Green Education Highlight: Iowa Lakes Community College Wind Energy and Turbine Technology

Ideally located in Iowa’s windy northwest, Iowa Lakes Community College in Estherville, is helping the growing workforce needs of the wind energy industry. The college developed one of the first training programs of its kind in the nation. Meeting the needs of students fresh from high school or in mid-career transition, enrollment in the Wind Energy and Turbine Technology two-year degree program, has grown rapidly.

The first video below, was produced by Iowa Public Television in 2007 and gives a great overview of the program, and interviews with students. Of particular interest is the interview with the married couple consisting of a 50 year old husband and 35 year old wife who are participating in the program together. They were initially worried about the age discrepancy between themselves and the average student at the school but said that their fellow students have been very supportive.

The program’s success in meeting wind industry needs is due in part to the mandatory internship that students must undertake in the summer between their first and second year. The internship gives them vital hands on work experience. As a result, the college states that its students receive multiple job offers upon graduation, making $25 per hour or $50,000 per year with overtime.

The diploma program consists of the first three terms in the associate’s degree program. In addition to the coursework listed in the first three terms Business Communications is also required for the diploma. To prepare for entry-level positions in the industry, the student will receive training in:
• construction
• maintenance
• operation of wind turbines
Earning the Associate in Applied Science degree consists of completing the second year of the program. The student will receive additional training on:
• diagnosis of turbines
• high tech-low voltage
• computerized control and monitoring systems
• composites and composite repair
• data acquisition
• management of people
As a graduate of the two-year degree program students qualify for entry-level positions and also have the skills and education background to become a wind turbine operator and potentially a supervisor.
Algebra skills are essential to successful completion of the program. Assessment scores must indicate readiness for Intermediate Algebra. If you aren’t able to enroll in this course, students will be accepted into the Wind Energy General Studies Track until you can meet this requirement.

The next video is a great narrative by an instructor in the Iowa Lakes program produced at the Wind Power 2009 conference. He reviews the curriculum of the program in a much more informative manner than reading a course listing.
Program Curriculum

(Diploma consists of the first three terms)
Freshman Fall Semester

Introduction to Computers/info Systems
Intermediate Algebra OR
Intermediate Algebra 
Introduction to Wind Energy
Field Training and Project Operations
Direct Current Electrical Theory
Alternating Current Electrical Theory I

Freshman Spring Semester

Business Communications
Human Relations
Basic Hydraulics
Wind Turbine Mechanical Systems
Electric Motors and Generators
Alternating Current Electrical Theory II

Summer Semester

Wind Turbine Site Construction and Locations
Wind Turbine Internship

Sophomore Fall Semester

Science (Meteorology, Weather & Climate OR Chemistry OR Physics)
Basic Networking and Computer Technology
Power Generation & Transmission
Airfoils & Composite Repair
Electrical Practical Applications
Total Credits – Fall Sophomore

Sophomore Spring Semester

Principles of Management
Wind Turbine Siting
Data Acquisition & Assessment
Programmable Logic Control Systems

For more information on this great program visit their website at: http://www.iowalakes.edu/programs_study/industrial/wind_energy_turbine/index.htm

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Posted by Tracey A. Smith on Jun 4 2009. Filed under Associates Degree, College, Green Career, Green Jobs, Wind Energy Companies, wind training. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry