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Show Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues, November 19-22, 2016 A-9 The Park Record Solar energy growing in small towns Former coal and oil workers install solar panels LYNDSEY GILPIN High Country News During his final semester at Delta High School, on Colorado’s Western Slope, Zac Carter enrolled in a new course called Introduction to Photovoltaics, where he could learn the basics of the solar industry. Some of Carter’s family works in the energy industry, and he’s always been interested in electricity. This year, though, he’s watched close family friends struggle to find jobs after being laid off by the nearby West Elk coal mine. By the time he turned 18, he knew a future in fossil fuels wasn’t viable. After passing the course, Carter was eligible for an entry-level job as a solar panel installer. He quit his job at McDonald’s after graduation and enrolled in two more classes at Solar Energy International (SEI). A month later, he landed a job with a company in Montrose installing rooftop solar systems, making $12 to $15 an hour. “I was the only one in my class to pursue it as a career,” he said. “The industry is growing fast here. I feel like I have a leg up.” Stricter environmental regulations and low natural gas prices have made it difficult for coal companies to stay in business. On the Western Slope, where three major mining operations have closed in recent years, SEI has worked with the local energy cooperative, Delta Montrose Electric Association, to spur economic development through renewable energy. The program has allowed Delta County to diversify energy sources, and has become a tool for economic revitalization. Carter, who wants to stay in Delta and work his way up the ladder of the local solar industry, is just the type of person they’re trying to reach. The U.S. is home to over 900 electric cooperatives, which buy wholesale power from a generation and transmission company and distribute it to members. Delta’s is among the more progressive, constantly pushing for local renewable energy solutions. The co-op, which distributes electricity to 32,000 service locations in Delta and Montrose Counties on the Western Slope of Colorado, purchases 95 percent of its elec- tricity from Tri-State Generation and Transmission in Denver, and produces the remaining 5 percent from hydroelectric plants and community solar arrays. For years, the co-op has been fighting Tri-State for more energy independence. Last year, Tri-State attempted to impose a fee on wholesale electricity customers like DMEA, so the cooperative petitioned the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and won the right to keep developing local energy solutions and buy electricity outside of Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association. Still, about $42 million annually leaves Delta County to go to Tri-State in Denver. That’s why DMEA is working to create more jobs through renewable energy. In the last year, they have hired locally for construction, operation, and maintenance of hydropower, biomass, and coal methane plants. And with the help of SEI’s resources, DMEA is also rapidly growing a market for solar on the Western Slope. The country’s largest nonprofit renewable energy lab facility and training school, SEI is based in Paonia, the town of about 1,500 people where High Country News is headquartered. The institute offers online and hands-on courses for designing, installing, and maintaining lawful sexual conduct with a 16 or 17 year old, a third-degree felony. Sentencing is Jan. 9. Stewart William Sargent, 48, of Coalville, entered into a 24-month plea in abeyance to unlawful acquisition, possession or transfer of a financial transaction card, a third-degree felony. The court ordered the defendant to pay a $300 fee, pay any restitution, complete 40 hours of community service and complete other standard terms and conditions. Adam P. Schoen, 33, of Delmar, New York, entered a guilty plea to driving under the influence, a third-degree felony. Sentencing is Jan. 9. Kyle Eugene Strasser, 31, of Park City, entered a guilty plea to attempted theft, a Class A misdemeanor. The Court imposed a one-year jail sentence and a $2,500 fine. That sentence was stayed, the court placed him on supervised probation for 24 months and ordered him to complete standard terms and conditions. Jonathan Velazquez, 19, of West Valley City, entered into an 18-month plea in abeyance to possession or use of a controlled substance, a Class A misdemeanor. The court ordered him to complete 30 hours of community service and complete other standard terms and conditions. John William Whiteley, 61, of West Valley City, entered into a 12-month plea in abeyance to attempted assault, a Class B misdemeanor. The court ordered the defendant to pay a $500 fee and complete other standard terms and conditions. Erick N. Medley, 40, of Deming, New Mexico, entered a guilty plea to driving under the influence, a third-degree felony. Sentencing is Jan. 9. Cesar Ivan Romero-Jaloma, 30, of West Valley City, entered a guilty plea to assault, a Class B misdemeanor; interference with an arresting officer, a Class B misdemeanor; intoxication, a Class C misdemeanor; and disorderly conduct, a Class C misdemeanor. Sentencing is Jan. 23. Drake Richard Fulmer, 22, of Salt Lake City, entered into an 18-month plea in abeyance to criminal trespass, a Class A misdemeanor, and failure to stop at the command of law enforcement, a Class A misdemeanor. The court ordered the defendant to pay a $400 fee, complete 30 hours of community service and complete other standard terms and conditions. COURT REPORT Submitted by the Summit County Attorney’s Office According to the Summit County Attorney’s Office, the following cases were heard on Monday, Nov. 14, in 3rd District Court at the Summit County Justice Center: Romell Lonnell Frieson, 26, of Evansville, Indiana, entered a guilty plea to attempted theft by receiving stolen property, a thirddegree felony, and possession or use of a controlled substance, a Class B misdemeanor. The court imposed a zero-to-five year sentence at the Utah State Prison and a $5,000 fine for attempted theft by receiving stolen property. That sentence was suspended and the court imposed a 30-day jail sentence for attempted theft by receiving stolen property and imposed a 180-day jail sentence and a $1,500 fine for possession or use of a controlled substance. Those sentences were stayed and the court placed the defendant on court probation for 12 months, ordered him to serve 30 days in jail with credit for 19 days served, pay a $1,800 fine and complete other standard terms and conditions. Cole Langendorf, 24, of Park City, entered a guilty plea to un- Save an additional 10% on all dining room furnishings! solar PV systems. About 50,000 students have graduated from the program, and SEI brings hundreds of people through Paonia every year for hands-on training at its industry-recognized renewable energy training campus. In 2015, SEI created the Solarize North Fork Valley campaign in response to the closing of the local coal mines. The goals of the program were to create a solar market, which would result economic development and create jobs. SEI reached out to unemployed coal miners and oil and gas workers, but the market for solar wasn’t quite ready yet, and many coal miners were more reluctant than SEI expected, often concerned about job security. So SEI changed course to focus on developing awareness about solar in Delta County. “The last thing I want to do is tell people there’s a job when there’s not yet,” says Kathy Swartz, director of SEI. “We want to start with the development of solar market in Delta County, [and then] start prepping the future workforce.” So far, about five former oil and gas or coal workers have participated in trainings. The push was so successful that Delta County Economic Development Inc., asked SEI to expand to the entire county. 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