NMCC plays prominent role at Maine Wind Day
AUGUSTA — Two students enrolled in the wind power technology program at Northern Maine Community College and NMCC President Timothy Crowley recently joined with state lawmakers, economic development leaders and officials in the wind industry at an event at the State House in Augusta designed to present the economic and environmental benefits of wind power in Maine.
Contributed photo
NORTHERN MAINE COMMUNITY COLLEGE President Timothy Crowley, left, and NMCC wind power technology students Bradley Therrien of New Sweden, center, and Matt Melcher of Bingham, presented information on NMCC’s Wind Power Technology program in the Statehouse Hall of Flags on Maine Wind Day 2011.
Matt Melcher of Bingham and Bradley Therrien of New Sweden, a second- and first-year student, respectively, enrolled in the NMCC wind power technology program, took part in Maine Wind Day 2011. The two presented information on the unique program and spoke with those gathered for the event about their educational experience and future plans to work in the industry.
Melcher and Therrien spoke about their future profession and how they have already experienced it firsthand as student interns working for Maine-based construction company Cianbro last summer. Both spent the first half of the paid internship in Portland and the other half in Maryland completing pre-construction work for the Roth Rock Wind Power Project. Activities they were engaged in included preparing materials for crews that were responsible for constructing the turbines, namely safety and equipment checklists.
In addition to the NMCC students, Crowley took part in the day’s activities, speaking at a noontime press conference, where he shared the latest developments for New England’s first and only wind power technology program. Crowley spoke about the first graduates from the program who will enter the workforce after graduation this May.
Crowley also told those gathered about progress on NMCC’s efforts to establish the Northern Maine Center for Excellence in Alternative Energy Training and Education. The college announced plans to develop the center in January with a $1.2 million contribution from a private donor. An official opening for the facility is slated for April 21.
Also at the press conference, Charles S. Colgan, former Maine state economist and professor of economics at the Maine Center for Business and Economic Research, presented the results of his recent study on the development of wind power in Maine and the economic impact of the industry. The basis for Colgan’s study was an examination of three major wind projects developed over the last seven years. The projects included Mars Hill, completed in 2006; Stetson Mountain phases I and II, completed during 2008-2010; and the Kibby Project, which was built in 2009-2010.
