EPCE News and Information
CAEL/EPCE's Light up Your Future high school program featured in Electric Co-op Today
"Reaching Out to Entice Young Co-op Workforce Recruits," focuses on how co-ops are utilizing methods to recruit high school students for the energy industry. "The target for us is high school students [who] are looking for opportunities," said Jo Winger de Rondon, vice president of the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL). CAEL administers the Energy Providers Coalition for Education (EPCE) which has been working with Virtual High School (VHS) to create courses for young adults.
Partnership with Clemson Brings Electrical Engineering Courses to the Energy Industry
EPCE has partnered with Clemson University to bring their Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (B.S.E.E.) to the energy industry. Clemson’s Electrical Engineering courses will be available online starting in the summer 2009 term.
This program is appropriate for students who work for or plan to work for electric utilities, electrical equipment manufacturers, or companies which rely heavily on electrical energy.
EPCE and Thomas Edison State College add Gas Distribution program
This new Certificate in Gas Distribution is for professionals seeking success through detailed knowledge of the structure and function of natural gas distribution. Courses taken for the college credit can be directly applied to Thomas Edison's BSAST degree in Energy Utility Technology.
Those who can benefit from this program include new hires, natural gas trouble workers, job designers, measurement specialists, principle gas technicians, underground crew leaders, and others looking to increase in natural gas operations and industry knowledge.
South Texas Project Nuclear Operating Company Joins EPCE
EPCE welcomes the South Texas Project Nuclear Operating Company (STPNOC) as a new member to the coalition. STPNOC consists of twin reactors located 90 miles from Houston. They manage the power plant for owners, Austin Energy, CPS Energy, and NRG Energy LLC.
Virtual High School, Inc., an EPCE partner, receives National Accreditation
On April 25, 2008 the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools voted unanimously to grant Virtual High School accreditation with no stipulations or conditions, for 5 years. Virtual High School, the education industry's leader in providing high-quality online courses to high school students has partnered with EPCE to promote online education to high school students that wish to prepare for an exciting career path in the energy.
EPCE partner, Excelsior College offers the first virtual student chapter of the American Nuclear Society (ANS).
Excelsior College joins the American Nuclear Society as the first virtual chapter. The purpose of ANS is to promote the awareness and understanding of the application of nuclear science and technology. The ANS allows students and faculty to tap into resources with in the nuclear power industry that include job opportunities, current industry news and trends. The ANS is comprised of over 11,000 engineers, scientists, administrators, and educators working together to create a place to share common ideas regarding nuclear science and technology.
Tuition Rates Lowered for Orientation to the Electric Industry Course
The class Orientation to the Electric Industry has been reformatted for 2008. The improvements to the course are: new lower tuition rate- only $140 for EPCE members, now a self-paced course for increased convenience, and new sessions now begin monthly.
Ideal for new hire orientation and employee training programs, this course is useful for all positions in utility companies, including managers, engineers, technicians, non-technical staff such as, accounting, finance, legal, and anyone else interested in an overview of the electric industry.
Nuclear Renaissance Presents Employment Opportunities
Carol Berrigan, the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) director of industry infrastructure testified the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee about the workforce development needs being created by the expansion of the nuclear sector. Meanwhile, the industry is still facing an aging workforce with nearly half the workers 47 years old or older.
EPCE provider, Bismarck State College, designated the National Power Plant Operations Technology and Education Center
This designation is a mark of excellence from the Federal Government for BSC's cutting-edge education and training programs.
EPCE is pleased to welcome Constellation Energy to its membership
By joining EPCE, Constellation is part of an industry wide coalition working together to solve workforce development issues through industry-sponsored online education.
Palo Verde Nuclear Generation Station Joins EPCE
Palo Verde is operated by Arizona Public Service (APS) and is owned by a consortium of seven utilities in the Southwest. APS owns 29.1 percent of the plant. Palo Verde expands the APS membership in EPCE, joining APS’s Energy Services division in utilizing the EPCE-sponsored online education programs for workforce development. Palo Verde has been the largest power producer of any kind in the United States since 1992. Its three units are capable of generating nearly 4,000 megawatts of electricity. By joining EPCE, Palo Verde is supporting its strategic objective to develop employees from within by increasing the knowledge of existing staff and streamlining the “basics” training for new hires.
EPCE Welcomes Northeast Utilities
The EPCE industry coalition welcomes Northeast Utilities to its membership. The company serves Connecticut, New Hampshire and Massachusetts and joins its industry partners in developing and promoting industry-driven online education to current and future employees through EPCE. By offering the EPCE-sponsored programs to its employees and local communities as convenient, quality online educational opportunities, the utility sees EPCE as a resource to support and build its workforce.
JEA Joins EPCE
The EPCE industry coalition welcomes JEA to its membership. The JEA electric system is the eighth-largest community-owned utility in the United States and currently serves more than 360,000 customers in Jacksonville, FL and parts of three adjacent counties. JEA joins its industry partners in developing and promoting industry-driven online education to current and future employees through EPCE. By offering the industry-sponsored programs to its employees, JEA and other utilities make use of EPCE as a resource to support and build their workforce.
EPCE Presents a New Online Bachelor’s Degree Program in Energy Utility Technology at Thomas Edison State College
EPCE has partnered with fully accredited Thomas Edison State College to offer the new online BSAST in Energy Utility Technology. Students completing the AAS in Electric Power Technology at Bismarck State College can transfer 100% of credits toward this degree at Thomas Edison University. Students who already have an associate’s degree can go directly to Thomas Edison for degree completion. The online program is an excellent option for current employees or those interested in joining the electric power industry to earn an industry-supported BS degree.
EPCE Partners to Offer A Bachelor’s In Nuclear Engineering Technology
The Excelsior College BS in Nuclear Engineering Technology is TAC-ABET accredited and widely known across the nuclear power industry. This degree offers the next logical step for graduates of EPCE-sponsored fully online AAS in Nuclear Power Technology at Bismarck State College. For individuals with nuclear industry training and other college credits, this degree completion program is a great opportunity to earn a BS degree in nuclear through a recognized, adult learner centered institution.