Energy Technology

Description

The photovoltaic, solar thermal, and energy efficiency career fields are growing quickly in Missouri. These certificate and degree programs at Metropolitan Community College (MCC) prepare you for the fast-growing renewable energy industry and gives additional skills to those already working a traditional job like industrial electrical or heating/ air-conditioning.

Below are some facts about alternative energy growth from Missouri Partnership, a statewide nonprofit economic development organization.

• Missouri is located within 600 miles of about 50% of all U.S. manufacturing establishments and U.S. households
• Missouri solar installations have increased from 101kw in 2009 to over 7.8 MW in 2011. That's a more than 7,000% increase in three years.
• Missouri's solar resources, between 4.5 and 5.0 kilowatt-hours per square meter per day, exceed that of Germany, which leads the world in solar energy production and averages under 3 kilowatt-hours per square meter per day (National Renewable Energy Laboratory).
• Devoting just 1 square mile in Missouri to solar power can provide enough electricity for about 1,100 households per year (National Wildlife Federation).
• Missouri has over 200 sunny days per year (Source: NOAA, Comparative Climatic Data, Annual).
• Missouri's workforce exceeds the populations of 20 other states, including neighboring Kansas, Arkansas, and Nebraska.
• 12%, or 318,650 of Missouri's 2.67 million workers are employed in occupations relevant to the Energy Solutions industry.
• Missouri's Clean Energy Initiative requires that utility companies increase usage of renewable energy to 15% by 2021. The standard also requires that .3% of retail electricity sales must come from solar electricity. Missouri is one of only 14 states with a provision for solar electricity.
• Missouri's RPS requires investor-owned Missouri utilities to pay customers a $2 per watt solar rebate (up to 25 kW) on their solar PV systems (max $50,000 per metered customer).
• Missouri recently passed Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) legislation allowing property owners to finance renewable energy retrofits over 20 years though an annual assessment on their property tax bill.
• In 2007 Missouri passed a net metering act, streamlining the interconnection and tariff process for solar projects.
• Rockport, MO was the first 100 percent wind powered community in the U.S.