Trevor Bentley was among the first class of students to graduate from the College’s Renewable Energies Technician program on the morning of June 19.
Technology Studies professor Gary Dolch noticed something different about the first class of students who enrolled in Niagara College’s new Renewable Energies Technician program two years ago.
“They all came from different backgrounds and fields of study, but they have something in common: they all wanted to save the world,” said Dolch. “It’s an exciting new field and there’s a bright future ahead for these students.”
The students were the first to enroll in the diploma program designed to meet a growing need for a qualified workforce sought by industry, communities, environmental groups and the government.
“We at Niagara College do teach the three different types of renewable energies: solar energy, wind energy and geothermal energy. This will gives our students a broad range of employment opportunities,” said chair of NC’s School of Technology studies Adel Esayed, PhD,”The program is to supply the market with high quality grads that to fill the demand of solar, wind and geothermal technicians since the renewable energy production is more labour intensive than other energy sources such as fossil fuel.”
Thirty-two-year-old new graduate Trevor Bentley had been working in the mining industry and wanted a change when he enrolled in NC’s Renewable Energies Technican program.
“I researched environmental programs all across the country,” said the Welland resident, originally from Manitoba. “I chose the Renewable Energies Technician program because it was a brand new program in an up-and-coming field that would allow me to do hands-on work.”
During his time at NC he worked with Niagara Research on a project with Umbrella Energy, a local solar equipment dealer. The project involved conducting a feasibility study on FIT contracts versus net metering. It involved energy audits at three municipal buildings in Niagara Falls and the design of solar arrays to offset the high energy use of each building.
Bentley believes his experience in the program and with Niagara Research will help him achieve his career goal of becoming a project manager on renewable energy projects.
“It has given me a great understanding of wind and solar energy,” he said. “I’ve made some great contacts and met great people during my two years at the college.”
Bentley has been working with Rankin Construction’s Renewable Energy department since May where he is currently involved with commissioning a 65kW solar array and will start construction of two, five turbine wind projects in the near future. He returns to Niagara College in September to teach Energy Auditing.
Bentley and his classmates in the program, about 30 in total, graduated from Renewable Energies Technician program on June 19 at the morning ceremony.
