NEPA Energy Industry Partnership -

Milestones – On December 17, 2007 the NEPA Energy Industry Partnership was formed.   Currently we have 58 Industry Leaders from 49 Energy Industry Companies and 120 non-industry Partners involved.

Past –  Activities

• Outreach in 2010
  Five Solar Car Demonstrations put the Energy Industry in front of over 5,000 students.
  Students learned about energy careers with the solar car being used as a career awareness tool and an Alternative Energy science lesson.

  Three Science Clubs were initiated in area elementary schools.
  21 students participated building their own solar cars and receiving energy science lessons during this year. Two additional school districts will begin in the next 2 months and forty more students will begin their energy science lessons.

  Men at Work Presentation
  50 students received information  regarding STEM and Energy demand occupations in a unique mentoring program.

  The Partnership participated in three career fairs.
  Approx. 800 students were given information regarding Energy demand occupations.

  Alternate Energy Engineering Camp
  Held at Penn State Hazleton, this camp for  9-14 year olds focused on Energy Engineering.

• Collaborations in 2010
  Alternative Energy Events – Leveraged resources with NEPA Pre-Apprenticeship IP to support youth in building and construction trades with emphasis on Green initiatives.

  Our Northeast PA WIBs have formed a regional cross-cluster Industry Partnership (see Northeast PA AMDM Industry Partnership for description).  It is a powerful new approach to aid in achieving our objectives and effectively building more communication between all of the representatives.

  NEPA Energy IP collaborated with NEPA Manufacturing Association (MAEA) and hosted a roundtable discussion regarding Marcellus Shale natural gas prospecting and drilling In Pennsylvania.  Guest speaker Mike Narcavage, Local Government Specialist, from Chesapeake Energy outlined the economic impact and business opportunities generated by the natural gas industry.  35 business leaders were in attendance.

  NEPA Energy IP in collaboration with NE Regional WIBs participated in the proposal submission of Northeast Green Machine under the State Energy Sector Partnership grant.  The proposal was approved by the State for $750,000.training was provided to over 100 industry workers.

• Training in 2010
  Over 100 employees received training in 2010. These included:
  Solar Photovoltaic Systems Certification Training
  Advanced Driving Training Modules
  CDL Training
  Driving Refresher Course
  Asbestos Worker Certification

• Partnered with the Pre-Apprenticeship Program and funded four additional youths to participate in this Program.  This skilled trades pre-apprenticeship program may produce some of the welders and electricians, which energy and energy supply-chain companies need.

• A TNA/SWOT Analysis for our twelve-county energy region was commissioned showing energy illiteracy in the region as a weakness.  A shortage of laborers along with a need for pre-employment skills enhancement was also mentioned. Many of the training recommendations involved programs for youth in the schools.

• Energy IP planned and created “The Alternative Energy Event” featuring the Penn State University Solar Car and other activities (see News).  This is a combined Energy Career Awareness/Career Exploration and Educational Event which is aligned with the PA Academic Standards for Science & Technology.  It is also a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Initiative Event.  The Event made its debut appearance on November 7, 2008 at the Pine Grove Area Elementary School Career Fair and featured the PSU solar car and career exploration/awareness information.  It provided an opportunity to discuss many of the energy occupations  in demand.  Dr. Wes Grebski  delivered his energy lesson to 620 students along with a robotics demonstration delivered by Schuykill Technology Centers instructor Phil Cimino to about 120 students. This pilot program will be offered throughout the twelve county area at various schools and career fairs to the K-12 grade levels.

• Media coverage has consisted of three television stations documenting the “Alternative Energy Events” in the twelve county area.

• The Energy IP Program Manager represented our energy industry at the Pine Grove Area High School Career Fair on Feb 26^th, 2009. Approximately 600 students from grades 8-12 attended with a tremendous response to our 6-foot table display and materials about the solar car, the variety of occupations in the Energy field and the variety of training programs to pursue these occupations.

• (NEPA) Manufacturers and Employers Council Schuylkill County High School Career Fair – March 24^th (Solar Car appearance and six foot table display)  for 719 students from 10 school districts (primarily grades 9-10)
  

  Gary MacCready, Program Manager for the EIP with the table display used for Energy Events.

• Wallenpaupack Area School District – April 21 Solar Car appearance and guidance information for approximately 350 students primarily in the 7^th grade.  The demonstration also included some 6^th grade students and a number of students were bused in from Western Wayne School District to participate.

• Forest City Regional School District– May 6^th Solar Car appearance and Alternative Energy Event  for all 425 students in grades 7-12.

