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Yuma Manufacturers’ Association Spurs Industry Training
The Yuma Manufacturers’ Association was formed in 2006 to address concerns about workforce issues raised in a business survey. A customized training curriculum was designed around the common needs of local industry:
- Industrial Electric
- Programmatic Logistic Controls
- Controls
- “Super Manager” course was designed in conjunction with the technical training
Courses were developed through the cooperative efforts of local groups, with equipment donated by a local industrial equipment shop; classroom space provided by Arizona Western College and computers by the Workforce Investment Board.
Companies can send their employees to centralized training sites or opt to have someone from their own staff become a certified instructor at their place of business.
There are currently 10 participating companies in YMA. The group has passed approximately 120 individuals through the multiple training courses. In addition to college credit, participants now receive National Certified Accreditation.
Arizona Western College Sets Solar Example
With the passage of a district wide construction bond in November of 2004, one of the first items to be discussed was the issue of sustainability and the use of “green” materials in the seven new buildings and/or complexes. Rather than following the current trend of pursuit of Leed certification for our new facilities it was decided to invest 10-15% of available construction dollars that would be required by the Leed Certification documentation and verification process into actual sustainable and green building processes including:
A 105.6 kW DC solar array which is static mounted on our Agriculture and Science facility. This array provides direct cost savings to the college but, and more importantly, provides web based, real time data that is being used to develop a solar/alternative energy curriculum for not only our college but also our K-12 and University partners. This project, according to the US Department of Energy, is second only to MIT in scope and size for an educational based solar research tool. This solar array was the product of partnership with our local electrical energy provider.
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Why Yuma for Solar Manufacturing?
Some of the major advantages for business in Yuma:
- Yuma is a natural transportation hub with over 50 million consumers within a one day truck haul via Interstate 8 or US 95 both of which run directly through Yuma County.
- Yuma typically has an annual Direct Normal Solar Radiation of 7.0 to 7.5 kWh/m
- New state incentives significantly reduce upfront capital cost burden
- Abundant labor with no union presence
- Competitive wage rates
- Arizona Western College has instituted a “Renewable Energy” curriculum
Renewable Energy
Click to download
Wage Comparison
Solar Manufacturing Jobs
Click to download
Market Conditions
- Arizona’s Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) has set a goal to require 15 % of their energy from renewable energy sources by 2025
- California's Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) is one of the most ambitious renewable energy standards in the country (33% by 2020)
- Arizona Public Service (utility company) offers aggressive incentives to promote commercial and residential solar installation
- California’s Solar Initiative earmarks $3.3 billion to put solar on 1 million roofs in the state
Industry Collaboration
Arizona Solar Center
www.azsolarcenter.com
Arizona Solar Energy Industries Association
www.arizonasolarindustry.org
Power Systems Engineering Research Center (PSERC)
www.pserc.org
Solar Electric Power Association
www.solarelectricpower.org
Education and Training
Arizona Western College
- Alternative Energy Education
Partnership provides industry training in engineering subjects related to green energy.
www.azwestern.edu
Arizona State University
- Solar Initiative
solar.asu.edu - Global Institute of Sustainability
www.sustainability.asu.edu - NanoFab foundry
www.fulton.asu.edu/nanofab/ - National Center of Excellence on Smart Innovations
www.asusmart.com
