Wednesday, March 4 @ 10-11 a.m.| Riverside Campus, 1020 Grove Blvd.

Austin, TX – The Austin Community College District is inviting government and industry leaders to a dedication ceremony for two solar arrays constructed to serve the college’s growing renewable energy workforce training programs.

The U.S. Department of Energy, Austin Energy, ACC, and GridPoint funded the arrays as part of the DOE’s Solar America City award, which is intended to accelerate solar adoption in cities. Additional technical features were added to enhance the arrays’ workforce training potential.

Guests at the dedication will hear from business and government leaders, view demonstrations, and learn how ACC is preparing the local workforce for the rapidly emerging careers in renewable energy and providing new opportunities for displaced workers.

ACC began training renewable energy workers three years ago and today is poised to be a driving force in the region’s push to bolster the local economy by developing a skilled workforce for new energy resources. ACC’s credit and noncredit programs currently provide wind power and solar technology training, with more than 200 students seeking admission each semester.

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About the Austin Community College District (austincc.edu):
ACC, Central Texas’ community college, is the primary gateway to higher education and career training for residents in eight counties. The college provides access to affordable, quality education. ACC enrolls more than 35,700 credit students, offering university transfer courses, two-year associate degrees, certificates, Early College Start, access programs that get students “college-ready,” and continuing education. At ACC you can “Start here. Get there.”

About the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar America City award: Austin, TX is one of 25 U.S. cities named as a Solar America City by the U.S. Department of Energy. DOE recognizes Solar America Cities as partners highly committed to solar technology adoption at the local level. The awards are intended to accelerate solar adoption in cities—our nation’s electricity load centers—by supporting cities’ innovative efforts with financial and technical assistance.  More information is available at: www.solaramericacities.energy.gov

About Austin Energy: Austin Energy is the 9th largest public power electric utility in the country with more than 397,000 customers and revenues of more than $1 billion. Austin Energy has led the nation for the last six years in a row for sales of renewable energy by a utility-sponsored program. The Utility also offers one of the most comprehensive energy-efficiency programs in the country. Austin Energy’s goal is to produce 30 percent of its generation needs by 2020 from renewable energy sources and to also have 100 megawatts of solar power in its portfolio by the same date.