Solar Energy International’s (SEI) Programa Hispano Alumni Spotlight: Natalia Gómez

Natalia Gómez came to Solar Energy International (SEI) to attend hands-on solar installer training as a part of SEI’s Programa Hispano. She travelled to SEI’s Paonia, CO training facility from Bogotá, Colombia to complete FV201L, a hands-on, lab-based course in grid-tied, residential photovoltaic  systems taught entirely in Spanish.

She hopes to bring more renewable energy back to Colombia through her education at SEI. In her interviews she describes how the labs classes allowed her to learn and bond with her classmates in the Programa Hispano and allowed time to really engage with her instructors.  Of her overall experience she says “When you get to Paonia and SEI, you really do feel part of a supportive family and that’s the most important thing.”

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Solar Energy International (SEI) Alumni Spotlight: Doug Sabetti – A Lifelong Fight for Solar

In 6th grade I learned that the sun provided enough energy in 1 hour to power the world for a year. That fact stuck with me. As a little kid, I remember thinking “why don’t we power everything with the sun?” As an adult, my interest in the solar energy field began when I purchased some land in a remote corner of Utah and needed to make electricity away from power lines. The first time I powered a light from the sun,with no connection to the grid, it seemed like magic; I was fascinated and instantly hooked.

Living in Rhode Island, I sought out and found the most knowledgeable person in the local solar industry and he became my mentor. With his advice, I took classes from Solar Energy International, the most reputable solar school in the country. With a 30-year career in construction and carpentry, I decided that I wanted to make the switch to Renewable Energy as a new career. After completing PV 101-Solar Electric Design And Installation (Grid Direct), PV 202- Advanced PV System Design And the NEC (Grid Direct) and PV 203- PV System Fundamentals (Battery-Based) from Solar Energy International, I worked for a few different local installers. The problem for me was they did not have the proper PV education and were doing poor work. I had part-time work with my mentor, but he lived remotely on an island and it was not a practical arrangement.

With a strong desire to do things right, I relied on my education from SEI and started my own business, Newport Solar. At the time, there wasn’t much for regulation on solar in RI, but I knew that would change. With continued advice and guidance, I pursued national certification to distinguish myself in the field, attaining NABCEP Solar Installation Professional Certification in 2011. At the time I started Newport Solar, there wasn’t much for incentives in RI, but there was a 25% state tax credit. When I installed my first system, the homeowner received the tax credit and the future looked bright. When I installed my second system, the tax credit had disappeared, and the future suddenly didn’t seem so bright anymore. That early lesson taught me that not only would I need to be an expert on solar, but I would also have to learn policy. One of my state representatives pointed out that doing something good for the environment could also do something good for the economy and she worked to get the tax credit reinstated, but it was an uphill battle. I testified for that reinstatement, but we lost that battle and work in the solar field became hard to find. I continued working as a carpenter, installing a PV system every once in awhile.

When our state joined forces with neighboring states to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the legislators took another look at solar incentives. A few of our neighboring states had solar incentives in place and their industries were thriving. Having one of the worst economies in the nation, Rhode Island finally took a serious look at solar again and created a solar grant program. With the grant in place, along with the federal tax credit, my solar work started picking up again.

Fast-forward five years, and a lot of hard work, I now employ eleven people and our business is thriving. I enroll all of my installers, including licensed electricians, with Solar Energy International for the absolute best PV education in this ever-changing field of renewable energy.

Recently, we were honored to host our Governor to celebrate Newport Solar as a successful local solar business that has thrived on the good policies our state has created. Once our legislators learned how improving the environment and improving the economy go hand-in-hand, they continued to support good, fair solar policies and now my business, and the local renewable energy industry, are both thriving. The discussions with the local utility continue on how to create the “grid of the future”, but one thing is certain, solar will be a big part of it and the future looks bright!

