Bob Chiarelli, minister of Energy, was joined by Durham College President Don Lovisa, MPP Joe Dickson (Ajax-Pickering) and students from the college’s Renewable Energy Technician program on April 11 as he toured the college’s Whitby campus for a first-hand look at its state-of-the-art classrooms, labs and equipment focused on renewable energy technology.

“Training Ontarians for the high-skilled jobs in the clean energy sector is an important part of modernizing our energy system,” said Chiarelli. “Students in the Renewable Energy Technician program have a bright future as we build a clean, reliable energy system that Ontario families can count on.”

The minister visited campus and met with students in the Renewable Energy Technician program as part of the ministry’s commitment to creating jobs and building a clean energy workforce. This included the opportunity to see students training inside the Wind Tunnel classroom where he assisted with the installation of a wind blade; viewing the wind tunnels and solar panels installed on the roof of the Whitby campus; and assisting with the installation of a solar panel.

In addition, he visited the Sustainable Carpentry shop where he spoke with students about the government’s plan to support the next generation of energy workers and build an energy system designed to create and support jobs while ensuring there is enough electricity to power the province’s homes, schools, hospitals and more.

“You can be confident that the renewable energy sector is here to stay in Ontario,” added Chiarelli. We are excited about the program you have here and excited about how excited your students are about the sector.”

The Renewable Energy Technician program was launched in September 2009 and close to 100 students will have graduated by spring 2013 including 21 students who are scheduled to graduate this June.

“All of the investments our college has made in green energy and sustainability over the past few years has positioned our students very well for finding employment in the green energy sector now and moving forward as the demand for green energy workers increases, “ said Lovisa.

Graduates of the Renewable Energy Technician program possess the knowledge, skills and ability required to perform energy audits on new and existing homes and assist with site analysis and the installation and assembly of solar energy panels, geothermal heat pump systems and wind turbines, leaving them well-positioned to pursue interesting and challenging careers in the energy sector.

“Graduating from the Renewable Energy Technician program was a life changer for me,” said Eddy Racine, a 2010 Renewable Energy Technician program graduate and renewable energy technical support specialist, National Service Center, Westburne Electric. “The program gave me the tools and support I needed to secure a great job in my field. Seeing how the Green Energy Act has shaped the landscape and the lives of thousands of Ontarians is simply amazing. It is exciting to be part of the government’s commitment to long-term sustainability of our resources.  As this industry continues to grow, so do my opportunities.”