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Solar Energy International (SEI) is the industry leader in technical training for solar professionals all over the world.  Enroll today and join over 50,000 students and alumni who share our vision of a world powered by renewable energy!

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Please join us! In 2017, 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.

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SEI Responds to U.S. Travel Ban and Refugee Targeting with Scholarship Program

To SEI’s International Alumni, Future Students, and Friends,

The recent actions taken and announcements made by the new U.S. administration concerning travel bans, building border walls, and targeting refugees have been deeply upsetting to us because these actions directly impact our relationship with you. As the status of these policies are quickly evolving, we rightly understand that some of you may be anxious or unable to travel to the U.S.

Since our founding in 1991, Solar Energy International (SEI) has trained people from almost every country on earth in renewable energy. Renewable energy transcends politics and political parties. “International” is in our name for a reason—because our mission is to provide industry-leading training and expertise in renewable energy to empower people, communities and businesses worldwide. And our 50,000+ alumni are having a global impact.

Renewable energy does not have borders and we want you to have access to this knowledge to empower your lives and develop your villages, cities, and countries.

Read the Full Letter >>


SEI Co-Founder Johnny Weiss Travels to Tanzania for Community Solar Projects

lucas

SEI alum Lukas Kariongi – Maasai ‘Solar Warrior’

In 1997, Lukas Kariongi was an eager young Maasai from East Africa who traveled to SEI to be trained as a solar technician. He attended as a 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 Terrat, Tanzania. Now a progressive village leader, he recently started and is the Managing Director of IRUSUT, a community-based NGO focused on solar development. Last week SEI Co-founder Johnny Weiss, Dave and Julie Berger left for Tanzania for a month to help support Lukas with these community solar projects.

Solar Warrior

Many thanks to the SEI friends and alumni for their generous support of this project, including Dave and Annie Katz, Abe Littenberg Foundation, Bruce Plenk ‘02/’04/’09/’13, Tony Massot ‘14/’16, Paul Bony (Board member), Ken Gardner with Gardner Engineering (Board member/SEI instructor), Michael Krival, Ronald Darby, William and Virginia Braden, Gabriel Larson and Sasha Archibald, Jarmila Darby, Mary Butler, Paul Butler, and Allen Green.

 


SEI and WISE Team Up to Empower Women Through Solar Training Partnership

WISE

“Solar Energy International (SEI) is thrilled to announce our expanded partnership with WISE – Women in Solar Energy, encouraging even more women to enter the solar industry. Since SEI’s founding in 1991, we have empowered women to enter the renewable energy  workforce through scholarships, women’s-only trainings, and by the incredible women who teach and work for SEI. By partnering with WISE, our alumni will have access to WISE’s expansive networking opportunities for women to interact with and receive support from other women in the industry. The SEI/WISE partnership leverages what each organization does best and women, whether new to the industry or pioneers, benefit!” Kathy Swartz, SEI Executive Director

Together, WISE and SEI are working to train and empower more women in the solar energy workforce. This partnership will support SEI’s historical outreach efforts to women in the industry and provides discounted training opportunities to WISE’s membership base. All eligible SEI Alumni will be granted membership to WISE at no extra cost, an incredible opportunity for Alumni to connect with an established network of women working in the solar industry!

More information…


SEI’s Online Campus Upcoming Sessions

SEI Online Campus VideoSEI ONLINE CAMPUS OVERVIEW VIDEO >>

Online Sessions Starting February 27th!

SEI Celebrates the Life
of Solar Pioneer – Richard Perez

RichardWe are sad to share that Richard  passed away at his home in southern Oregon earlier this month.

“Richard and Karen Perez were instrumental in SEI’s beginning and evolution. As our very first Advisory Board Members, they inspired, encouraged and supported us all in so many ways. Their generosity, integrity and solidarity lighted our way forward in our early challenging days.

