Gateway holds first Green Energy Showcase, to expand industry training courses

Gateway Community and Technical College in Northern Kentucky is showing off the region's green goods with its first every Green Energy Showcase.

The event is Oct. 1 from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in Florence at Gateway's Boone Campus, 500 Technology Way, in Room 131 of the Classroom and Training Building. The Green Energy Showcase will include exhibits by local and regional energy providers and industry including Bowlin Group LLC, Duke Energy, Touchstone Energy Cooperatives (East Kentucky Power and Owen Electric), and General Cable.

The free event is being funded, in part, by a $393,000 three-year grant the college received from the U.S. Department of Labor. High school and college students, energy industry workers and college faculty are among the groups the showcase is working to attract.

Gateway is working to build its renewable energy training programs in order to prepare workers for the next generation of energy jobs. At the showcase, the college will highlight its current renewable energy training programs and courses, as well as plans for new certificates, said Dr. Yvonne Meichtry, Energy Careers Program coordinator at Gateway.

The college has worked with a group of the region's energy industry to identify the training programs most needed for renewable energy efforts in the area, Meichtry said. By January the college plans to offer solar/photovoltaic systems, wind energy technologies, and a residential energy efficiency certificate and audit course that prepares students for Building Performance Institute (BPI) certification as a Building Analyst.

"The purpose of this is to increase the visibility and the knowledge of the general public and industry and education sectors about what energy providers and industries are doing related to renewable energy and efficiency," Meichtry said.

In addition to the exhibits Gateway will host a keynote speaker, Kate Shanks, Assistant Director of the Renewable Energy Division in the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet. Shanks will talk about the potential and current trends for renewable energy resources in Kentucky.

Register for the event by emailing Meichtry at [email protected], or calling (859) 442-4190. Space is limited.

Writer: Feoshia Henderson
Source: Dr. Yvonne Meichtry, Energy Careers Program coordinator at Gateway Community and Technical College

You can follow Feoshia on twitter @feoshiawrites
Enjoy this story? Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.