The first associate's degree credit program in Ohio in the burgeoning field of wind turbine power generation is planned for Lorain County Community College. The Associate of Science degree in Alternative Energy Technology – Wind Turbine major will train students to become installation and maintenance professionals. It is slated to begin this fall semester.

"Wind turbine power is expected to be one of the fastest-growing alternative energy sources," said program coordinator Duncan Estep. "And it will need qualified people to service the technology that is involved."

According to the American Wind Energy Association, wind now provides 20,152 mega watts (MW) of electricity generating capacity in the U.S., producing enough electricity to serve 5.3 million American homes or power a fleet of more than 1 million plug-in hybrid vehicles.  This amount of wind capacity can generate as much electricity every year as 28.7 million tons of coal or 90 million barrels of oil. Wind generation currently displaces 34 million tons of carbon dioxide annually, equivalent to taking 5.8 million vehicles off of the road.

"Wind turbine technology has a great potential impact for Lorain County," Estep said. "This translates into the next generation of clean energy production and jobs in the installation and maintenance of these turbines."

The new associate's degree program will cover an overview of alternative energy sources, with specialized training in electronics, electronic controls, mechanical systems and more.  The program will focus on residential-sized wind turbines and will include training on commercial-sized turbines, Estep said.

For more information about this growing green-technology program at LCCC, visit www.lorainccc.edu/energy or call (440) 366-7016.