HFCC Talks Renewable Energy Entrepreneurship
A snowstorm-cut crowd of more than 200 enjoyed a day of information on building new businesses with green technology Friday at Henry Ford Community College in Dearborn.
The college's Fourth Annual Alternative Energy Summit had the theme "Green Entrepreneurship" this year.
GLITR Editor Matt Roush opened the event with an overview of Michigan's renewable energy industry, including the fast-growing advanced battery industry, whose growth is fueled by strong interest in electric and hybrid vehicles -- interest that will only grow as gasoline prices increase.
Roush pointed out recent media coverage about job opportunities in the battery, wind and solar industries, and said all those growing companies are seeking employees, suppliers and partners -- a strong opportunity for entrepreneurs.
Chuck Conlen, director of renewable energy programs at Detroit Edison, offered a sweeping view of the utility giant's green programs, everything from huge wind farms springing up all over Michigan to bioenergy plants at landfills to solar installations.
Scott Minos, senior policy and communications specialist for the United States Department of Energy, spoke on "Position Yourself for an Occupation in the Green Job Economy."
He spoke about the gradual transformation of American attitudes toward green technologies, with a particular emphasis on energy efficiency.
The event also featured breakout sessions on five tracks -- automotive, cities, energy efficiency, green entrepreneurship and "Go Green In Your Business." Presenters hailed from General Motors, the city of Ann Arbor, the LED lighting manufacturer Lumasmart, Ford Motor Co., Michigan state government, the city of Wyandotte and various energy-related consulting and engineering firms.
Also, more than 20 clean-energy and energy efficiency vendors exhibited, everything from LED lighting to efficient heating to industrial-scale solar power.
Greg Laskowsky, lead instructor at HFCC's Energy Technology Department, said enrollment at the department has rocketed from 300 in 2007 to more than 1,000 today.
"Our job is to get students ready for the new, emerging industries in Michigan
and we've been doing this for a number of years," he said. "HFCC graduates becomecandidates for emerging jobs or become entrepreneurs in the emerging green economy.
Laskowsky said the program gives students "an overview of alternative-renewable energies and from this they can concentrate on a great many different kinds of specialties."
Those specialt6ies include electrical, heating and cooling, solar, wind, batteries, environmental impact, energy auditing-weatherization, energy efficiency and planning, architecture, deconstruction, automotive and business.
The program blends theory with hands-on exposure. New emerging jobs require
a minimum of an associate's degree. However, with HFCC's new 3 for 1
articulation agreements with Eastern Michigan University and Siena Heights
University, students can complete their junior year at HFCC, graduate with 94 or
90 credit hours, attend one of the articulated universities, complete their senior
year and graduate with a bachelor's in Technical Education or a bachelor's of
Science Degree. HFCC's unique articulation partners accept 100 percent the
credits earned at HFCC as transfer credit.
For more information on the HFCC Alternative Energy Program, call (313) 845-9601 or email glaskowsky@hfcc.edu.
HFCC is also planning a March groundbreaking for a new green science building which will house physical sciences, environmental sciences and alternative energy programs.
