Clean Energy Training Program
Introduction
In September 2009 the Cape Cod Economic Development Council (CCEDC) was awarded a three-year $400,000 Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund (WCTF) grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to implement a Clean Energy Training Program (CETP) in partnership with the Cape’s building trades industry. The CCEDC contributed a $102,800 cash match for the CETP from Cape and Islands license plate funds.
The CETP offers non-credit industry-focused training in solar photovoltaic and solar thermal (hot water) technologies as well as diagnostic techniques and methods and materials for improving energy efficiency. Training is free to existing building trades workers who meet qualifying criteria. Unemployed individuals and individuals seeking to transition to the clean energy field are also welcome to apply.
Training includes short courses—in each of the three areas of focus—held one night a week for six weeks followed by companion three-day on-site workshops. Workshops are designed around the actual installation of a solar PV system or a solar thermal system or an evaluation of the energy efficiency needs of an existing building. The general context for each series is basic knowledge of residential scale systems including costs, benefits, incentives, site assessments, materials and technology basics. The idea is to provide a well-rounded curriculum that conveys intermediate-level knowledge in each area of focus.
Program Outcomes
The CETP is a catalyst for Cape Cod’s emerging clean energy economy in a number of ways.
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The CETP is imparting valuable clean energy technology skills to the region’s construction industry workforce so that existing building trades businesses can remain competitive in a rapidly changing building design and construction environment.
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The program is helping to create an informal collaborative network of trades people who are interested in applying their newly learned skills to the job site and sharing their experiences with others.
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It is stimulating building trades workers to pursue more advanced training on their own and, in some cases, to consider revamping their business model to focus almost exclusively on solar installations and/or energy efficiency.
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And, because it is providing cutting-edge education on how to deal with heating and cooling load issues, it is giving trades workers the confidence they need to recommend alternative approaches to reducing overall energy consumption in the home and business.
Partners
Cape and Island Self-Reliance Corporation, Mid-Cape Home Center and Shepley Wood Products are key partners in the CETP. Self-Reliance supervises the Project Coordinator and Data Manager for the program. Mid-Cape Home Center hosts all of the program’s short courses in its Building University Classroom located in their Complete Home Concepts store in Hyannis, MA. Shepley Wood Products provides both classroom and workshop space for the solar workshops and, in 
addition, donated materials and labor for the construction of a portable mock roof that is used for training purposes. Numerous other building trade employers have expressed their support for the program.
Instructors
The CETP has been fortunate to recruit highly qualified instructors for its short courses and workshops all of whom have come to the CETP with prior teaching experience. Below are brief bios of the instructors we have used so far. (Instructors are recruited and paid on a course-by-course basis and we are always looking for additional instructors. If you or someone you know is interested in becoming in instructor with the CETP please contact Anju Rajani, Project Coordinator, 508-563-6633.)