Midwest Renewable Energy Association

Instructor Training

We are pleased to announce an exciting training opportunity for solar instructors in the Midwest.

As part of a 5-year, federally funded initiative through the U.S. Department of Energy, the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) is working with partner organizations in seven Midwestern states to provide training to instructors involved in solar photovoltaic and solar thermal installer training programs. The first offering in this program is a series of 5-day Instructor Institutes that will take place at the MREA’s ReNew the Earth Institute in Custer, WI, 10 miles east of Stevens Point.

Participants in the institutes will participate in the MREA's Institute for Sustainable Power Quality (ISPQ)-Accredited Training Program. For more information about the MREA’s ISPQ accreditation, please visit the Accreditation page.

Participants will advance through lecture, site evaluation, and hands-on installation experiences on a solar training roof. In addition, course instructors will provide information and facilitate discussion on model training programs, curriculum development, sustainable financing, and training lab design. Upon completion of the institute, participants will have continued access to an online shared resources environment for solar instructors managed by the MREA as part of the Midwest Solar Training Network.

Summer 2010 offerings include:

Solar Photovoltaics Instruction

IN 101.01 PV – Photovoltaic Instructor Institute, July 19-23, 2010 in Custer, WI
IN 101.02 PV – Photovoltaic Instructor Institute, August 2-6, 2010 in Custer, WI

Solar Thermal Instruction

IN 101.01 ST – Solar Thermal Instructor Institute, July 26-30, 2010 in Custer, WI
IN 101.02 ST – Solar Thermal Instructor Institute, August 9-13, 2010 in Custer, WI

Enrollment is limited to 12 instructors in each course and is open to instructors from Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota. The MREA and its Midwest training partners will review applications to determine course enrollment.

Successful applicants will have significant teaching and training experience, support from an established training program, access to training facilities, and a long-term commitment to quality renewable energy education. They will be required to attend a webinar prior to the Instructor Institutes, as well as one after completing the course. In addition, as part of a 5-year, federally funded initiative, they will be expected to submit data to the MREA regarding the number of students they have taught.

Course fees, travel, and lodging will be subsidized with support from the U.S. Department of Energy. A stipend of up to $1500 is available to all participants who complete the institute and fulfill the post-course requirements, including the development and sharing of instructional materials. Graduate credit is available through the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

To download an application, click HERE. A letter of support from the institution or organization where the applicant teaches must accompany this application. The letter should indicate how the institution would support the applicant’s work to train a solar installer workforce. Please submit the application and letter of support to apply@the-mrea.org.

The priority deadline for applications and letters of support is May 1, 2010. However, applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until May 15, 2010.

Decisions will be announced in May. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Katrina Shankland at 715-592-6595 x 106 or katrina@the-mrea.org.

For more information about this solar market transformation and training initiative, feel free to visit the U.S. Department of Energy's Website.

Download the application HERE.