William Silva and Lanier Tech Team up for Another NABCEP Course
Corporate Sponsors Help Lanier Technical College Build Solar Installation Lab. Alpharetta—Feb 26, 2010— Wearing hard hats, goggles, and fall protection harnesses, the first graduating class from Georgia’s only NABCEPp TM approved Entry Level Solar Photovoltaic Installer Program stand confidently on a simulated roof surrounded by solar panels. The roof is located at Lanier Technical College’s brand new Solar Photovoltaic Installation training lab at their Milton campus.
Students from various backgrounds including electrical workers, construction workers, full time students and information technology professionals are completing the class that teaches them the basics of installing Solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems. This technology converts sunlight directly to usable electricity for homes and commercial buildings. “Solar power installation is a red-hot industry nationwide and growing in Georgia. Georgia is just now beginning to take the policy strides necessary to build a strong solar industry like in North Carolina, Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and California. Our students will be among the first ready to support the burgeoning demand caused by dramatically lower solar PV system costs”, said William Silva, Solar Instructor and Adjunct Coordinator of Solar Programs at Lanier Technical College.
“The lab was built with state of the art solar power equipment donations”, states Gary Smith, Lanier Technical College Foundation Chairman. “The LTC Foundation is pleased to acknowledge the following companies for their in-kind donations which helped to make this solar training facility a reality”: SMA, the world’s largest solar PV inverter manufacturer; Direct Power and Water, a racking system manufacturer; Solectria, a US based inverter manufacturer; United Renewable Energy LLC, a Georgia-based solar PV integrator and Suniva, the Norcross, GA based high efficiency solar cell and module manufacturer.
“We are grateful to our many high-caliber corporate sponsors. Their generosity allows us to provide a high caliber training lab to students interested in learning to install solar PV power sources” said Russell Vandiver, Acting President of Lanier Technical College. “We are especially proud to work with Suniva to continue building Georgia’s increasing interest in solar”.
The first graduating class from the solar program is eligible for the NABCEPtm Entry Level Solar PV installer certification. “This course provides immediate credibility in a growing industry which desperately needs trained installers. The best part was installing panels on the roof, but we also learned the fundamentals of solar design and installation”, said Bently Harris of Cleveland, Georgia, a student in the first graduating class. “Lanier Technical College has provided a quality training facility for installers that will help us find jobs, and help the industry find qualified employees locally. I recommend this course to anyone interested in working in solar energy in Georgia.”
The next class begins April 13 and runs until May 27 at the Milton Center in Alpharetta. Registration is on-line at www.laniertech.edu for further information call 770- 531-4500.
About United Renewable Energy, LLC: United Renewable Energy, LLC (URE) delivers practical, economical, renewable energy systems to businesses and homes. Alpharetta, Georgia based URE provides consulting, design, sales, financing and installation of solar electric generation systems. Operating the only renewable energy showroom in Georgia, URE provides commercial, utility scale and residential solar power systems and educational outreach and advocacy for renewable energy solutions. URE are founding contributors to Lanier Technical College’s Solar PV Lab, and provide NABCEPtm Certified PV Installers as instructors for the Solar PV Entry Level course.