CCRI and the state have teamed up to train electricians and owners of homes and businesses in the proper installation of solar-powered energy systems.

09:24 AM EDT on Tuesday, October 11, 2005

BY BRANDIE JEFFERSON
Journal Environment Writer

Increasing energy costs have caused many Rhode Island residents to seek out new, renewable technologies. "Our office is inundated with calls from homeowners and business owners looking to reduce their energy bills," said Patrick Condon, special projects coordinator at the State Energy Office.

The most popular renewable energy systems in the state are solar-powered, according to Condon, but there are only a few contractors who know how to install and maintain solar panels. "They're finding it difficult to keep up with all the inquiries," he said.

To bridge the gap between demand and supply, the State Energy Office and the Community College of Rhode Island are planning a training course for electricians on solar-powered technology.

The 40-hour course will combine classroom work with hands-on training at the CCRI Training and Technology Center in the Quonset Business Park where students will get a chance to install solar panels on makeshift rooftops.

Robert Delaney, of the CCRI Division of Lifelong Learning, developed the program after winning a grant from the State Energy Office.

The class is designed for professional electricians, he said, but is open to owners of homes or businesses who are interested in learning about solar panel installation.

Students will learn to install two types of solar panels, Delaney said, rooftop panels and panels that are bolted to concrete on the ground. Both systems can create electricity for immediate use, or store it in a battery for later use. If a system generates more electricity than needed, it can sometimes be sold to the utility company.

Classes will be taught by CCRI instructors and led by Christopher Warfel, president of Entech Engineering, a contracting firm on Block Island.

Warfel said the class will be modeled after the certification program offered by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners, an organization that is working to develop a consistent certification for solar panel technicians.

"Interest in solar energy is definitely growing," Warfel said, thanks to a number of state and federal incentives.

In Rhode Island, the state provides a $4.50 per watt "buy down" for the installation of solar panels. That means, according to Condon, if a homeowner installs solar panels that provide 1,000 watts of energy, the homeowner will receive a check for $4,500 to help offset the cost of installation.

The money for these programs comes from a "conservation surcharge" on residents' utility bills. "Without that," Condon said, "we would not have any incentives."

"People are just more conscious of the cost of energy and the need for alternative forms," Delaney said.

"This program is evidence that there's more of a demand" for solar power, he said. "We wouldn't do the class if there wasn't a demand."

For more information, contact CCRI at (401) 294-5427.

Brandie Jefferson has a fellowship with the Metcalf Institute for Marine and Environmental Reporting. She can be reached at bjeffers [at] projo.com.