Program Objectives:
| Provide students with a focused hands-on experience with designing and installing residential to commercial scale solar, wind and geo thermal powered energy systems as well as alternative fuels (hydrogen, ethanol, biodiesel, and biomass). Attention will be placed on the impact of such systems on the local, regional, national and global environmental and economic concerns. |  |
Provide students with the opportunity to learn by working in the field guided by certified installers and career professionals.
Prepare students for post-secondary education/training in their future career choice.
| Model: Students are required to apply to the program in the spring of their junior year. The program is housed at WTCC to take advantage of the combined resources collected at the center. |  |
Students will participate in career shadowing/internships at local agencies/businesses. Potential sites include: RENEW NY, Rochester Solar Technologies LLC, Sustainable Energy Development (SED), Lorax Energy Systems, Northern Biodiesel, Northeast Renewable Energy Resources, and Phoenix Geothermal Services.
Students will receive interdisciplinary instruction in English, Economics/PIG and Technical/Applied Physics with the potential of receiving up to 12 college credits in cooperation with local post-secondary institutions.
Students selected for this program must:
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Be a senior
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Exhibit maturity
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Be academically strong in the sciences.
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Possess basic knowledge of residential and commercial wiring/ electrical theory
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Plan to attend post-secondary education/training
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Be able to work independently and in a team
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Have the desire to be outside in the elements
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Be recommended by a home school counselor, science and/or technology teacher.
Units of Study
| -Alternative Fuels/ Biomass | -Battery technology/maintenance |
| -Current and Future Enviro/Econ Issues | -Electrical Connections |
| -Emerging Technologies | -Energy Conservation Efforts |
| -Geothermal | -Governmental agencies/resources |
| -Photovoltaic Systems | -Site Codes and Restrictions |
| -Solar Heating | -Wind Systems |
Career Opportunities
| | - Certified Geo Thermal System Designer/Installer
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- Engineer (Electrical, Civil, Mechanical, etc)
| - Certified Photovoltaic System Designer/Installer
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- Customer Service Representative
| - Certified Wind System Designer/Installer
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- Environmental Systems/Resource Analyst
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Post-Secondary Institutions
Rochester Institute of Technology
Hudson Valley Community College
University Albany
Alfred State
Alfred University
Ithaca College
Cornell University
Behrend College
Farmingdale College Farmingdale Solar Energy Center
