10/26/07

Lakes Region CC Partners with Prescott Farms Audubon Society

Photo:  Lakes Region CC EST Professor, Wes Golomb (left), pauses with Prescott Farm Audubon Center , Executive Director, Scott Fitzpatrick (right).  The gentlemen have been conversing about their new partnership and the new Photovoltaics Installers Course at Lakes Region CC with the lab component to be held at Prescott Farms on White Oaks Road .  Individuals completing the Course may be certified by the North American Board for Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) which certifies energy practitioners in fields of renewable and sustainable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

As a result of New Hampshire Community Technical College Laconia’s introduction of the new Energy Services and Technology (EST) Program, a new partnership is in the making.  Prescott Farm Audubon Center Executive Director, Scott Fitzpatrick ( Concord ), and Lakes Region CC EST Coordinator, Wes Golomb ( Deerfield ), are combining efforts. 

Golomb has already sponsored an entry level Solar Photovoltaics (PV) Installers course through the College which was held at Lakes Region CC’s Main Campus this semester. The ‘lab’ component of this course will occur over the next two weekends, 11/3 and 11/10.  “The lab component (installation of the solar PV panels at the Prescott Farms property) will dramatically increase the ‘green’ nature of the state-of-the-art Audubon facility,” says Golomb.  “The course was a sellout and everyone is pretty excited.”

“The Prescott Farm Center is an environmental education center,” says Fitzpatrick.  “Photovoltaics (the use of solar energy) is of great interest to us as it is to people involved in the College’s new Energy Program.  By the time the solar panels are completed, we hope to reduce traditional energy usage by 50%.  By having the students install the cells and learn about renewable energy, it’s a win-win situation for everyone, a great partnership.  Future college classes will already have a laboratory to experience at Prescott Farm.”

Lakes Region CC’s new EST Program is one of the first of its kind in New England .  The primary focus is on total energy efficiency as opposed to solar installations.  However, Golomb put it well.  “If an electrician is certified to install photovoltaic panels, and is a good electrician, jobs are more likely as a result of the knowledge gained,” concludes Golomb.