Kern Community College District
CREL
Latest News from CREL:
U.S. Dept. of Energy officials to speak at community meetings in Arvin and Taft on Tuesday
The California Renewable Energy Laboratory at Kern Community College District will host two top officials from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management in Arvin and Taft on Tuesday, March 21, to meet with community members and local stakeholders to talk about a vision for carbon management in Kern County. Following short presentations, audience members can provide feedback and ask questions.
Taft Meeting
- Time: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Location: West Side Recreation & Park District, 500 Cascade Place, Building B Taft, CA, 92368
Arvin Meeting
- Time: 1:30 to 3 p.m.
- Location: Veteran’s Hall, 414 Fourth St., Arvin CA, 93204
Interviews with DOE officials will take place at the conclusion of each meeting.
The Kern Community College District (KernCCD) and Bakersfield College (BC) have an 11-year history of bringing energy education to the region, working with a wide array of over 40 partners including national laboratories like the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), educational partners, government organizations, community-based organizations, employers, and workers. In addition, the district has partnered with environmental justice groups and worked alongside them to secure a High Road Training Partnership (HRTP) grant. These longstanding partnerships developed through comprehensive and detailed work have been very intentional, as we transition to diverse energy sources to meet net zero carbon emission goals in the San Joaquin Valley.
As a result of recent legislative advocacy, KernCCD is now positioned to build upon these efforts to establish the California Renewable Energy Laboratory (CREL) with a comprehensive cluster of Centers of Excellence focused on three areas: Carbon Management, Clean Energy & Grid Resilience, and Clean Transportation.
Segment from the check presentation on August 17, 2022
Connect industry, governmental agencies, and workers, including disinvested communities and high-road training partnerships, with the most up-to-date information regarding carbon management technologies, clean energy innovation and microgrid and energy storage technologies, and clean transportation including hydrogen fuel and electrical vehicle technologies that will shape the regional and statewide economy for decades to come.
In addition to the Centers of Excellence, CREL is focused on the following areas:
Community Education and Engagement
- Webinar Series
- K-14 Energy Academies
- Conferences
- Outreach
Technology Transfer
- Developing mini-demonstration projects which will serve as living labs for students. These projects will incorporate technologies tested by our research partners.
- Bakersfield College Launchpad, providing inventors and energy innovation start-ups with access to a wide range of entrepreneurships and business start-up resources.
Workforce Development
- Career and Technical Programs to prepare students to seek entry-level employment and technical skills upgrading for those currently employed.
- Non-credit, tuition free Modern Energy courses
Who's Involved
Get Involved
If you and/or your organization are interested in getting involved, please email CREL@KCCD.edu.