The strategic alliance we formulated with Home Power Magazine was critical to our early survival as a nonprofit solar education and training organization. SEI’s success today is a tribute to their vision of a world powered by practical renewable energy. Solar Power forever… and forward into the light!”  – Johnny Weiss, SEI Co-Founder, January 16, 2017

Read more about Richard…


SEI Announces the Colorado Solar Career Expo March 15th in Broomfield, Colorado

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Join us at the Colorado Solar Career Expo – March 15th at the The Omni Resort and Conference Center in Broomfield, Colorado!

To aid in job preparation and placement for SEI’s students and alumni, Solar Ready Colorado is hosting a career fair and networking event.

The Colorado Solar Career Expo will take place on Wednesday, March 15th 2017 from 1:30-4:00pm at the The Omni Resort and Conference Center in Broomfield, CO,. The event is co-located with Solar Power Colorado for maximum impact of a statewide audience. SEI is coordinating this event with Solar Ready Colorado partners COSEIA and GRID Alternatives Colorado. The Career Expo will host twelve leading solar employers in the state including, Sunrun, Namasté Solar, EcoMark Solar, Clean Energy Collective and Sunsense.

The career fair is free to attend for both employers and attendees and is aimed at anyone who is actively looking for a job, is interested in talking to prospective employers, or is just getting started in the industry.

Career Fair Registration >>


SEI Marches and Stands Up for Renewable Energy and the Protection of Our Environment
Women-in-Solar

A special kudos to all SEI staff, students, and alumni Solar Sisters who  marched earlier this month in the Women’s March on Washington D.C. and in hundreds of locations all over the world!

Aligned with SEI’s vision of a world powered by renewable energy, one of the Women’s March on Washington’s Unity Principles states, “We believe that every person and every community in our nation has the right to clean water, clean air, and access to and enjoyment of public lands. We believe that our environment and our climate must be protected, and that our land and natural resources cannot be exploited for corporate gain or greed – especially at the risk of public safety and health.”

We invite SEI Students, Alumni, and supporters to continue this movement and join us in marching during the People’s Climate March – April 29th in Washington DC and all around the world!
Climate March
More information…


RAK

More information…

 


SEI Selected as Official Training Partner for Solar Middle East – February 14th – 16th in Dubai

Solar Middle East

SEI’s Kristopher Sutton will be leading workshops on:

Each workshop is free to attend for conference attendees and is CPD certified.

More information about Solar Middle East…

 


SEI and Quick Mount PV Team Up to Offer PV101 Training in Walnut Creek, California – Feb. 27th!

Johan“In 2006 Quick Mount PV launched to take on the challenge of connecting the solar industry to roofing best practices by manufacturing high quality, solar installer-friendly mounting and flashing systems. It was through education and training that Quick Mount PV reached installers hungry for better solutions. Ten years later the company continues to innovate, grow, and still maintains the Respect the Roof mentality with the best training and products in the industry. Quick Mount PV is happy to host SEI’s training program that fits right in line with the quality training that is needed in the growing solar industry.”

– Johan Alfsen – Director of Training & Technical Services

PV101: Solar Electric Design and Installation (Grid-Direct)
PV101 is your gateway to a career in the solar industry.  It all starts with the fundamentals, and a solid understanding of various components, system architectures, and applications for PV systems.  Other topics include site analysis, system sizing, array configuration, and performance estimation; electrical design characteristics such as wiring, overcurrent protection, and grounding; a detailed look at module and inverter specifications and characteristics; mounting methods for various roof structures and ground­mounts; and an introduction to safely and effectively commissioning grid­-direct PV systems.  This course focuses on grid-­direct PV systems, the largest and fastest growing segment of the PV industry, but covers material critical to understanding all types of PV systems.  These core concepts are expanded on in SEI’s upper ­level PV courses, which focus more specifically on particular system types, applications and design methodologies.

More info…


SEI’s Solar Ready Colorado Welcomes
Our Newest Employer Partners!

Solar Ready Colorado LogoThrough Solar Ready Colorado, SEI is recruiting Colorado-based students who are interested in getting into the solar industry as well as candidates from many employment sectors.  People with transferable skills are enrolling in our program and come from coal mining and oil and gas development, electricians and construction trades, military veterans and other professionals.

