CREL
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 & Engagement
Types of community education and engagement include:
- Webinar Series
- K-14 Energy Academies
- Conferences
- Outreach
Valley Strong Institute
Bakersfield College and Kern Community College District have expanded their energy partnership with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to include Valley Strong Credit Union. We are excited to announce that the Bakersfield College Energy Technology Transfer & Workforce Development Initiative is now the Valley Strong Energy Institute.
A secure and stable energy future depends on an innovative coalition of public and private partners in an interconnected market where instability creates short-term winners and losers. Only the research capabilities of national laboratories and research universities, deployed for the workplace and workforce in a broad public/private alliance, have the potential to both hedge against short-term volatility and create long-term stability.
Valley Strong Energy Institute Website
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
If you and/or your organization are interested in getting involved, please email CREL@KCCD.edu.