Who is IREC?
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IREC is the Interstate Renewable Energy Council, a reliable source of current information, education, credentialing, and best practices for the renewable energy industry. IREC is a nonprofit organization creating renewable energy programs and policies, with the goal of uniform guidelines and quality assessment.
Boots on the Roof and IREC share a common goal: to ensure that renewable energy becomes a fundamental power option in communities across the U.S. We won’t preach to the choir about the benefits of this! Plainly written, IREC is the renewable energy authority and possesses a long track record for innovative solutions to benefit the cause.
What is Accreditation? What does this mean for me?
Accreditation is the process of evaluating a school or educational training program to determine whether it meets standards set up by an accrediting organization. Here are some benefits of accreditation:
- A reliable indicator of quality
- Approved program of study
- Qualified instructors
- Students have successfully completed courses
- Recognition by employers and schools nationwide
This means as a student, you can rest assured that your Solar PV Boot camp program provides up to date, quality education that receives the stamp of approval from leading authorities. In their own words:
"To ensure continuity, consistency, and quality in the delivery of training, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) is implementing the Institute for Sustainable Power Quality (ISPQ) framework of standards and metrics to provide a means to compare content, quality, and resources across a broad range of training programs covering renewable energy, energy efficiency and distributed generation technologies. This international framework ensures legitimacy of what’s being taught and by whom."
What makes them an authority?
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IREC has been in existence since they first started breaking barriers and advocating renewable energy use in 1982. They have been key authorities for connecting distributed power to the utility grid, workforce development, consumer protection and stakeholder coordination. They continue to present the most current information available for the renewable energy industry. Some of IREC’s most influential projects includes (but is not limited to): |
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IREC's Model Interconnection Standard and Net Metering Rule (updated in 2009) is the primary resource available on current best practices. These model procedures incorporate the comprehensive evolution of best practices drawn from states across the U.S. - and serve as a template for regulators and utilities to develop or update local and state standards. |
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IREC has been a participant in more than 30 state utility commission rulemakings regarding interconnection and net metering of distributed generation. |
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IREC has been a pioneer in interconnection and net-metering issues since 1997, when the first edition of its publication "Connecting to the Grid" was released (updated in 2009). Then, fewer than 20 states had implemented net metering. Today, more than 37 states have adopted interconnection standards; 42 states have adopted net metering standards for distributed generation (DG). |
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IREC took the lead in forming the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners and continues to be active in this credentialing body. The result is the building of a stronger and more competent installer workforce, a priority for states and industry alike. |
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IREC has worked to bring the Institute for Sustainable Power's International Standard to the U.S. by accrediting training programs and certifying instructors to ensure that training is set to the highest industry standards and the right skill sets are taught. |
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