Sustainable Energy Fund’s Solar Scholars™ Program Kicks-Off at Dickinson College

Energy education program trains college students, offers funding for solar installations

(Allentown, PA)- Sustainable Energy Fund (SEF ) announces its 2008 Solar Scholars™ Conference July 27th through August 1st. The Solar Scholars™ Program is a first-in-the-nation solar education initiative that promotes the adoption and integration of renewable energy concepts and technologies into the curriculum of the Commonwealth’s colleges, universities or other institutions of higher learning. This week, representatives from 31 schools will attend a week-long, intensive training conference hosted by Dickinson College. Dickinson College is well-known for its pro-active commitment to environmental stewardship and energy conservation. From its biodiesel manufacturing plant, and multiple solar arrays to a cafeteria-to-compost food recycling program, Dickinson has a campus culture devoted to sustainability.

Students and faculty will be welcomed at the opening dinner on Sunday, July 27th. SEF Program Manager, William Routson will emcee a line-up of speakers including Dr. William G. Durden, President of Dickinson College, Gary F. Lamont, SEF Chairman of the Board of Directors, Jennifer Hopkins, SEF President, and Jessica Scott, a graduated solar scholar from Bucknell University.

The evening’s keynote speaker is Daniel Griffiths, recently appointed Deputy Secretary for Energy and Technology Deployment for the Department of Environmental Protection. Mr. Griffiths is a 30-year veteran of the energy and electricity industries and state government. In his new position, he oversees energy policy, assesses energy and environmental technologies, and promotes the use of appropriate technologies to address environmental problems.

Sustainable Energy Fund mounted the Solar Scholars™ pilot program in 2006/2007 with seven colleges participating. Due to the program’s success, PPL Electric Utilities agreed to co-fund an expansion of the program to colleges and universities within the 29 counties of the PPL Electric Utilities service territory. Of the 42 schools to which SEF marketed the Solar Scholars™ Program, 27 schools indicated that they would participate in this year’s program. Attendees will learn various topics relating to renewable energy, including marketing and financing of current technologies, photovoltaic (PV) science and manufacturing, electric industry power production utilities and the grid, and education and solar/renewable energy curriculum.

On July 29th, when the day’s topic focuses on government policy and regulation, Rep. Eugene DePasquale (York County), will join the conference. He was the lead sponsor of the PA energy legislation that was just passed and signed into law by Gov. Rendell. Rep. DePasquale is a member of the PA House of Representatives Committee on Environmental Resources and Energy.

Each day the participants will attend a class lead by Bill Brooks (Brooks Engineering, CA), a leading national expert on standards for grid-connected PV solar systems. Mr. Brooks is a living part of PV solar history; and SEF is delighted to have an industry expert of his stature come to Pennsylvania to be the week-long trainer for the class portion of the conference. As a graduate student at North Carolina State, his research project was the first-ever grid-connected PV system in the United States. Mr. Brooks’ work lead to the establishment of the North Carolina Solar Center, which has a long history developing and promoting leading solar programs. Currently he spends most of his time traveling around the country training installers, inspectors, and other government officials on advanced PV codes and standards.

Jennifer Hopkins, President of SEF comments on the Solar Scholars™ Program, “Our hope is that these students and professors will go on to become solar champions. We want to see renewable energy become an even bigger part of university programs and instruction.”

PPL Electric Utilities will provide $250,000 to help fund solar power education and the installation of 12 solar power systems at Pennsylvania colleges and universities. After the conference, participants in the 2008 Solar Scholars™ Program will be invited to apply for this funding to install a photovoltaic system on campus that generates a minimum of 3 kilowatts. “Support for renewable electricity helps to protect the environment and strengthen our nation’s energy supply, said Tom Stathos, Director of Customer Programs for PPL Electric Utilities. “This initiative will help raise awareness about solar energy among tomorrow’s leaders.”

Thirty-one schools are participating in the 2008 Solar Scholars™ conference. They are: Bloomsburg University, Bucknell University, Cedar Crest College, Dickinson College, East Stroudsburg University, Elizabethtown College, Franklin & Marshall College, HACC Harrisburg, HACC Lancaster, Johnson College, Keystone College, Lackawanna College, Lehigh University, Lycoming College, Messiah College, Millersville University, Moravian College, Muhlenberg College, Northampton Community College, Penn College of Technology, Penn State University, Penn State Harrisburg, Penn State Hazleton, Penn State Schuylkill, Penn State Scranton, Penn State Wilkes-Barre, Susquehanna University, Thaddeus Stevens College, University of Scranton, Wilkes University and Wilson College.

Sustainable Energy Fund was established in 1999 as part of a settlement approved by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. It is a private, 501(c) 3 non-profit organization that promotes energy efficiency, renewable energy, and energy education initiatives in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, with a focus on eastern and central PA.