On behalf of the SEI Crew... Welcome to the renewed SEI E-Newsletter!  We hope that you will enjoy our monthly "What's Happening glimpse in to the exciting world of Renewable Energy Education."

SEI is launching a new website in 2008, and we want to hear from our alumni! Let us know what you are up to in the renewable energy and sustainable building marketplace and we will add you to our new alumni page. Send us a story and pictures about where you are working, what exciting projects you were a part of and how your SEI experience has inspired your career path. You can send your stories and pictures to Matthew Harris at matthew@solarenergy.org. We also have several positions open in the work-trade program. See our website for details.

We are proud to be offering an in-depth series of solar energy workshops throughout the country. Don’t miss this great opportunity to earn NABCEP continuing education credits, increase your knowledge of designing and installing Solar Electric and Solar Thermal Systems, and learn from very knowledgeable and experienced instructors. 

• Grid-Tied Photovoltaics: Feb. 25 – 28
  San Diego, CA - sponsored by California Center for Sustainable Energy.
• Solar Hot Water: Feb. 26 - 28
  Fontana, CA - sponsored by Sun Earth Inc.
• Grid-Tied Photovoltaics: March 3 - 7
  Fontana, CA - sponsored by Sun Earth Inc.
• PV Design & Installation: March 3-8 & March 10-15
  Austin, TX - sponsored by Meridian Energy Systems
• Grid-Tied Photovoltaics: March 17 - 21
  Manteca, CA- sponsored by ARAM SOLAR

SEI to offer PV trainings at AEE Solar Dealer Conference
AEE Solar is having their First Annual AEE Solar Dealer Conference in Mesa, Arizona, from February 6-9. SEI and AEE have partnered together to offer two concurrent SEI PV training workshops from February 11-15. For more information about these PV trainings click here.

We appreciate any help in spreading the word about these educational opportunities. For a complete description of these and other SEI workshops visit www.solarenergy.org.

Learn Renewables in the Developing World

SEI has some exciting international workshops coming up.

Learn about how renewable energy can be applied in the developing world, install solar electric systems in rural communities, build methane biodigestors for cooking, and build solar ovens with rural women's cooperatives.

• Solar Electricity for the Developing World - Costa Rica
• Ecology, Permaculture, & Renewable Energy - Ecuador (NEW!)
• Appropriate Technology for the Developing World - Mexico

If you'd like to learn more about sustainable agriculture in Ecuador take a one month agriculture and permaculture course at Rio Muchacho Organic Farm. The course covers organic farming, permaculture, appropriate technology, bee keeping, biodynamic farming, urban sustainablity and much more. For more information visit www.riomuchacho.com or email:  info@riomuchacho.com.

This is an exciting time for the Solar Industry and SEI is pleased to be partnering with CoSEIA to offer the 2nd Annual Solar Industry Seminar, March 27-29 in Fort Collins, Colorado. Prior to the seminar join CoSEIA for a two day conference, March 25-26.

Whether you are an experienced installer wanting to learn more about the latest products on the market or new to the industry, you do not want to miss our Solar Industry Seminar. Stay current with 2008 NEC training by Bill Brooks!  Earn your NABCEP Continuing Education Credits. 

This seminar offers an exhibition hall filled with the latest gear and three days of workshops from the industry’s best.  There will be vendor booths, product displays and technical trainings. In addition, SEI will offer introductory training sessions on PV, Solar Thermal, and Sustainable Home Design for novices to the industry.

SEI and CoSEIA members receive a $50 discount!

Click here for more information.

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., based in California, has announced that it has commissioned the first phase of what will be one of the country's largest private solar installations. This commissioning comes on the heels of the installation of four 250-kilowatt co-generation fuel cell power units, also one of the largest fuel cell installations in the United States. When completed in 2008, the solar project will produce over 1.4 megawatts (MW) of power for the brewery. This, coupled with its existing 1-MW fuel cell plant, will provide for the majority of Sierra Nevada's electrical energy needs with clean power produced on-site.

Read the full article on RenewableEnergyAccess.com

Less than a year ago, the Skull Valley Goshute tribal members celebrated the successful defeat of the proposed Private Fuel Storage nuclear waste storage facility on their reservation that would have transformed their small community in a Utah valley into a life-threatening nuclear waste dump.  

This past August SEI teamed up with Honor the Earth (HTE) — a Native American environmental advocacy group focused on energy issues — to successfully install a solar electric system on one of only five homes on the reservation.  The community feels that this is the beginning of a movement toward a new energy economy that focuses on sunlight and life rather than radiation and death.  This installation and training is the third in a series of solar demonstration projects in partnership between SEI and HTE.  The training was attended by Native Americans from 4 tribes that were chosen to become future trainers and leaders in renewable energy.

The program’s success would not have been possible without the generous equipment donations from AEE Solar,Direct Power and Water, Sunwize, Fronius, and electrical work from electricians Shane Connor and Brad Stevens of Green Power Solutions.

Solar Energy International’s Photovoltaic Design and Installation is a 60 hour college curriculum that has been approved for college credit by Madison Area Technical College.  The PV curriculum was developed for those seeking employment in the solar industry.  It provides a foundation in grid-tied, grid-tied with battery backup, and stand-alone solar electric systems. Participants will gain knowledge and technical skills necessary to design and install modern solar electric (photovoltaic) systems.

SEI seeks educational partners in community colleges, universities, technical centers, building and electrical trades programs who are interested in licensing SEI’ Photovoltaic training materials.  A review copy of the textbook and samples of the accompanying PowerPoint presentations are available upon request.

If you are interested please email Johnny@solarenergy.org

SEI would like to welcome new members! As a membership-based non-profit, SEI's members are the heart of our organization and allow us to continue our educational programs. SEI Staff are passionate about the work we do and membership dues help sustain our renewable energy endeavors.

Please join us! Membership benefits include (depending on membership level) discounts on workshops, a one year subscription to either Home Power magazine or E magazine, an organic cotton/hemp SEI t-shirt, a SEI bumpersticker, and more!

Click here for details on how to become an SEI member.

To all SEI members . . . SEI sends thanks!