The Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado, is currently accepting applications for its 2015 National Executive Energy Leadership Academy.
NREL is the only campus in the DOE research network devoted just to renewable research. And its national outreach program, called "Energy Execs," offers in-depth training on renewable energy to leaders in the private and public sectors, as well as nonprofits and community groups.
There are two NREL Energy Execs programs: the Leadership Program, which is one weekend a month for five months, and the Leadership Institute, a one-week intensive program. The goal of these outreach programs is to immerse decision-makers in the opportunities offered by renewable energy and energy efficiency: technologies, market assessments, and financial and analytical tools. The sample syllabus is here (including field trips.)
Applications online are due by Jan. 16. The five-month program runs from May to September 2015, and the institute will be held April 14-17, 2015.
There is no fee for the Renewable Energy Leadership Academy, but applicants pay for travel to and lodging in Golden (about a half an hour outside Denver). Alumni include representatives from city and state governments, construction and building, telecom, real estate, military, Congressional offices, and more. More than 200 business, government and nonprofit leaders have taken the courses since 2007.
"Industry, academia and government rely on leaders with vision and drive to make the transition to a sustainable, secure, energy future," said NREL Director Dan Arvizu. "NREL's Energy Execs programs play an important role in bringing those leaders together to learn about what is possible and to strategize about market-viable solutions."
More about NREL: The 327-acre NREL campus in Golden houses several research labs, including three national centers located within NREL: the National Center for Photovoltaics, the National Bioenergy Center and the National Wind Technology Center. NREL has an additional 13 analysis projects, including grid and interconnection, vehicles, geothermal, buildings, weatherization and intergovernmental programs, and Department of Defense energy programs.
For more information and to apply, click here.
Hannah Miller is a writer, ecologist, and adventurer living in Colorado. She is interested in everything, but particularly in creative sustainability practices, the Internet, arts and culture, the human-machine interaction, and democracy. She's lived in Shanghai, New York, L.A., Philadelphia, and D.C., and taught English, run political campaigns, waited tables, and written puppet shows. She definitely wants to hear what you're up to. You can reach her at @hannahmiller215, email at golden.notebook at gmail.com or at her site: www.hannahmiller.net.