In 2010, there were 3.1 million jobs in the U.S. associated with the production of “green goods and services” in the private sector and government, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported in March.

 

But there’s a huge variation from one region of the country to another, said Todd Cohen of the American Association of Community College’s SEED (Sustainability, Education and Economic Development) Center, so it’s critical to conduct labor market research on the skill and competency needs of local alternative energy businesses. Colleges also should work closely with workforce agencies and form partnerships with employers, he suggested.

 

While a growing number of community colleges are investing in solar, wind and smart grid technology programs, it might make more sense for some to add alternative energy components to existing programs, such as incorporating alternative fuels into automotive technology programs, Cohen said. 

In Michigan, Lansing Community College (LCC) revised its program in 2010 when it determined the associate degree it was offering in energy management was too broad, and “there weren’t any jobs” for graduates, said Sean Huberty, lead faculty member in LCC’s Alternative Energy Program.

 

That program degree called for students to master the basics of wind, solar, geothermal and bio energy, along with fuel cells. But opportunities were limited in Michigan, where there isn’t much solar energy going on and the wind industry doesn’t employ many people, he said.

 

Most graduates were getting jobs in residential and commercial energy auditing and weatherization, so the college revamped the program to concentrate on those occupations. It now offers an associate degree in alternative energy engineering technologies.

 

People who complete that program are getting jobs doing energy audits for utility companies, private firms and non-profits, said Huberty. He added that one recent graduate was hired as energy coordinator for an entire township and is responsible for 27 buildings.

 

Huberty predicts the next area for growth in green building technology will be “commissioning,” which calls for people to verify all systems in a commercial building—such as the heating and cooling flow rates, electric lines and lighting—work properly.

 

There are 147 students in LCC’s alternative energy program, which is a bit more than last semester, but way down from 2008-09 when there were 437 students, many of them laid off from automobile or other factories or construction jobs, Huberty said.

 

LCC is in the third year of a $770,000 Advanced Technological Education grant from the National Science Foundation to design a curriculum and create an alternative energy career pathway encompassing high school, community college, four-year college and the job market, focusing on mechanical engineering, HVAC, architecture and construction management. 

                                                                                                                 

 

Two years ago, Hagerstown Community College (HCC) in Maryland began offering an associate degree in alternative energy technology plus a two-year certification in solar and wind energy installation and service.

 

Many community colleges focus on the design and installation of these types of systems, said Anthony Valente, an instructor in industrial and energy technology. HCC evaluated the types of skills needed and determined that training students to service these systems would give them a leg up in the job market.

 

Instead of starting from scratch, HCC layered its alternative energy courses onto existing programs, such as HVAC, plumbing and electricity. “That allows us to produce people with fundamental skills that are employable in many other industries,” Valente said.

 

Students are split equally among those going for an associate degree—which qualifies them for two certificates—and those just pursuing certificates.

 

Initially, most students were interested in solar and wind energy, Valente said. But over the last 10 months, he’s seen a spike in the number of students interested in geothermal energy, as more homeowners and schools in the area are embracing those systems. 

 

A five-story science and technology building on the HCC campus opened in January with solar and wind systems that are used for teaching and also offset some of the college’s energy costs. The building uses geothermal wells to heat classrooms and has a rainwater retention system for irrigation and non-potable water.

 

In addition, HCC is building an “energy house,” a residential structure with alternative energy systems that will be used as a laboratory, where students can practice installing solar and geothermal systems, change air flow and conduct energy audits.

 

Valente calls the outlook for alternative energy jobs in the region “moderate,” but he believes demand for skilled workers will improve. He said alternative energy technicians with an associate degree and some experience can earn $25 to $35 an hour.

  

Waubonsee Community College (WCC) in Illinois began offering instruction in alternative energy three years ago, when “we realized sustainability was something we needed to bring to our students, and we needed to model sustainability for our students,” said Jane Regnier, assistant vice president of program development and distance learning.

 

WCC developed an interdisciplinary elective course called Creating Your Sustainable Future, Regnier said. The course teaches students how to assess their carbon footprint, their impact on global warming and how to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle.
 
Regnier believes that knowledge is useful for all graduates, whether they work in a factory, hospital or anywhere else.

 

“And if they work in a boardroom, we want them to make the right decisions and ask the right questions,” she added.

 

Because there weren’t large wind or solar farms in the area, and there was interest in reducing homeowners’ utility bills, WCC decided to focus on residential renewable energy. The college started with a certificate program in photovoltaics in spring 2011, said Paul Hummel, dean for technology, mathematics and physical sciences. A certificate program in small wind systems was added this spring, which covers the installation and maintenance of systems that are 100-kilowatts or less.

 

This summer, WCC will roll out the first of three courses leading to a certificate in solar thermal systems, which are used mainly for residential water heating and heated swimming pools. Five students have already enrolled for a class starting in June, which Hummel said is promising for a new course.

 

All of these programs prepare students to take an entry-level certification exam from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP).

 

WCC also added a course in geothermal systems as part of an associate degree program in HVAC technology.

 

“What we do in career and tech ed programs is give students an opportunity to plug in electives from other programs,” said Hummel. It’s becoming increasingly popular for students working on an associate degree in electronics technology to use their electives on photovoltaics.

 

“We’re giving them an edge in the job market by showing they are more versatile,” he said. 

 

WCC installed a five-kilowatt solar panel, small wind turbine and in-ground horizontal geothermal system and water furnace to give students hands-on experience in installation and maintenance. The wind and solar systems are also helping the college reduce its energy costs.

 

With the residential housing market still in a slump, the programs haven’t attracted as many students as the college hoped for. The photovoltaics program was designed for 16 students, for example, but only 12 are enrolled.

 

“We’re waiting for the housing market to come back,” Regnier said. Usually it’s people who are designing and building their own homes or rehabilitating older houses who are most interested in installing these systems.

 

“The problem now is we’re so overbuilt,” she said. “I really do think there will be a need for skilled workers in these fields when the market comes back.”