News Release

IWV Campus

Cerro Coso Community College Hosts Statewide Community College Faculty Wind Technology Training

August 26, 2008

Cerro Coso Community College hosted the California Advanced Transportation Technology & Energy (ATTE) Professional Development Technical Training for Community College Faculty in Utility-scale Wind Technology August 11-15, 2008 at the Indian Wells Valley Campus in Ridgecrest, California. Cerro Coso College is on the leading edge in the development of an Industrial Technology program with an emphasis in wind technology serving Tehachapi, Mojave and the surrounding areas.

The five day intensive training was taught by Airstreams, Inc., a leading wind industry expert located in Tehachapi. The training provided community college faculty with up-to-date educational materials developed in collaboration with industry partners and the University of California at Davis. Twenty-one faculty from all over the state attended this training to learn how to prepare the future workforce for the wind industry which is expanding all over the state. In addition to community college faculty, industry and educational partners included University of California at Davis, EnXco, and Vestas all provided insight and instruction. On the final day of training, the group traveled to Tehachapi and climbed a wind turbine.

"The Wind Technician program at Cerro Coso is essential to our industry. It is imperative that we have access to a pool of trained and educated individuals; this program will fulfill our employment needs. With the growth potential and meeting the mandates of the Renewable Portfolio Standard, the Tehachapi Mojave Wind Resource Area will develop an additional 4500 MW of wind generation; this growth will also have great employment potential for the local residents of Ridgecrest and the surrounding area" stated Linda Parker, Kern Wind Energy Association.

"Cerro Coso Community College is committed to serving the needs of our students, employers and industry in our service area and the state. This statewide training further prepares our faculty to provide a relevant, skill based program which prepares students to enter the workforce. We will be hiring a full time faculty member in Industrial Technology this fall to provide additional faculty leadership in the development of the program with emphasis in Energy (Solar, Wind), Engineering Technology and Electronics" stated Valerie Karnes, Dean of Career Technical Education, Cerro Coso Community College.

The first renewable energy technology course is being offered at Cerro Coso's Indian Wells Valley Campus this fall. Introduction to Wind Technology is a one unit class intended to provide students an overview of the industry and technology. Subsequent courses will be offered at the South Kern Campus in Mojave. A FastTrack Wind Tech Certificate Program is also in development and will be offered to provide students an accelerated path into the industry.

Students interested in this field can email Valerie Karnes at vkarnes@cerrocoso.edu. For more information on upcoming classes contact the Cerro Coso Counseling Office 384-6219.

CAPTION (L to R): Adolfo Zavala, EnXco; Henry Shiu, UC Davis; Alan Ridley, Cuyamaca College; Eli Jaramillo; Case Van Dam, UC Davis; Michael Pecorado, College of the Desert; James O'Conner, Cerro College; Larry Board, Cerro Coso College; Alan Woodhead, Sacramento City College; Dan McAllister, Vestas; Mark Berrett, Solano Community College; Ed Moreland, Cerritos College; Sean Caras, Bakersfield College; Ken Machie, Shasta College; Mike Messier, Air Stream (Instructor); David Lindy, Rio Hondo College; Jon Zeh, Sacramento City College; Peer Davis, ATTE State Director; Daniel Himes, Fresno City College and Nick Transue, ATTE SoCal Program Manager.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Joann Clark, Director of Public Information (760) 384-6230