RENEWABLE ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMUNITY
COLLEGE
TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS
February 6, 2009
Peter Davis
Statewide ATTE Director
and
Greg Newhouse
ATTE Center Director
San Diego Miramar College
California’s Renewable Energy Goals
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Presently slightly over 10% of California’s electrical energy is from
renewable technologies
California Energy Commission’s 2002 goal was to increase this to
20% by 2017
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In 2003 they accelerated this goal to occur by 2010
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By 2004 the target increased to 33% by 2020
California’s Renewable Energy
Programs
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January 2006 - $2.9 billion ten year renewable energy rebate
program moved from the Energy Commission to utility companies
under direction of California’s Public Utilities Commission
Beginning 2007 Energy Commission manages $350 million targeted
for new residential building construction to foster renewable energy
projects between 2007 and 2011 – New Solar Homes Partnership
Potential Renewable Energy Related
Jobs
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Take your pick of the forecasts……….
EPRI reported over 120,000 person years of new renewable energy
technology work by 2017 to implement the Energy Commission’s
Renewable Energy Portfolio
A December 2007 Community College Center for Excellence study
projected 40,000 new jobs by 2016 statewide for solar construction
and maintenance technicians alone
An April 2008 Community College Center for Excellence study
identified the potential for 5,000 new jobs in solar and solar related
industries by mid-2009
Added Considerations
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Are the job estimates high/low/accurate - for a greater sense of the new
jobs – consider the response to greenhouse gas emissions
Many renewable energy programs were instituted prior to a dedicated
recognition of the need and a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions

For an even greater response – the new LOOK GOOD/FEEL GOOD from
Madison Avenue is…….green……
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Consider what ever stimulus package there will be – renewable energy will
be a major part of it
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So from both an energy demand and a cultural standpoint – renewable
energy presents excellent near-term and longer term job opportunities
References for Green Jobs
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1. EDD-LMID web site - “Digest of Green Reports and Studies” page:
http://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/?pageid=1032
2. Article in the EDD LMID page, Career Info tab:
http://www.fastcompany.com/articles/2009/01/best-green-jobs.html
3. Centers of Excellence – California Community Colleges: http://www.coeccc.net/
4. In the County of San Diego, Dept. of Environmental Health (DEH), they have an
“Energy” page with two links:
Green Buildings Programs (incentives to participate, legislation initiatives, etc.)
and Green Business Programs (what makes a business green, etc.)
http://sdpublic.sdcounty.ca.gov/portal/page?_pageid=93,298319&_dad=portal&_sch
ema=PORTAL
5. First Metro U.S. Green Jobs Report by the U.S. Conference of Mayors:
Report projects 4.2 million green jobs by 2038 and establishes a national Green Jobs
Index.
Link to Press Release:
http://www.usmayors.org/pressreleases/uploads/greenjobsrelease.pdf
Link to Full Report:
http://www.usmayors.org/pressreleases/uploads/GreenJobsReport.pdf
References for Green Jobs
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5. The most recent report Green Jobs Guidebook (it’s a big file and it takes a
minute or so to appear on the screen): Green Jobs Guidebook Source:
Environmental Defense Fund
6. Clean-energy technologies in the U.S. are on an expansion mode,
according to Clean Edge, a leading research firm and the publisher of Clean Energy
Trends-2008
http://www.cleanedge.com/reports/reports-trends2008.php
7. San Diego Connect: An organization fostering entrepreneurship in promising
technologies…http://www.connect.org/
8. CleanTech San Diego (one of the affiliates of San Diego Connect):
A consortium, which accelerates the growth of companies with environmentally
friendly technologies and green enterprises to promote a sustainable planet . The
CleanTech page (link below) page has links to a brochure, a quote sheet, but most
importantly on the top of the next link, a drop-down window under WHY SAN DIEGO
REGION LEADS. Here they have a database of clean-tech firms and FAQs.
http://www.cleantechsandiego.org/about-us.php
California’s Community College
System
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A key component is its Economic and Workforce Development
Program
The Program was created by the Legislature to stimulate
economic activity and job development
Over 115 Centers have provided training to over 70,000 people
at their work sites and developed community college courses
serving over 80,000 career technical students statewide.
