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ENERGY EXTENSION IN RHODE ISLAND Workforce Development, Energy Education and Academics

ENERGY EXTENSION IN RHODE ISLAND Workforce Development, Energy Education and Academics. Kate Venturini University of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension. URI: A land grant institution. Enrollment: 16,000 students; teaching + undergraduate tuition is everything!

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ENERGY EXTENSION IN RHODE ISLAND Workforce Development, Energy Education and Academics

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  1. ENERGY EXTENSION IN RHODE ISLAND Workforce Development, Energy Education and Academics Kate Venturini University of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension

  2. URI: A land grant institution • Enrollment: • 16,000 students; teaching + undergraduate tuition is everything! • Cornerstone academic programs: • Natural resource sciences (forestry, water, climate resilience) • Health (nutrition, pharmacy, nursing) • Liberal arts (communications, marketing) • Cornerstone Extension programs • 4H • Master Gardener

  3. A Timeline for Energy at URI • 2007: Results of URI Extension needs assessment indicate need for trained energy workforce in Rhode Island (e.g. policy, technical, analytics); • 2008: URI Energy Fellows Program established for undergraduate and graduate students;

  4. EFP Components Experiential Learning Opportunity Professional Development Training Specialized Energy Training (non-academic)

  5. EFP Mentor Organizations / project focus: • URI Extension Outreach Center / data analytics, education • Commerce RI / renewables incentive program • Ocean State Clean Cities / alternative fuels outreach • Washington County Regional Planning Council / policy • RI National Guard / efficiency program implementation • URI Chemistry Department / battery research • URI Graduate School of Oceanography / renewables research • Wind Energy Development, LLC / wind energy project management • RI Office of Energy Resources / policy, program development • National Grid / data analytics, education • Newport Naval War College / efficiency program implementation Experiential Learning Opportunity

  6. A Timeline for Energy at URI • 2009: Master Energy Training (Extension program) is created to provide foundational education to Energy Fellows, and train early adopters in energy topics; • 2010: First academic energy course created (EEC 350: Sustainable Energy Economics) by faculty in Department of Environmental and Natural Resource Economics; Specialized Energy Training (non-academic)

  7. A Timeline for Energy at URI • 2013: Comprehensive inventory of URI faculty energy research completed by Energy Fellows; results are staggering! 1

  8. A Timeline for Energy at URI • 2014: Energy Fellows Program evaluation yielded the following results: • 38% of students went on to attend graduate school; • 42% of students completed another internship during college; • 46% of students secured full-time energy sector jobs after graduation; • 83% of students secured full-time jobs after graduation. Professional Development Training

  9. A Timeline for Energy at URI • January 2015: URI Extension staff attend first National Energy Education Summit in Washington, DC; • February 2015: Six (6) academic credits for professional development embedded into Energy Fellows Program requirements (ITR 303 + 305); • October 2015: URI Extension hosts first “Plugged Into URI Energy Research” lecture series designed by Energy Fellows to highlight URI faculty energy research and encourage behavior change;

  10. “Plugged into URI Energy Research” lecture series

  11. A Timeline for Energy at URI • December 2015: 100th URI Energy Fellow completes program; historical outputs included (but are not limited to): • 7,000+ home energy audits • 6,000+ recycled refrigerators • 2,000+ residential weatherization projects • 200+ RI residents educated on energy efficiency and renewable energy • 70+ energy efficiency projects across RI public sector • Four (4) municipal energy policies; • Two (2) executive orders; and • Statewide energy management guide template

  12. EFP Components Experiential Learning Opportunity Professional Development Training Specialized Energy Training (non-academic)

  13. A Timeline for Energy at URI • October 2016: Academic Certificate in Energy Economics and Management will be added to the academic catalog • Will provide students with conceptual training and practical skills in energy management and policy; • Scale = individual building → microgrid → national level • 15 credits of coursework required • Targeted towards students seeking degrees in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics, Marine Affairs, Economics, and Political Science. Specialized Energy Training (ACADEMIC)

  14. The New Model Successful students will be able to: • Benchmark energy use in buildings, including private residences, industrial, commercial and municipal facilities; • Describe a set of site-specific options for energy efficiency, conservation and on-site production; • Carry out financial and environmental assessments of these energy options; and • Design and evaluate policy options for energy use and conservation at the local, state and federal levels. Experiential Learning Opportunity Professional Development Training Specialized Energy Training (ACADEMIC)

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