left_shadow.jpg
eNews_Banner
 

Support SEI with
Your iPad.

image003(1)
Download the Introduction to
Renewable Energy eBook
for Apple iPad
FREE


View the Full 2014
Training Schedule >>


training-160x600

Solar Energy International has a strong community presence on social networks. Please consider joining these SEI groups:
 

Find us on Facebook linkedin-new
Follow us on twitter youtube-new

Your Generosity
Ensures our Success!

SEI depends on our donors to continue our educational programs.

Please join us! In 2014, we have ambitious and exciting plans to expand our Outreach Programs and reach more people than ever before. As always, we need your help to make this happen. 

Click here for details on
how to donate to SEI.

Forward this newsletter
to a friend

forward email

 

Congratulations to SEI's
Solar Selfie Winner – Kendra Hubbard

kendra 2What a fun month seeing friends and alumni from all over the world post their Solar Selfies!  

Congratulations to Kendra whose photo made us all smile here at SEI and across the globe! The solar industry is a fun and sometimes wacky sector in which to work. Your photo makes us all remember to just keep on smiling!

Check out the full photo gallery of Solar Seflies from all across the world – View Photo Gallery >>

FB_selfies
 


SEI Audio Podcast Interview with RMI
The Economics of Grid Defection
rmi
Read the full report: http://www.rmi.org/electricity_grid_defection

View SEI's grid-direct and battery-based solar PV training schedule: https://www.solarenergy.org/workshop-schedule?date&location&category=3

 


SEI's 7th Annual Instructor Traininguntitled-8564

If you've ever taken an SEI training, you know that SEI's instructors are top-notch at what they do. Not only do they have a wealth of experience in designing and installing renewable energy systems, but they love to share their knowledge with students.

SEI recently brought together 40 of our instructors, staff, and industry guests for our 7th Annual Instructor Training from March 3-5 in Paonia, Colorado.  The training consisted of a variety of specialized, high level trainings including: 2014 NEC training with Bill Brooks, Online Education and Training with Barbara Martin, Performance Modeling, Common NEC Violations in Large-Scale PV Systems, and lots of shared knowledge from our incredible instructors.

Plus, there was fabulous locally-grown food from Paonia chefs and farmers, Revolution Brewery beer, and tech talk that stretched well after midnight. SEI Instructor Kelly Larson said, "This training is like tech camp, Disneyland, and a family reunion all in one.” The positive energy from this group was simply electric!

Many thanks to our industry sponsors and presenters including Quickmount PV, Advanced Energy Corp., Folsom Labs/ Helioscope, RBI Solar, and Ilsco.

View Full 2014 SEI Instructor Training Event Photo Gallery >>
 


Ed Franklin – Passion for Solar Energy

Ed

Ed is part of the Department of Energy's Solar Instructor Training Network and has been working closely with SEI through this grant.

What is your passion project? What is the project that gets you excited and makes your work worthwhile? For Ed Franklin, PV is his passion project.

Ed is an Associate Professor of Agricultural Education at the University of Arizona. He teaches courses in welding, machinery management, electrical wiring, irrigation, and turf management, and integrates his passion project, PV, into almost all of these topics. For Ed, PV is a vehicle to teach the basic concepts of math and science. Classroom theory, such as Ohm’s Law, is applied when students design and install PV systems at their Campus Agricultural Center.

Read the full story…
 


Boulder, Colorado – PV101: Solar Electric Design and Installation – April 14th

PV101 2
Course Description: This course will provide an overview of the three basic PV system applications, primarily focusing on grid-direct systems. The goal of the course is to create a fundamental understanding of the core concepts necessary to work with all PV systems, including:  system components, site analysis, PV module criteria, mounting solutions, safety, and commissioning. The course will also cover the basics of sizing a residential grid-direct system, wire sizing, overcurrent protection, and grounding

More info:
https://www.solarenergy.org/workshop/solar-training-solar-electric-design-and-installation-grid-direct?wid=2133
 


SEI Offers IAEI Inspector Trainings
IAEI 2

Last month, SEI trained close to 200 inspectors through the Solar Instructor Training Network, a program of the Department of Energy’s Sunshot Initiative. This network, of which SEI is a regional provider, promotes and provides training and expertise in the installation of solar technologies. In addition to training and working with community colleges and universities that offer solar programs, the network also provides training to solar inspectors to ensure high-quality installations.

Read full story…
 


 

SEI Kicks Off of Lab Training Season

lab_week
In April and May SEI will be kicking off the 2014 hands-on lab training season with the following training opportunities:
Call SEI Student Services at 970-527-7657 x1 if you have any questions about SEI's hands-on labs.
 

SEI Teams with Pacheco Company
Receives GSA Schedule Approval
GSA
SEI has teamed with Pacheco Company on a U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) schedule GS07F-0286W. Pacheco Company is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB). The GSA establishes long-term government-wide contracts with commercial firms to provide access to millions of commercial products and services at volume discount pricing.  SEI offers online, in-person and hands-on training in a variety of renewable energy technologies on the GSA.

“SEI is honored to be teaming with Pacheco Company on the GSA schedule. President Obama has made renewable energy a priority within the federal government and this opens up opportunities for SEI to provide our industry-leading renewable energy training to individuals from all departments within the government" stated Kathy Swartz, SEI’s Executive Director.

Swartz went onto to say, "Whether a specialized trainer within the Air Force, a maintenance technician on an Army base, a nursery manager in the US Forest Service, or a program manager within the Department of Energy, SEI offers customized online and in-person trainings to meet the renewable energy goals of each Department.”

For more information – contact SEI at (970) 527-7657
 


SEI Alumni and Friends from SunSense Solar Wins the SunPower 2013
“Intelegant Award for Excellence”

SunSense
Many of the team members at Sunsense Solar are SEI alums and have been great supporters of SEI for years.  

Sunsense Solar, a Colorado-based solar installer and SunPower Premier Dealer, today announced that it has received the national SunPower “Intelegant Award for Excellence” for a 123-kilowatt solar photovoltaic project installed on the roof of the Wayne N. Aspinall Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Grand Junction, Colo., in 2013.

The SunPower Intelegant Award recognizes residential and commercial dealer installations that exemplify SunPower’s commitment to excellence in aesthetics, quality, workmanship and customer satisfaction. This is an annual award open to the nearly 400 SunPower dealer partners throughout the United States. Sunsense Solar received the 2010 Residential Intelegant Award and has now been honored with the prestigious 2013 Commercial Intelegant Award.

Read full story at SunSenseSolar.com…


Spring 2014 Solar Professionals Certificate Program Graduates
SPCP_banner
Congratulations to SEI's Spring SPCP graduates! 

Babafemi Adegbite
Jesse Anderson
Kimberly Barnhart
Lee Chapman
John Andrew Collins
Alfredo Della Rocco
Jim Fenton
Dana Jones
Claudette Martin
Jill Maynard
Michael McPherron
Brian Meixensperger
Mark Merena
Dylan Reed-Maxfield
John Scott III

More Info about SEI's Solar Professionals Certificate Program
or Call: 970-527-7657 x1

The SEI Student Services Team is reviewing candidate applications for 2014 Solar Professionals Certificate Program (SPCP) – Apply Today!

SPCP button

Applicants should apply as soon as possible in order for SEI Student Services advisors to schedule a training advising session before the next round of prerequisite courses.


 
Thank you for supporting Solar Energy International

To all Solar Energy International supporters, SEI sends thanks!

Help create a sustainable future. Please forward this e-newsletter to your friends and colleagues.

Solar Energy International – 39845 Mathews Lane • Paonia, CO 81428