The Program has shown a 4:1 benefit-to-cost ratio through
effectively implementing new college programs to meet
emerging workforce needs and by partnering with both business
and labor to retrain California’s workforce
Delivering Green Job Training
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Theoretically plenty of jobs and the CA Community College system is the
one to deliver
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So what is a green job????
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“Green job" — like "e-commerce" and "social networking" before it — is so
new a term that it is open to both general confusion and competing
interpretation
One example - A trucker hauling soda cans clearly isn't green, but what if
his cargo is empty soda cans for recycling – are the skill requirements any
different?
A second example – A technician who maintains a Hummer clearly isn’t
green, but what if he or she works on a Prius – in this case the skill
requirements are different.
Advanced Transportation Technology
AND ENERGY INITIATIVE
Within California’s Community College Economic and Workforce
Development Program is the Advanced Transportation Technology
and Energy Initiative
Historically, the ATTE’s 10 Community College Centers work with
industry, education, labor, and government partners to:
develop new technology training programs;
integrate advanced technologies into existing curriculum;
foster the use of alternative fuels and new energy technologies
through education outreach regionally and statewide.
Advanced Transportation
Technology and Energy Program –
New Directions
WHAT DOES “AND ENERGY” MEAN?
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A natural bridge from alternative fuels to renewable energy
programs – many fuels/technologies have both stationary and
mobile applications
The intention is to have a statewide perspective
Beginning with what industry needs – the DACUM process –
Solar Installers – in the process of completing – one key output
is - leave the Rolls Royce at home
Need to differentiate in existing workforce and new workforce
training – provide key skills development
New Directions Continued
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Experimenting with new faculty professional development - bringing
NABCEP to you – one week faculty professional development
program in photovoltaics
NABCEP training produces results – program development and
expansion at 6 community colleges – resulting in curriculum
changes and/or new program development
But train-the-trainer is not sufficient – the need for ongoing
guidance and program resources is critical
In California – The ATTE Centers are
Not the Only Game in Town
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The Economic and Workforce Development program sponsors many
different types of initiatives – including Environmental Technology,
Small Business Development, Manufacturing and Centers of
Excellence.
Over the years these centers have all developed or been involved
with energy programs.
Over the past two years the initiatives are being directed to work
together on energy programs – a FourEnergy approach.
Four Energy Concept
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Each of these initiatives are involved in aspects of energy education
and training
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Duplication wastes limited resources
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Pure separation of technologies and needed skill sets is nearly
impossible
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Need to assess where programs can work together to achieve
similar goals
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In fact some of the centers have already been involved in
coordinated efforts.
Other Energy Program Examples
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Wind Technology
 Partnership with UC Davis Wind Collaborative – one day
technical overview seminars
 Wind Technician Curriculum development with industry partners
– going through beta testing with faculty in August
 How many technician programs?
Construction Academy Programs – introducing wind and solar at the
high school and community college levels – industry/labor support
critical
New launch of the attecolleges.org website and forthcoming launch
of a FourEnergy website and renewable energy listserv services
Delivering Green Curriculum
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If a student wanted to take courses related to green careers – could he or
she read your course catalogue or semester course offerings and find such
courses?
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Do you know you already are likely to have many
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Many others are only a module away
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Others may require new curriculum, certificates or even degrees
Energy Program Challenges
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Learning from Electric Vehicle programs
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Taking the time to learn what your region needs
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Getting All to Share – curriculum/partners/experiences
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Providing Flexibility in Offerings – degrees, certificates, fee-based
classes……without losing rigor in training
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Assessing the Workforce - Who Are the Students – now and
upcoming – boomers, gen X,Y,Z – all learn differently
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Providing ongoing professional development and program resources
Contact Information
Peter Davis
pdavis@me.com
ATTE Statewide Director
Economic and Workforce Development
California Community Colleges
Greg Newhouse
ATTE Program Director
San Diego Miramar College
gnewhous@sdccd.edu