U.S. Department of Energy selected UCF's Florida Solar Energy Center to
create and operate the network in six states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin
Islands

With unemployment at an all-time high, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is
investing in solar workforce development and providing $2.8 million to the
University of Central Florida¿s Solar Energy Center (FSEC) to help lead those efforts.

FSEC was selected as one of nine national institutions that will operate the newly
created Solar Installer Instructor Training Network.

The national network will address a critical need for high-quality, local and
accessible training in solar system design, installation, sales and inspection. The
training network is a five-year effort intended to create a geographic blanket of
training opportunities in solar installations across the United States.  Its goals
are to accelerate market adoption of solar technologies by ensuring that
high-quality installations are standard and to create sustainable jobs within the
solar installation industry.

FSEC, a research institute at UCF, will operate the Southeast region of the
seven-region network. The $2.8 million award from DOE will provide solar workforce
development train-the-trainer programs for educational institutions in the southern
U.S. and territories. FSEC will create a Southern Solar Energy Training Network by
teaming with the following state and territory partners:

Florida Energy Office
Technology Assessment Division of the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources
Arkansas Energy Office of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission
Energy Division of the Mississippi Development Authority
Alabama Energy Division
Southface, Georgia
Energy Affairs Administration of Puerto Rico
U. S. Virgin Islands, Energy Office in Office of the Governor


Southface, of Atlanta, will assist in the overall coordination of the program.

"We are very pleased to receive the prestigious recognition of being a U.S. leader
in solar training and that the program will enable our partner institutions
throughout the Southeast to offer solar training programs in their communities,"
said project director David Block of FSEC.

The Florida Solar Energy Center, with more than 30 years of training experience in
the solar energy arena, will collaborate with its partners to expand the existing
model of its longstanding alternative energy training programs. Planned activities
are to develop and disseminate model curricula, incorporate lessons learned and best
practices, increase the capacity of educational providers to train workers in
photovoltaics and solar water heating, and provide regional forums regarding
instructor training. Other activities include the establishment of an advisory
board, training students at local sites and evaluating the training. 

DOE plans to invest $27 million, including $10 million in American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act funds, to establish the network of regional resource and training
providers. The DOE program, in partnership with the U.S. departments of Labor and
Education, will address workforce development barriers within the solar industry.
The new Solar Installer Instructor Training network promotes high-quality training
in the installation of solar technologies.

More information about the Solar Installer Instructor Network can be seen at 
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/instructor_training_network.html


About FSEC

The Florida Solar Energy Center, a research institute of the University of Central
Florida, is the largest and most active state-supported renewable energy and
efficiency institute in the United States. Created by the Florida Legislature in
1975, FSEC's mission is to research energy technologies that enhance Florida¿s and
the nation¿s economy and environment, and to educate the public, students and
practitioners on the results of the research. Working in alternative fuels, hydrogen
and fuel cells, photovoltaics, solar thermal technologies, high performance
buildings, and education areas, FSEC's 140-member staff helps provide Florida with a
future of energy independence and environmental sustainability. FSEC is also
responsible for testing and certification of solar systems sold in the state of
Florida. For more information about FSEC, please visit www.floridaenergycenter.org, or
send your questions to info@fsec.ucf.edu.