Renewable Energy Assessment and Development

Units: 3

This course will cover global frameworks, as well as local, utility, state and federal policy and incentives that foster renewable energy implementation. It will also cover fundamental concepts of finance and economics to build a renewable energy project model that show how these policies affect the economics of a renewable energy project.

Offered in Fall Only

Units: 3

This course will cover solar site assessment, wind assessment, and bioenergy with required exercises using current industry tools to assess the viability of the resource. Overview of the historical and current role of wind, solar, and bioenergy power technologies globally and the direction of each sector's evolution for the future, particularly in the USA. The course emphasizes the technology behind power generation for wind, solar, and bioenergy sectors. Students will evaluate policy and permitting issues and, consequently, determine if a site is appropriate for implementation of either or all of these technologies.

Offered in Spring Only

Units: 3

This course covers fundamental principles of the application, design, installation, and operation & maintenance of Photovoltaic [PV] systems in order to properly assess the best system options for a specific project or application. The course will begin with some background on electric energy and its use and delivery. In addition, the course will cover economic implications of the site and PV system considerations. Building on this foundation we will then take an in-depth look at solar photovoltaic function and design to aide students in assessing the environmental, and financial, sustainability of the project. This interdisciplinary approach allows the student to gain a comprehensive understanding of photovoltaics beyond the technical, and caters to individuals across a range of experience and expertise.

Offered in Fall Only

Units: 3

Energy Storage and operations and maintenance have become two areas in clean energy, particularly in the PV industry that have been rapidly evolving. This course will offer the basics of battery technology, as well as current market trends and incentives, to provide students timeless tools to assess the best possible option for a specific renewable energy + storage project. Meanwhile, the operations and maintenance portion will go through industry best practices that not only deal with technical management of a solar asset, but also understanding financial implications of the project. This interdisciplinary approach allows students of diverse STEM and non-STEM professional experience and expertise to gain a comprehensive understanding of this aspect of the solar industry.

Offered in Spring Only

Units: 3

This course provides students with an appreciation for and understanding of the principles of environmental law and policy. Emphasis is on the US legal system and litigation process relevant to environmental law, covering topics such as: the National Environmental Policy Act [NEPA], the Pollution Prevention Act [PPA], the Clean Water Act, and the Clean Air Act. Throughout the course, a case study is integrated into the conceptual lecture material with the intent of providing practical examples to conceptual material.

Offered in Fall Only

Units: 3

Procedures and requirements for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act [NEPA] when projects involve a federal nexus, including permitting and consultation among agencies in the planning process. Illustrating the five NEPA mandates and examining implications for data generation and monitoring that result from responsibilities vested in the Council of Environmental Quality.

Offered in Fall Only

Units: 1 - 6