SLCC Energy Management Students Getting Noticed by Utah Government

EDITOR's NOTE:
This is an online version of a story that appeared in the web edition of The Globe newspaper and is available here. The article was also print published in The Globe, February 13, 2012, but attributed to another author in error.

SALT LAKE CITY, UT

Salt Lake Community College's (SLCC) "Green Academy" Energy Management (EM) students are drawing synergistic notice from Utah State's energy and economic development governing bodies. Two special meetings held recently between select Green Academy students and Utah Office of Energy Development (OED)  top officials is strengthening the school's position in Utah's energy economy. 

Resulting were several students participating as special volunteers in Governor Herbert's and OED's Energy Development Summit  held February 15 at the Salt Palace Convention Center  downtown Salt Lake. The Center boasts Utah's largest solar photovoltaic roof installation and largest nationally for a convention center.

The "sold out" event drew 1,000 attending from 28 states and special praise from Governor Herbert.

Salt Palace Convention Center

Governor Herbert at Energy Summit

CONTINUING STORY

"Our main objective is to let all the energy people, especially those in the [OED] office and the Governor's Office...that Salt Lake Community College is involved in energy," said Debbie Reese, a Green Academy student who organized the sessions with Utah officials.

Among those that convened were:

- Perry Thomson, Associate Director of USTAR and Special Projects for OED

- Denise Brems, OED Partner Coordinator

- Jeffrey Barrett, OED Renewable Energy Coordinator.

A year ago March, the Utah Governor's Office released a 10-year strategic energy plan, a first for the state that was the result of a several month effort to develop Governor Herbert's Utah Energy Initiative [for more on Governor Herbert's ideas on energy development for Utah, see this interview, part 1 here, and part 2 here]. The OED was created out of this plan, under the direction of Samantha M. Julian, who reports direct to Amanda Smith the Governor's Energy Advisor.

 

Video of Office of Energy Development Director Samantha Julian 

presenting at Uintah Energy Summit in October, 2011.

One strategic goal from the plan is aligning Utah's main research universities into a powerful energy research "triangle" of innovative leaders in the energy economy. Included are:

- University of Utah

- Utah State University

- Brigham Young University

This places institutions such as Salt Lake Community College in an alternate category to fill "...an essential role in developing and maintaining a technically-trained Utah workforce" that supports the researchers and engineers by offering a curricula that focus on safety, regulatory, production and technical certifications.

The initiative of the Green Academy students, however, may expand the "triangle." Jeffrey Barrett, Renewable Energy Coordinator for OED, contacted Elisha Suazo, the SLCC EM Program Coordinator, and made available a semester-long internship in the OED office. The position filled in January, and includes assisting OED in reviewing and processing Utah Renewable Energy Systems Tax Credit applications. The internship is paid, with funds from a State Energy Sector Partnership grant issued to SLCC.

Jeffery Barrett

Participating in OED's programs are also part of the internship, including a special joint project with Utah Clean Energy  to study data of average actual costs of solar photovoltaic systems installations in Utah and present accurate findings.

"We understand that the [SLCC] energy program is more robust, so it makes sense to collaborate more," added Barrett.

SLCC's EM program, now in its 4th co-hort class since its 2009, is part of the Continuing Education department and leads to a full-credit AAS accelerated degree. The Green Academy also offers other Certificate and training programs.

"Sign in and get involved. We could be looking at internships from this," said Stanley McOmber to his fellow EM students to attend the Energy Development Summit.  It is clear that taking initiative in getting involved will make the difference in the student experience and lead to rewarding opportunities.

Tim Loftis

Tim Loftis, who instructs the "Alternative Energy Technologies" class for the EM program, and who is the Salt Lake City Economic Development Manager for Economic Development Corporation of Utah (EDCUtah), reiterated the importance.

"When I was starting out in the industry, I worked for five years cold calling people and getting to know who the players were in the business," said Loftis, who holds a special interest in renewable energy, emerging technologies, and entrepreneurism.  "Getting out there will pay off. Trust me. Now the people I was calling are calling me."

DID YOU ATTEND THE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT IN FEBRUARY? 

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE EVENT AND UTAH ENERGY FUTURE?

HOW ARE YOU GETTING INVOLVED IN ENERGY OR SUSTAINABILITY IN YOUR COMMUNITY? 

Please add your comment below!

contributor contact:

Michael Hawker

mchawker@yahoo.com

314-713-5034