Solar Tech Students Vie for KRCL-Power Project

RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Salt Lake Community College students of solar design will compete Tuesday, June 2, at KRCL-FM (90.9)/Salt Lake City to see which of four SLCC teams will help KRCL become Utah's first radio station powered completely by renewable energy. Using equal grant-funded budgets, the student teams will have 15 minutes each to present their ideas Tuesday evening. KRCL will select the winning design, then turn the project over to Brok Thayn of Hunt Electric to build with students in his SLCC solar design class.

"We're always asking listeners to do what they can for the environment and now, with this project, it's our turn to walk that walk," said KRCL General Manager Vicki Mann, who noted the project will be funded in part by grants from UCAIR and Rocky Mountain Power. However, she said, "this is no academic exercise; it's a real-world project that we expect will reduce, if not eliminate, KRCL's carbon footprint."

One of the presenting teams includes SLCC solar tech student Michelle Fisher, a military veteran who recently met with President Barack Obama at Hill Air Force Base to discuss solar energy and SLCC's vital role in educating people for jobs in the solar industry. SLCC has been offering solar training since 2009 and was singled out during the President's visit as the leader in the Rocky Mountain Region of the national network. The Rocky Mountain Solar Training Provider network includes 14 states, eight of which are active within the network.

Members of the winning team will be able to expedite their NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) certification and thereby give them a "leg up" in their careers.