NABCEP Releases the Small Wind Installer Certification Application Ahead of the September 2010 Exam
Clifton Park, NY, May 19, 2010 – NABCEP
The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) is pleased to announce that effective immediately it is accepting applications to sit for the first administration of the Small Wind Installer Certification exam. This is NABCEP’s first certification for installers of a non-solar technology. It will target practitioners who specify, install and maintain wind energy systems and equipment. In the scope of this new credential, a small wind energy system is defined as being a grid connected or off-grid system with or without batteries rated at 100 kW or less.
Don Warfield, Chair of NABCEP’s Board, says, “The launch of this new Small Wind Installer Certification is another step in the right direction for NABCEP. The organization now offers a voluntary installer certification to Solar PV, Solar Thermal and Small Wind installers. This is a great achievement for NABCEP since these credentials support the increased adoption of three technologies essential to the renewable energy future of North America.”
Mick Sagrillo, a small wind stakeholder representative on the NABCEP Board of Directors and owner of Sagrillo Power & Light in Wisconsin says, “Small wind has become a formidable industry in the United States, with over $82 million in sales in 2009. The past three years has seen the installation of 50 MW of small wind turbines in the US. This is explosive growth, and nearly all of these systems were installed by small company installers. Clearly, the time is right for the NABCEP Small Wind Installer Certification.”
Ezra Auerbach, Executive Director of NABCEP, agrees, saying; “As a credentialing organization for renewable energy practitioners, the small wind installer certification is a natural fit within our growing suite of professional certifications. Like all of our other programs this one was developed with active, industry stakeholder involvement. It is always gratifying to see competitors working side-by-side on NABCEP committees; it points to the depth of commitment our volunteers bring to the table.”
The eligibility requirements to sit for this certification exam can be found in NABCEP’s new all-inclusive Candidate Information Handbook under Section 5. Applications are open and the online application is accessible from the NABCEP homepage: www.NABCEP.org.
The first exam will be administered on September 11, 2010 with applications due on July 9, 2010. NABCEP staff can be contacted by phone and email with any questions or you can speak with us directly at the ASES National Conference (Booth #212) and at the Small Wind Conference and Midwest Renewable Energy Conference in June.
About NABCEP
The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) is a volunteer board of renewable energy stakeholder representatives. Our mission is to support, and work with the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries, professionals, and stakeholders to develop and implement quality credentialing and certification programs for practitioners.