17 Candidates Receive IREC ISPQ Credentials in Q1 2010

The Interstate Renewable Energy Council, Inc. (IREC) is pleased to announce that seventeen new awards of the Institute for Sustainable Power Quality (ISPQ) accreditation and certification have been presented in the first quarter of 2010.  With these additional awards there are now 80 providers of training who have achieved this quality credential.

Allied Business Schools, Inc., has been awarded Continuing Education Provider Accreditation for their courses Introduction to Photovoltaic Systems and Advanced Principles of Photovoltaic Systems Installation.  Allied Business Schools offers vocational training in photovoltaics, renewable energy training, real estate sales and broker licensure, and general business.  They also have an online 9-12 high school and an online university.

Seven instructors at Solar Energy International have been awarded an ISPQ credential:

• Rebekah Hren has been awarded Affiliated Instructor Certification for PV including courses in Grid Tied PV, Advanced PV, Women’s PV Design and Installation, PV Design and Installation.  Ms. Hren is a Certified NABCEP Installer and has been working in the PV industry for six years.
• Jay Peltz has been awarded Affiliated Master Trainer Certification for PV including courses in PV; PV Design and Installation; PV Grid-Tied; PV Advanced; PV Lab Week; PV Telecomm; Renewable Energy for the Developing World.  Mr. Peltz has been working in the renewable energy field since 1994 and has done installations in the US, Mexico, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Uruguay, and Nepal.
• Lena Wilensky has been awarded Affiliated Master Trainer Certification for PV including courses in PV Design and Installation, Grid-Tied PV, PV Lab Week, Women’s PV Design and Installation, PV Design and Installation On-line.  Ms. Wilensky holds COSEIA and NABCEP PV Installer certification and has been teaching with SEI since 2008.
• Jason (Jay) Pozner has been awarded Affiliated Instructor Certification for PV including courses in PV Design and Installation; Grid-Tied PV; PV Lab Week.  Mr. Pozner has been working in environmental education for over 10 years and has been teaching with SEI since 2008.
• Laura Walters has been awarded Affiliated Instructor Certification for PV including courses in PV Lab Week, Grid-Tied PV, Solar in the Schools:  Installation Training.  Ms. Walters started with SEI in 2006 and has helped develop the curriculum to expand SEI’s PV course offerings.
• Kelly Larson has been awarded Affiliated Master Trainer Certification for PV including courses in PV Lab Week, PV Design and Installation On-line, Grid-Tied PV, Advanced PV Hands-on and Advanced PV On-line.  Ms. Larson began with SEI in 1999, she has been working in renewable energy for 15 years, she is NABCEP certified as a PV installer and holds a California electrical contractor’s license.
• Philip Friedman has been awarded Provisional Certification as an Affiliated Master Trainer for PV including courses in PV Online, PV Lab Week, PV Design and Installation, Grid Tied PV.  Mr. Friedman started with SEI in 2008.  He works in the PV industry and holds a MA in Education.
• David Del Vecchio has been awarded Affiliated Master Trainer Certification for PV including courses in PV Design and Installation,  Grid-Tied PV, Advanced PV, On-line PV Design and Installation.  Mr. Del Vecchio’s holds a dual affiliation for this certification.  He is affiliated with the ISPQ Accredited courses at North Carolina Solar Center as well as Solar Energy International.  He began installing solar in 1998 and holds a NABCEP PV Installer certification.

Solar University of Solar Universe Inc. has been awarded Continuing Education Provider Accreditation for their course, SunPro Tech Solar PV Installer Training.  This entry level PV training was initially for its franchisees, but Solar University opened it up to the general public in 2009.  The curriculum for this course was developed based on the NABCEP entry level learning objectives.

Center for Sustainable Energy at Bronx Community College, CUNY has been awarded Continuing Education Provider Accreditation for their course Solar Thermal Design and Installation.  The Center has been offering their solar thermal course since February of 2009. They also offer courses in energy efficient building; building performance institute (BPI) training; geothermal; photovoltaic; and the business of clean, green energy. The Center for Sustainable Energy is also accredited as a Continuing Education Provider for Introductory and Advanced Photovoltaic Installation courses.

Ontility, LLC has been awarded Continuing Education Provider Accreditation for their course in Solar Thermal Design and Installation. The purpose of the course is to teach solar thermal principles, system design, installation and industry-standard knowledge and best practices to contractors, business owners, plumbers, HVAC technicians and others who are entering the renewable energy industry.  The Curriculum adheres to the NABCEP Task Analysis for Solar Thermal System Installer and focuses on preparation for the NABCEP Solar Thermal Installer certification exam.

Two instructors at Ontility, LLC of Houston, TX have been awarded an ISPQ credential:

• Janet Hughes has been awarded Affiliated Master Trainer Certification for PV including courses in Solar Fundamentals, Solar PV Technician, Entry Level Solar Electric Systems, Solar Installation Lab, NABCEP Entry Level Exam Prep, Advanced Solar Design and Estimation, Advanced Solar Design and Installation, Solar Estimation and Quotes, and Solar Design for Technical Professionals offered through Ontility, LLC. Janet’s career encompasses over 25 years of electrical and business experience, including 15 years of PV expertise. She is a licensed Master Electrician and has extensive experience in small to large residential and commercial solar projects.
• James Haynes  has been awarded Affiliated Instructor for PV including courses in Solar Installation Training – Solar Electric Training and Solar PV Technician Training offered through Ontility, LLC.  James is a master electrician with extensive field experience in solar energy system design and installation, including crew leadership and project management

Southwest Windpower has been awarded Continuing Education Provider Accreditation for their course Dealer Training and Service School and has been awarded Provisional Accreditation for their course Entry Level Small Wind Training. Southwest Windpower is an ISO 9001:2008 certified company.  Both of their courses are based on a subset of the NABCEP Small Wind Task Analysis.

Electrical Local No. 26 Joint Apprenticeship and Training Trust Fund has been awarded Training Program Accreditation for their course entitled Inside Journeyman Wireman PV Training Program. For 68 years, the non-profit organization, NECA/International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 26, Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee, has provided training in the areas of electrical construction.  As part of their Inside Journeyman Wireman Program, they have developed the PV training program based on NABCEP learning objectives and the PV installer job task analysis.

SunMaxx Solar has been awarded Continuing Education Provider Accreditation for their courses in Solar Thermal Level 1:  Basics; Solar Thermal Level 2:  Domestic Hot Water Systems; Solar Thermal Level 3:  Combi Heating Systems; Solar Thermal Level 4:  Solar Thermal Full Course. Course levels 1-3 are approved by NABCEP for continuing education credits and classes are offered in multiple locations.

In addition to the new ISPQ awards, Boots on the Roof has been awarded Training Program Accreditation for their course Six-Day Solar PV Boot Camp.  Boots on the Roof had previously been awarded Provisional Accreditation for this course.  After demonstrating that they have successfully delivered and met the ISPQ Standard 01022 for one full year, their credential has been converted to full accreditation.

Congratulations to our new IREC ISPQ Awardees!

Jane Pulaski