Vermont Business Leader Urges State to Keep Momentum on Energy Goals
Williston, Vt. —Vermont Tech announced today that David Blittersdorf, well-known renewable energy entrepreneur and president and Chief Executive Officer of Williston-based AllEarth Renewables, has committed $120,000 to support the launch of the college’s new Renewable Energy bachelor’s degree program. The new Bachelor of Science program will prepare graduates to play a hands-on role in implementing the State of Vermont’s goal of achieving ninety-percent renewable energy by 2050. The program will launch in the fall of 2014 and is currently accepting students.
“It is vital that Vermont not lose momentum in the pursuit of its energy goals. Providing access to a comprehensive, hands-on education in the renewable energy field is a vital step towards ensuring that the state achieves those goals,” said Blittersdorf. “We are proud to have many Vermont Tech alums on the team at AllEarth, and I believe strongly in the high-quality, hands-on education that the college provides. These are the jobs not of the future, but of right now.”
Blittersdorf founded and is past CEO of NRG Systems, a Hinesburg-based renewable energy company. “Having created Vermont jobs in both solar and wind, I am eager to help the next generation achieve my dream of a renewable energy based future,” he noted.
The Renewable Energy program at Vermont Tech will educate students in a variety of renewable technologies, including solar PV, solar heating, wind power, biomass heating and anaerobic digestion. Students will also learn important aspects of project management, including how to evaluate renewable resources, complete site assessments, design systems, model system performance, utilize data acquisition tools and integrate energy systems into landscapes, buildings and communities.
“Over the past 12 years, Vermont Tech has made a commitment to building energy and sustainability into its curriculum. This generous gift from David allows us to take these efforts to a new level with a focused bachelor’s degree in Renewable Energy. The expert technical instruction and hands-on experience students will receive in this important field will allow them to play a vital role in the state’s energy future,” said President of Vermont Tech Dan Smith.
AllEarth Renewables is the designer and manufacturer of the award winning AllSun Tracker, an innovative solar tracking system for small and large scale instillations. Recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the nation’s 500 fastest-growing businesses, AllEarth Renewables is a 2013 and 2014 Vermont Best Places to Work award recipient.
To learn more about Vermont Tech, please visit www.vtc.edu, and to find out more about AllEarth Renewables, go to www.allearthrenewables.com.
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About Vermont Tech – Vermont Tech is a leading public college with the mission of applied education. One of the five Vermont State Colleges, Vermont Tech serves students from throughout Vermont, New England, and beyond at its two residential campuses in Williston and Randolph Center, regional campuses in Brattleboro and Bennington, and at six nursing campuses located throughout the state. Vermont Tech takes an optimistic, rooted and personal approach to education to support students in gaining the confidence and practical skills necessary to not only see their potential, but to experience it. Our academic programs encompass a wide range of engineering technology, agricultural, health, and business fields that are vital to producing the knowledgeable workers needed most by employers in the state and in the region.www.vtc.edu.
About AllEarth Renewables – AllEarth Renewables is the designer and manufacturer of the AllSun Tracker, a complete grid-tied, dual-axis solar electric system that uses GPS technology to follow the sun, producing up to 45% more energy than fixed rooftop systems. Made in Williston, VT, the ground-mounted solar tracker is designed for residential and commercial scale installations. Its simple, durable design and complete system pallet simplifies costly procurement and installation time, allowing for easy shipping directly to the installer or job site. The tracker has an industry-leading 10-year warranty and 120-mph wind rating and can withstand harsh winter climates with superior snow shedding. As the nation’s leading dual-axis solar tracker company, AllEarth Renewables has over 30 years of experience in the renewable energy industry and has installed over 1,800 trackers.