Clean Energy Center Participant Testimonial

Ryan Kurtz former Clean Energy Center participant attended the second PowerTech training course beginning on August 9, 2010. PowerTech is a five week training course designed for Utility Scale employment. Ryan along with 26 other PowerTech attendees were taught skills in First Aid, Math, Basic Electricity, Teamwork, Safety, Basic Climbing, OSHA, Technical Drawing, and Environmental Awareness. Ryan successfully graduated and completed the PowerTech course on September 14th 2010.
Then the Clean Energy Center at Kern Community College District located in Bakersfield, California offered Ryan the SolarTech, Entry Level Photovoltaic Technician training course upon his completion of PowerTech training. On December 6th, 2010 Ryan joined his trainees in the next phase of his "green energy" training in the seven week solar training program. The first two weeks of the solar training consisted of the technology of CSP-Concentrating Solar Power, or SEGS-Solar Electric Generating Systems. The training included an excursion to Lancaster, California to view an actual on-line CSP plant operated by eSolar. See more photos of the field trip here.
Upon returning from the Winter Break, training in the Entry Level Photovoltaic Technician kicked off on the first week in January 2011, for Ryan and his fellow trainees. Training for SolarTech included Photovoltaic Systems Electrical Design, PV Installations Power Tools, PV Installations Basic Electronic Troubleshooting, Environmental Awareness, Commissioning Photovoltaic Systems, Photovoltaic Systems Quality Control, E-Learning from Amatrol.com, AC/DC Power Connections, plus more!
The seven week PV Training concluded with the national exam known as the NABCEP. A 60 question exam to test an individual on the basic understanding of PV systems. The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) is the "gold standard" for PV and solar thermal installation certification. Designed to raise industry standards and promote consumer confidence, NABCEP offers certification and certificate programs to renewable energy professionals throughout North America. KCCD's, Clean Energy Center is the local testing location for the NABCEP exam. And of course Ryan being a sharp student with great classroom participation passed the NABCEP exam at one of the highest scores to date for the Clean Energy Center training classes.
The graduation date for Ryan was on February 11, 2011 and upon completing his training at the Clean Energy Center he was hired within days at Pavletich Electric & Communications. His job title is Outside Plant Maintenance Supervisor, his duties include working as the supervisor for another state based communications company via a contract with Pavletich Electric & Communications. As of the date of his interview on January 20th, 2012, he was about to leave for a jobsite, a busy job for one of the Clean Energy Centers graduates.
We also talked with John Stephen of Pavletich Electric , Ryan's boss who told us that Ryan's been a great employee since his hire last February.

To see Ryan and what he thinks of this training at the Clean Energy Center PowerTech, and SolarTech program, watch this video.
Another Success Story for Ryan Kurtz, Pavletich Electric & Communication, the Kern Community College District's Clean Energy Center.

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Nonprofits & Activism

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• clean
• energy
• center