CEWEC 2012 will offer 84 presenters over 3 days.

Press Release Summary:



To be held November 13-15, 2012, fifth Clean Energy Workforce Education Conference (CEWEC) will host clean energy educators ready to offer latest information and insight on instructional strategies, curricula development, credentialing, and best training practices. There will be 3 plenary sessions, 60+ breakout presentations, and 5 pre-conference technical workshops. In addition to current strategies/practices, conference will look forward at new and next generation technologies.



Original Press Release:



National Clean Energy Workforce Education Conference Offers 84 Presenters Over Three Days



Thought-provoking next generation technologies and workforce needs
Historical and current perspectives on training and education
The nation's most innovative clean energy educators

Today's premier national platform for educating the renewable energy and energy efficiency workforce - the national Clean Energy Workforce Education Conference (CEWEC) - has grown from a small gathering of 40 thought leaders seven years ago, to some 500 clean energy educators and trainers. The fifth CEWEC is November 13-15, 2012 in Albany, NY.

Over three days, the nation's most innovative clean energy educators will offer the latest information and insight on instructional strategies, curricula development, credentialing and best training practices.

While the conference will focus on current instructional strategies and practices, it will also look forward at some new and thought-provoking next generation technologies and workforce needs.

"We're working at an accelerated pace with industry, government and educators to attract and prepare a quality clean energy workforce, well-trained in a broad range of technologies," says IREC Executive Director Jane Weissman. "For those offering or planning clean energy training programs for the renewable energy and energy efficiency markets, this conference is the one event that brings the latest information and best networking opportunities together," says Weissman.

A discount for early registration ends October 1, 2012.

Three plenary sessions, over 60 breakout presentations, and five pre-conference technical workshops will fuel participants with a breadth of facts, ideas, and best instructional models under way at community colleges, technical high schools, skill centers, trades and industry training centers across the country.

In the first plenary session, November 14, Alexis Madrigal, senior editor for The Atlantic and author of Powering the Dream - The History and Promise of Green Technology, willdiscuss green technological experimentation from the past and explain why these stories matter. He will trace the great advances in green technology since his book, and look forward at a small number of key inflection points that could further entrench renewable energy in the U.S. and around the world.

The second morning plenary, Thursday, November 15, is certain to be a wake-up call, with Debra Rowe, Sarah White and Marcy Drummond's realistic assessment of workforce challenges and strategies - what's working, what's not, gaps to close, and directions to take. Rowe is president of the U.S. partnership for Education for Sustainable Development, and advisor for the Higher Education Associations Sustainability Consortium. White is a well-published leader on a more coherent green national workforce system. Drummond is a vice president at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, and a leader in developing competency models for a clean-energy vocational workforce.

Thursday afternoon's conference closing general session looks ahead at nanotechnology innovations, with Alain Kaloyeros, CEO of the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE), The University at Albany-SUNY. The U/Albany CNSE is the first college in the world dedicated to education, research, development and deployment in nanoscience, nanoengineering, nanobioscience and nanoeconomics.

Conference breakout sessions will cover topics such as:
· Strategies for Training
· The Value of Consortiums and Partnerships
· Community-Focused Training
· Workforce for the Smart Grid
· Clean Energy Job Forecasts and Myths

Key issues in renewable and efficient energy will also be presented in 90-minute individual and panel discussions. Some of these topics include:
· Policy Impacts on the Workforce
· Building an Industry Standard
· Planning for the Future Renewable Energy Market
· Creating a Benchmark for Quality
· Building a Green Career Lattice

For details about these and other sessions and presenters, and to register, go to www.cewec.org

The primary 2012 conference sponsor is The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). IREC is the conference organizer.

About IREC

The Interstate Renewable Energy Council, Inc. (IREC) is a non-profit organization accelerating the use of renewable energy since 1982. IREC's programs and policies lead to easier, more affordable connection to the utility grid; fair credit for renewable energy produced; best practices for states, municipalities, utilities and industry; and quality assessment for the growing clean energy workforce through the credentialing of trainers and training programs. www.irecusa.org

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