Students take part in a brand new solar scholarship program aimed toward stimulating native participation in New Mexico’s solar business
Paonia, Colo., May 2, 2023 — July 2022 marked a milestone for Solar Energy International (SEI) as they partnered with The AES Corporation (AES) to extend entry to solar energy schooling and profession alternatives for New Mexico residents. Through this system’s beneficiant scholarship funds distributed by SEI’s main non-profit coaching initiative, college students are creating their skilled expertise in preparation for profitable entry into the solar workforce.
A Taos resident and one of many scholarship program’s recipients, Alexa Pikcilingis, not too long ago accomplished SEI’s NABCEP PV Associates on-line coaching package deal, qualifying her to to design, promote, set up, or keep solar in a supervised capability. “The scholarship is the reason I was able to complete my NABCEP associate credential. This schooling will help me continue with solar and hopefully it will become a career,” Alexa said in a latest interview.
Alexa and her companion already make a strong staff – she holds a pc science certificates from the University of New Mexico Taos, whereas he brings 23 years of electrician expertise and NABCEP certification to the desk. “I often type up his bills and job notes. I had no understanding of the solar industry before dating my partner. This lack of knowledge brought me to seek understanding – SEI has really helped me and now I’m part of NABCEP,” she mentioned excitedly, happening to precise, “(The training) fees would have held me back from gaining more knowledge – I just can’t stress enough how much a scholarship opportunity can give you a step up in life!”
The scholarship program is bridging the hole between these wanting to take part within the solar revolution however usually face boundaries to entry. Generous assist from AES permits scholarship recipients to enroll in SEI’s North America Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) PV Associates on-line coaching package deal, which incorporates SEI’s PVOL101 and PVOL203 on-line courses, together with NABCEP PV Associate testing. By empowering the following era of solar energy consultants with the mandatory coaching, the scholarship program helps to fortify the rising New Mexico solar workforce.
New Mexico’s sunny disposition makes for a lot of nice PV prospects with over 300 blissful days of sunshine annually. Alexa imagines the way forward for her home state reaching increasingly independence via solar. “We live in a rural community, where job opportunities are limited. New Mexico leads in states with great solar potential, so it is exciting to see new opportunities for growth in this important line of work. And more education is helping us do that.”
Alexa’s expertise illustrates how AES’ assist for the scholarship program in New Mexico is altering the lives of scholars by empowering them with academic alternatives, encouraging their development as solar professionals and bringing extra renewable energy to New Mexico.
If you or somebody is a New Mexico resident and wish to apply for the remaining AES scholarships, click on right here.
Recipients of the scholarship will be part of SEI’s on-line campus, the place they’ll entry coaching from anyplace on the earth to study solar energy expertise ideas, interact with on-line instructors and classmates, and put together themselves for a future within the solar workforce.
About SEI
Solar Energy International (SEI) empowers college students, alumni, and companions to develop a various, inclusive, well-trained and educated solar electrical energy workforce. Our goal is to advertise sustainable financial development, mitigate local weather change, and assist energy independence. For extra data, please go to SEI.
Media Contacts:
Chris Turek, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development
[email protected]
