Riverland Community College received final approval from Minnesota State Colleges and Universities for the new Wind Turbine Program. The program is currently taking applications for fall semester 2009.

The newly approved Wind Turbine Technician program will address the growing demand for highly qualified personnel to service and maintain the increasing number of turbines used in the renewable energy industry today and for the foreseeable future. Design, operation, and maintenance theory and application of multi-industry turbine technology usage will be explored with an emphasis on wind turbine/renewable energy applications.

“The Wind Turbine program will provide graduates the opportunity to enter into a high demand field and provide students with an education that gives them a competitive edge in today’s economy,” said Steve Bowron,  dean of career/technical education  for Riverland Community College. “Renewable energy careers will continue to grow regionally and nationally in future years.”

Wind turbine technicians play a key role in ensuring quality, safety and service involving the operation and maintenance of wind turbine units, performing mechanical and electrical troubleshooting, as well as repair and preventative maintenance.

Wind turbine technicians install and maintain electrical motors and their controls, electronic controls, programmable logic controllers, hydraulics, repair and replace malfunctioning parts and equipment, transmissions and drives, mechanical systems and blade maintenance and repair.

Riverland has secured numerous industry and school partners to help plan, develop and implement this much-needed career and technical academic program. Their continued involvement with the college will help to ensure the program sent to Minnesota State Colleges and Universities will provide the local wind technology industry with highly skilled and educated wind turbine technicians.

The partners to date include: Juhl Energy Development Inc., Vestas, Horizon Wind/Prairie Star Wind Farm, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, Workforce Development Inc., Alliant Energy, Austin Utilities, Freeborn Mower Cooperative Services, Albert Lea Public Schools, Owatonna Senior High School, Albert Lea Economic Development Agency and the Development Corporation of Austin.