• A Second Solar Car – Dr. Grebski  converted an electric car to solar power.  This one is street legal.  The PSU (first) solar car will also be used for demonstrations.  Together they are a strong presentation.  The second solar car made its debut at MAEC career fair at Martz Hall and it has also been a hit.

• Energy IP Program Manager made a presentation (with table display) at Forest City High School “Transitions” Career Fair – April 23^rd

• Partners in Education Career Fair Event with Energy IP table display and Solar Car Demonstration at PSU Hazleton along with Hazleton Area School District and Weatherly Area School District students.  Approximately 100 students received the demonstration,  grade levels 7-9 on 5/12/09.

• Student & teacher-focused display materials have been produced and set up at school district visits and career fairs.  A new student-focused Energy IP brochure, entitled “Get Connected with a Career in Energy” was created for the same audience by the Energy IP.  It features information including some of the high demand energy occupations in this twelve-county region and is distributed with other materials about the energy industry.

• Principal Jennifer Bowen requested help from the Energy Industry Partnership in starting a Science and Energy Club at the Pine Grove Area Elementary School.  We assisted in establishing the club along with purchasing activity projects for this project-based, integrated learning experience.  The club also featured talks and demonstrations from three Science and Energy Industry leaders.   The students began meeting on 4-17-09.  *Note-In addition to the leaders mentioned above, in an effort to create a receptive environment for continued participation in the Club next year, the third grade class  received another guest speaker’s presentation.  They will be 4^th graders next year and will understand more about this opportunity and will look forward to participating in it.  All told, the students worked with two engineers, an energy analyst as well as  two employees from the Dept. of Forestry (for conservation issues).

• The Energy IP Program Manager spoke to the meeting of Schuylkill County High School Guidance Counselors on April 22 to explain about the youth activities of the Energy IP and solicit more schools to participate.   A similar talk was presented at the Math Advisory Council and Science Advisory Councils of Schuylkill County.  This produced interest in three more school districts requesting Science and Energy Clubs and solar car appearances.  The Program Manager also met with a representative of the Intermediate Unit in Luzerne County to schedule an appearance with guidance counselors and teachers for the same purpose.

• We partnered with the Electronics Summer Career Academy at PSU Hazleton.   The Energy IP Program Manager presented in-demand energy occupations with the aid of a laptop presentation and career fair materials.  This summer academy  presentation was held on 6/17/09 at 9 am.  There were about 16 students from grades 10-12 from the Hazleton area present.

• We  partnered with the Schuylkill Technology Center (Advanced Manufacturing) solar-based summer camp to arrange a visit by their students to see the PSU solar car at PSU Hazleton.  We also presented in-demand energy occupations along with a talk about renewable energy.   This summer camp presentation was on 6/17/09 at 10 am attended by about 30 students from grades 7-9 from Schuylkill County.

• Energy IP provided funding for a “Yes” (Your Employability Skills) Program Scholarship to enable  students from one regional high school to participate in this pre-employment skills program.

• The Energy IP funded an Energy Summer Career Camp that was run by Shenandoah Valley School District in Schuylkill County.

• The Energy IP funded an Energy Career Camp this summer that was located and taught by Lackawanna College faculty in Lackawanna County during the week of 6/22-6/26/09. The energy IP Program Manager made a presentation with the laptop.

• We partnered with the Carbon CTI  (Information Technology) Summer Camp.  We presented in-demand energy occupations with the 6-foot table display.  The summer camp presentation took place on 6/22/09.

• We funded a select number of high school students in the Pre-Apprenticeship Program again in this, our second year.  This skilled trades pre-apprenticeship program may produce some of the welders and electricians which energy and energy supply-chain companies need.

• All told, in this Program Year, a total of about 2,344 students from Fifteen School Districts have experienced the “Alternative Energy Event” with the Solar Car, and other activities.

Future – Activities

• National Science Foundation grant request (partnering efforts)

The E-Van, or Alternative Energy Self-Sustaining Mobile Lab – Dr. Grebski is working to secure funding for an energy efficient Van or R-V, etc… that would run on vegetable oil and would be heated by a solar thermal system.  The van would be self-sustaining and could pull the first solar car behind it.  It would be used for educational purposes, housed at PSU- Hazleton, and taken on the road.  It would allow students to interact in a project-based learning experience.  They would operate controls for three energy systems on board: solar, solar thermal and wind turbine.  They would be able to watch on a data acquisition system readout as they build power. The Energy IP is working with Dr. Grebski to make this happen.

Other Activities – Incumbent Worker Training Grants

In  the 2008-2009 Program Year, we utilized our $100,000 Training Funds Budget to fund 103 incumbent workers for advanced skills training in the energy field.