SEI Welcomes Sunsense Solar as an Employer Partner to the Solar Ready Colorado initiative!

Sunsense

“One of Sunsense Solar’s main hallmarks is our commitment to superior craftsmanship. This extends to every aspect of our business, from sales and design to installation and service, so when looking to hire personnel, we want to recruit from a well trained and certified workforce.
Partnering with Solar Energy International’s (SEI) Solar Ready Colorado Training Program gives us the assurance we need that potential candidates have been trained to the highest of standards and have the knowledge and skills necessary to continue the Sunsense commitment to excellence in all we do.”

To learn more about Sunsense visit: www.sunsensesolar.com

SEI Welcomes Namasté Solar as a Colorado Based Employer Partner to the Solar Ready Colorado Initiative!

Namaste

“For the past ten years, Namasté Solar, has been impressed with the quality of students that come through the SEI training. We believe that renewable energy is here to stay and SEI’s training is necessary to have qualified applicants for the types of job roles we employ at our company. Renewable energy jobs in Colorado are jobs for the future.” – Teri Lema, HR Specialist at Namasté Solar.

View Namasté Solar jobs: https://namastesolar.applicantpro.com/jobs/

Solar Ready Colorado

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 Solar Energy International’s (SEI) long running, non-profit 501(c)(3) technical training program to those interested in entering the Colorado solar industry.

More information…

 


SEI Solar Training Classes
and Labs for Spring 2017 – Enroll Now!SEI Training Overview Video

Watch SEI Training Overview Video >>

What a great year it has been! If you plan on attending any of SEI’s solar training events this Spring or early Summer 2017 – YOU SHOULD ENROLL NOW! 

Most of our in-person courses were 100% full this year!  Class seats go fast for our highly attended hands-on labs, classroom courses, and online courses.

View the 2017 Training Schedule >>
or call SEI Student Services at 970-527-7657 x1


SEI Expands Veterans Outreach Efforts
Use Your VA Education Benefits Today!

Vets

In recent weeks, SEI’s Solar Ready Colorado Veterans Outreach Recruiter, Kevin Sova, had the honor of representing our non-profit school at a Ft. Carson career fair. Kevin met with over 100 military service members to talk with them about our solar training program and the great opportunity of working in the clean energy sector after they leave the military.

Solar Energy International (SEI) is pleased to offer comprehensive Veterans Educational Funding and outreach programs for veterans and active duty military personnel. We proudly offer educational opportunities and benefits to military members, their families, and veterans who have honorably served.

CALL SEI’s VETERANS COUNSELOR at
970-527-7657 x108
or email: [email protected]

SEI is now authorized to offer eligible veterans the ability to use their education benefits towards our in-person classroom and hands-on lab training through SEI’s Solar Professionals Certificate Program (SPCP).
SEI Solar Vets
This education funding approval is part of SEI’s broader expansion of their Active Duty Military and Veterans Outreach Program.  As an organization, SEI believes in the opportunities that renewable energy can offer our country, such as energy independence and sustainable use of our country’s natural resources.  With that in mind, we also honor those who have served our country and who are choosing to follow up their military service with a new kind of service;  service in the renewable energy sector.

Read more…


U.S. Department of Energy Report Finds the U.S. Solar Workforce increased 25% in 2016
DOE-Report
This report also found that 73% of all employers surveyed found it “difficult or very difficult” to hire new employees with needed skills. Let’s make it easier for these employers to find skilled solar professionals! Get your solar training with SEI today!  View training schedule >>

SEI Announces First Round of 2017
Solar Professionals Certificate
Program (SPCP) Graduates

SPCP_logoSEI is proud to announce our most recent graduating class!  The SEI Solar Professionals Certificate Program (SPCP) is a selective admissions program to help ensure the success of our students and provide a quality workforce for the solar industry.  This is SEI’s most rigorous training program and requires at least 200 contact hours for completion. 

Congratulations to the following students:

  • Ismail Aliyu
  • Rick Naranjo
  • Ryan Roller

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




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