2-Year Certification in Renewable Energy Technology and Business Incubation

Since 2004, Ogallala Commons has been leading an effort to create a 2-Year Certificate in renewable energy technology and business incubation. Public planning meetings held in Wray, CO, and Lubbock, TX, were attended by large number of community college and university representatives, community leaders, and energy entrepreneurs. Also, an online Resource Survey was circulated throughout the eight?state area to engage potential partners for the project.

As of January 2006, six community colleges and smaller universities have joined together to make the certificate program a reality by the coming fall (see map) The institutions include: Chadron State College (Chadron, NE), Seward County Community College and Southwest Kansas Technical College (Liberal, KS), Texas State Technical College (Sweetwater, TX), and Fort Hays State College (Hays, KS)

This project is shaped by:

• a multi-faceted certification program that would be offered by partner institutions across the eight state region of the High Plains-Ogallala Aquifer, in a totally modular format.



• seamless articulation of courses of study, shared courses, team teaching, distance learning, and shared mentorship of students through cohort camps at strategic sites.



• Continuing education opportunities would also be a priority

The certificate program would be flexible and balanced between core science courses, technical and applied training, regional history and ecology, entrepreneurship, as well as on?the?job apprenticing and partnerships with local utilities, as well as a practicurn in community service.

This project has received a $10,000 grant from Xcel Energy Foundation, plus $27,000 of grant funding from the CHS Foundation, for project development.