News Sustainable Biz Blowin’ in the wind
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KVCC, GRCC growing programs to power alt energy industry
By Nathan Peck | TBL
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WEST MICHIGAN — The answer, friends, is blowin’ in the wind.
Two area community colleges are working with alternative energy companies to train employees for the growing alternative energy field. While alternative energy is slowly building momentum in Michigan, Kalamazoo Valley Community College and Grand Rapids Community College are training students for jobs where growth is exploding around the country as the country turns to greener sources of power.
The Wind Turbine Technician Academy at Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a partnership between Bildungszentrum für Erneuerbare Energien (BZEE) Consult GmbH, a German firm that, with the wind turbine industry, has developed training and certification programs for wind turbine installation, operation and maintenance. Industry estimates are that the United States will need 2,000 turbine technicians graduating annually to meet the emerging needs of the wind power industry, and KVCC stands poised to help meet that need. Representatives from KVCC and BZEE recently spoke with TBL to discuss how the program is growing and tapping into an unmet demand for qualified technicians.
Founded in 2000, BZEE was created and supported by wind turbine manufacturers, component makers and businesses that provide operation and maintenance services. As wind energy production increased throughout Europe, the industry realized it needed high-quality, industry-driven, international standards, and organized to meet training and certification needs. Nils Peters, managing director of BZEE, said the partnership is the first of its kind in the U.S. He said he expects to form similar agreements with colleges around the nation.
“The U.S. is at the same starting point as the European industry was 10 years ago. We realized that we needed experienced technicians,” Peters said. “We must not reinvent the wheel.”
Students learn turbine maintenance, high voltage electrical transmission and climbing rigging and site safety in the 26-week program. KVCC will graduate the first technicians from its academy in April, with another session set to start in the summer. Many students have job offers weeks ahead of graduation and that is evidence of the need around the U.S. for qualified technicians, said Cindy Buckley, executive director of training.
“It is critical for our students to have hands on training,” Buckley said. “That experience makes our students very marketable.”
The college has partnered with Crystal Flash Renewable Energy L.L.C to service the two turbines in Mackinaw City. Martin Hamilton manages the turbines and was initially skeptical that the students could maintain them, but he has been impressed with the instructors and the quality of the students. Each cohort of students will perform the comprehensive scheduled maintenance to be completed every six months.
“Initially, I said you can’t expect them to drop everything when something breaks down,” Hamilton said. “They’ve discovered things were not kept up as well as they should be. My worries have slowly faded away.”
Additionally, the Wind Turbine Technician Academy has partnered with Fuhrlaender North America Inc., based in North Kingston, R. I., and Fuhrlaender AG, its parent corporation in Germany, for training. The agreement will give KVCC students exposure to the maintenance requirements and hands-on monitoring of utility-scale wind turbines, and to cutting-edge software. Fuhrlaender AG manufactures turbines ranging from producing 600 kilowatts to 2.5 megawatts, and is planning expanding operations in China and North America.
To the north, Grand Rapids Community College is partnering with Energetx Composites LLC in Holland to train students in composite materials and production. The 80-hour intensive program gives students the skills and hands-on experience in composites like fiberglass and laminates that are used in the manufacture of wind turbine blades, boats, aerospace parts and for lightweight alternative energy transportation. The four-week program will utilize lab space at Energetx to give students experience in molding and finishing composite products.
Additionally, GRCC’s board of trustees have approved an agreement to begin a wind energy safety program, and is looking to develop curriculum offerings to support the growing lithium-ion battery production in Michigan, said Julie Parks, GRCC director of workforce training.
“The market for renewable energy is deceptive. It is not as big an industry in Michigan as in other parts of the country,” Parks said. “But we are seeing 18 percent growth in the number of wind farms in some areas of the country and we only foresee that growing in the future.” TBL
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