In 1997, was an eager young Maasai from East Africa who traveled to SEI to be trained as a
solar technician. He attended as a tuition scholarship student. His participation was initiated and
sponsored by Dave Berger, a fellow SEI alum.

For nearly twenty years, Lukas has been working to fulfill his goal of solarizing his home village
of Terat, Tanzania. Now a progressive village leader, he recently started and is the Managing
Director of the Rural Community Support Organization (RUCOSUO), a community-based NGO
focused on solar development.

Johnny has been volunteering and helping Lukas develop his organization and solar projects. SEI
is continuing Johnny’s worthwhile grass-roots efforts through SEI’s Outreach Programs.
Additionally, SEI is selling beautiful beaded jewelry made by artisans in the Women’s
Cooperative in Terrat Village. All proceeds will be used by the women to help solar power their
homes and community.

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Exciting changes on the SEI Board!

We are pleased to announce Johnny Weiss, retired SEI Co-Founder, has joined our Board of Directors. Johnny brings his passion for SEI’s charitable and outreach programs to our diverse group of directors. Since his retirement from SEI in 2012, Johnny has focused his efforts on capacity building in Tanzania with SEI alum Lukas Kariongi (see below) and to strengthen and expand the Red Cloud Renewable Energy Center on the Pine Ridge Reservation, SD. “As co-founder, Johnny brings invaluable wisdom and institutional knowledge as we enter this next exciting chapter to almost double our impact in the next three years. He’s been an inspiration and mentor to so many people in the industry, myself included, and it’s an honor to have Johnny in the official capacity of a director on our board.” stated SEI’s Executive Director Kathy Swartz.

We are also pleased to announce Ken Gardner is stepping into the role of President of the Board. Ken, owner and founder of Gardner Energy, is a licensed Professional Civil Engineer, Professional Land Surveyor, Licensed Electrician, Licensed Solar Contractor, and NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer. He’s an SEI alum (2003/2004) and has been teaching PV, microhydro, and solar water pumping since 2009. “I’m happy to serve and lead the organization into the future. There’s a great future in renewable energy and SEI plays a key role in training the workforce. It’s fun to be part of this incredible organization with passionate and dedicated staff and instructors, and students who want to change the world.” Former President Paul Bony, Senior Program Manager at CLEAResult, will continue as Board Vice-President, and Sarah Bishop, non-profit extraordinaire, continues in the role as Secretary- Treasurer.

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Register Today! NABCEP Continuing Education Conference in San Diego March 25-28

Will you be attending the NABCEP CE Conference March 25-28? Many of our students and alumni will be there, and we highly recommend getting connected with NABCEP if you are serious about a career in solar energy! This is one of the MUST ATTEND conferences for solar professionals in the industry. More information.

ABOUT THE NABCEP CE CONFERENCE:

The content presented in this conference is geared toward seasoned PV industry professionals who have several years of installation, solar + storage, technical sales, design, O&M, or system inspection experience. This is the only industry event that allows NABCEP Board Certified Professionals to obtain as many as 21 hours of continuing education credits needed toward their recertification. Although, the conference is primarily intended for NABCEP Certified Professionals who need continuing education credits in order to maintain their certification, renewable energy professionals seeking to advance their career can earn up to 18 hours towards certification eligibility.

Register here >>> NABCEP CE CONFERENCE

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The Levi Heinold/Mountain Power Scholarship

Scott Ely and Sunsense Solar created this scholarship to honor Levi Heinold by empowering aspiring solar professionals to complete SEI’s entry-level solar training and certification.

From Scott Ely:

One of my best friends and long-time solar buddy, Levi Heinold, passed away in late February of 2018.  As I continue to wrestle with this reality, I got to thinking about what he represented to anyone and everyone in his orbit.

I first met Levi at a Solar Technology Institute PV class in Carbondale, Colorado in 1992 (the forerunner of SEI).  Richard and Karen Perez from Home Power were the guest instructors and I was there in a support role as the local solar business owner.  We hit it off immediately (with some assistance from a 12-pack)!

Our friendship only blossomed from there.  As budding solar businessmen, we collaborated on projects and over the next 25 years, we worked extremely hard and shared countless experiences and stories.  We climbed peaks, we camped, we played in the snow and we partied.  I have always, and will always, considered him my brother.

Levi had a work ethic like no other.  In his earlier days he hiked both the Pacific Coast Trail and the Appalachian Trail (twice!).  He built a reputation around a quality business without the use of a website, logos on vehicles…heck, I’m not sure he even had business cards!  Everyone wanted Levi on the job because they could count on personalized service and a job well done.

Most of all, Levi built things and he fixed things.  My standard description of Levi always included…”nothing scares him.”  He was a Master Plumber, NABCEP Certified in PV and DHW, a self-taught mechanic and a problem solver.  Levi was practical, but never shied away from a challenge.  He was a risk-taker, yet laid-back as well.  In short, one of the most solid people I have ever known.

It is with this in mind that I wanted to pay tribute to those that build.  The awards, recognition and yes, the money, generally stay upstream.  But it is literally the people in the trenches that make this whole solar thing work.

So God speed, Levi.  You brought so much love, joy, laughter and passion to this world.  I am a better person having known you and will forever work as hard as I can to continue your vision of a caring people and a sustainable planet.

To those interested in hard work without the hoopla, but with a passion for PV and getting the job done, I offer this scholarship opportunity.  And to those successful in this endeavor, potential employment awaits at Sunsense Solar!

Join us in honoring Levi by making a gift in his honor today. Visit:  https://www.solarenergy.org/scholarship-funds/

Select “donate now” which will redirect you to our donation page. Write in “Levi Heinold/Mountain Power Scholarship” under Your own cause.  Together, we are envisioning a world powered by renewable energy. Rest easy, Levi.

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