Miles Community College has collaborated with OnSite Energy, Inc., out of Bozeman to offer a solar electric system presentation and training in Miles City on June 18, 19, and 20. Class participants will have the opportunity to observe and assist with the installation of solar panels on MCC’s Workforce Readiness Center.
Orion Thornton from OnSite Energy will hold a community open presentation on solar energy on Monday, June 18. This presentation, Solar Energy Opportunities in Eastern Montana, is open to community members interested in solar energy. Come learn why solar electricity is the fastest growing energy source in the US and how it can be implemented for homes, ranches, and businesses throughout Eastern Montana. Topics will include energy efficiency, solar electric applications, system design, available incentives and financial analysis. This free presentation will be held from 5:30 pm-7:00 pm in room 106 of the MCC main campus.
A classroom training, Fundamentals of Solar Electric Design and Installation, will be held on Tuesday, June 19. This one day classroom training is the gateway to a career in the solar industry. It all starts with the fundamentals, and a solid understanding of various components, system architectures, and applications for solar electric systems, also known as photovoltaic or PV systems. Other topics include site analysis, system sizing, and performance estimation; electrical design characteristics such as wiring, overcurrent protection, and grounding; a detailed look at solar module and inverter specifications; mounting methods for various roof structures and ground mounts; and an introduction to safety protocol for effectively installing and commissioning grid¬-direct PV systems. The course will be a full day from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm with a one hour lunch break. Reference notebooks will be provided. This class will be capped at 20 participants, so advance registration is required. Class room only charge is $50.00.
On Wednesday, June 20, class participants from June 19 will have the opportunity to participate in a hands-on training and assist with the solar panel installation at the MCC Workforce Readiness Center. Only 10 seats are available in this training session, so those interested are encouraged to register for the class and training as soon as possible. The hands-on Solar Electric Workshop is limited to 10 people who must have completed the classroom portion. The charge for classroom and hands-on is $150.00.
“Miles Community College is excited to team up with Onsite Energy to offer this training in eastern Montana,” commented MCC President Dr. Stacy Klippenstein. “As renewable sources of energy become more popular, especially in Ag, MCC must provide training such as this. Adding solar power to our Workforce Readiness Center will enhance the training experience.”
Individuals interested in registering for the June 19 and 20 classroom and training sessions should contact Carolyn Kimball at 406.874.6164 or kimballc@milescc.edu.
