Renewable Energy

Class 4 Winds & Renewables hosted a networking luncheon at AC Moore County Campus that highlighted their Renewable Energy Program.  
Around 50 participant of the region came to learn about AC’s cutting edge renewable energy technical curriculum, and they also got to tour AC's state of the art facilities.  The Mayor Pat Sims greeted the attendees as did DEDC 's Executive Director, Mike Running who stated what a great relationship that DEDC and Amarillo College have with each other.  
Jack Stanley with Amarillo College is the Division Chair - Professor - Science & Engineering, Sciences & Engineering Ins Adm. spoke to the crowd about Amarillo College and it's programs.  Jack Stanley has wrote grants for renewable energy that has allowed AC to be able to provide the programs that they now have on renewable energy.  The grant also allowed AC to purchase two trailers that can be taken into the field for job training and to the high schools so students can see what renewable energy is about and get excited about working in this field.  
At Amarillo College there are three academic options available to students - Basic Wind Technician Certificate, Advanced Wind Technician Certificate and Renewable Energy Associate in Applied Science (AAS) Degree.  Amarillo College also has a program called Fast Track Training - this is a class customized to meet student or client's individual needs for employment.  This is through a employment agency or other employment needs.  The last of the three is Company Specific Training that is designed for a specific company an example of this is Owens.  Mr. Stanley also touched on Solar Energy as an option of renewable energy that a degree could be obtained starting in the fall of 2011 due to another grant in solar energy.  
At the end of the hour Ron Mashburn led the group on a tour of the campus and the trailer.  During this time the attendees had a meal catered by the 580 Steakhouse which was a great chicken fry steak.  The reception also allow attendees to network with each other who were interested in the wind energy industry.  There were attendees from as far away as New Mexico, Oklahoma and of course the Texas Panhandle