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Results are in, Solarize Delta County yields 150kW

The sun has set on the recent Solarize campaign, but the future of the solar market in Delta County is bright. Results of this program revealed that as a community, Delta County invested $500,000 in 150 kW of solar energy, achieving the $500 mark in a tiered rebate system. In total, this program has introduced 19 new PV systems to the region.

The results of this program were achieved through a community effort in attending educational events, reading the Solarize newsletter, and opting to install PV systems on their homes and businesses. The program hosted 30 outreach events with over 850 attendees. These efforts ultimately added more local, distributed energy to our grid.

These results in conjunction with the first round of Solarize, Solarize North Fork Valley, reveal a greater, positive trend in PV installation in Delta County. Through the campaigns, there have been 42 solar PV system installations, totaling 272 kW of solar in Delta County. Overall, community members invested nearly one million dollars in solar energy, demonstrating a commitment to a solar market. There have been 55 educational and outreach events that over 1,200 people in our county have attended, further exemplifying an interest in fostering a community committed to solar. Additionally, Solarize has partnered with 16 local businesses and nonprofits during the campaigns, and two banks which offered the first solar-friendly loans in Delta County.

Most importantly, this landmark achievement could not have been done without Solarize’s partners. These partners include Delta County Economic Development, who played a pivotal role in joining the campaign, the installers, Empower Energy Systems LLC, who provided high quality solar PV installations, customer service and expertise, and regional partners who hosted Solarize at events and shared Solarize updates with their members.

Other major contributors to this program, our utilities, who worked with Delta County residents to set up net-metering systems, and Delta County solar energy considerers, and adopters, who took the time to learn about the benefits of solar energy, and added local, clean energy to their homes and businesses.

The end of Solarize is not the end of solar in the region, it is just the beginning. Results from both campaigns have planted the seed for a developing market in Delta County, and for those still interested in going solar, resources are readily available and accessible in the region. As solar becomes more accessible, there is great potential for solar energy to reach a broader demographic of people and continue to act as a smart investment for consumers. Solar Energy International looks forward to working with our community to utilize solar as an economic driver for years to come!

Those still interested in going solar can contact Empowered Energy Systems LLC at 970-234-5412.

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SEI Alumni Highlight: Patrick Bunton – A Story Bigger than Solar

For Patrick Bunton, the story was always bigger than solar, however photovoltaic technology has always been a constant. A Professor of Physics at William Jewell College, Patrick came to Solar Energy International as student instead of a teacher. He attended SEI’s PV 201L solar installer training, a week-long, hands-on lab class where students experience the installation and commissioning of multiple PV systems. However, his first contact with SEI was during a hands-on solar training course in Costa Rica: Renewable Energy for Developing Nations. He enrolled in the class with the belief that course would helpful to the Physics Department and his students.

And he was right. The Physics Department at William Jewell recently revamped their program to emphasize sustainable solutions like renewable energy. Patrick says the Physics Department “utilizes sustainability as a motivator and as a tool for physics education. You can teach an awful lot of physics using solar and wind power. We want our graduates to have world impact. We want to show them that their skills matter and that that can make a positive impact using their degree.” When prospective students are visiting campus, Patrick advises students interested in pursuing math and science degrees about the importance of energy and its role in international development issues when they think about their future careers. In fact, a recent student told him that she majored in physics because she wanted to change the world.

Patrick himself is a great example of using technical skills and solar technology in a really impactful way. He is an advisor to the board of Xela-Aid, a non profit development organization working with Mayan communities in Guatemala. The organization is currently working on developing a new community center designed from the beginning to be solar powered. The organization does workforce development and training.  They’ve also collaborated with Patrick and William Jewell College to do educational camps for children in the community. For instance, in partnership with Xnneela Aid,  William Jewell students and faculty travelled to Guatemala to lead a science and technology camp for Mayan youth. The campers learned to build solar powered lanterns in mason jars which they then brought home, frequently to residences that had no electricity.

Patrick has continued to teach and continued to learn. His story reminds his students and his SEI classmates all over the world that they can use their technical skills for all sorts of applications. Best of luck to him and the current and future students in the program!

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