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Navy College Office Education Fair
San Diego, CA
July 20-23, 2009
Washington, DC
July 20-24, 2009 |
| United States Secretary of Energy Visits NECE |
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Dr. Stephen Chu, Senator Kent Conrad & Senator Byron Dorgan during a press conference at the NECE
On July 1, 2009 U.S. Secretary of Energy Dr. Steven Chu announced the selection of Basin Electric Power Cooperative as a recipient of a $100 million cooperative agreement under the Clean Coal Power Initiative (CCPI) program to help fund a large-scale carbon capture demonstration at the Antelope Valley Station near Beulah, N.D. This announcement took place at the Bismarck State College National Energy Center of Excellence.
Secretary Chu said this announcement represents a major step forward to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from coal-based power plants, and this is how North Dakota can contribute to the solution. "These new technologies will not only help fight climate change, they will also create new jobs and position the United States as a leader in carbon capture and storage technologies for many years."
While visiting BSC, the NECE faculty and staff had the opportunity to showcase the laboratory equipment to the Secretary. Dr. Chu was impressed with the various types of equipment used for our on-campus programs and the innovative methods used to make the equipment available across the nation to our online students. In addition, Dr. Chu visited with NECE staff about the energy programs and the contributions BSC is making to help fill the nation's workforce pipeline.
Francis Miller, Bruce Emmil, Dr. Larry Skogen, Dr. Stephen Chu, Kari Knudson, Wade Vogel & Holly Burch during a tour of the BSC NECE labs. |
| NERC CEH Courses |
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Watch for more information in our next newsletter! |
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BAS Student Success Stories |
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Judy Ring and Bruce Ogden at BSC's Commencement Ceremony
Judy Ring, an employee of Xcel Energy in Eau Claire, Wis., and Great River Energy employee Bruce Ogden of Mandan led the procession of graduates at BSC's commencement ceremony May 15. They are among the first six students to receive BSC's bachelor of applied science (BAS) degree in energy management.
Ring and Ogden said employer support and the fact that the BAS program is offered online made it possible for them to complete their degree while continuing to work.
Ring is an associate in Service Policy, reviewing statutes of Wisconsin and Michigan, and how they apply to Xcel's services in their service territories. This is a new position for her, leading towards management, and one for which Ring could not have applied without a four-year degree. She spent 25 years in radio, but decided to seek a different profession and more education.
"I really enjoyed the online learning - it was fantastic for someone like me," said Ring. "Some semesters I took a lot of classes. That was possible because of the flexibility of my bosses."
Xcel paid 80 percent of Ring's tuition costs. "They really support Bismarck State College, and especially in the utilities group. They want employees to prepare for management positions where people will be retiring," she said.
Ogden, now with 26 years in the energy industry, was among the first students to enroll in BSC's process plant technology program. Because the demand for workers was great, he was hired after six months of classes, and finished the program by correspondence with BSC. He worked for 20 years at Dakota Gasification Co. near Beulah.
Ogden is now the operations supervisor at Great River Energy's Stanton Station at Stanton, N.D. He said his plant manager encouraged him to pursue the BAS degree " to give him a chance to be in the game for those competing to become a plant manager."
BSC's management program is the only one Ogden found that was applicable to the energy industry. "Most online programs are general business degrees," he said. "BSC is perfectly suited to offer this program. Hopefully this will open some doors for others. You can get to a supervisor level, but not to the management level without a four-year degree."
Nearly 120 students from throughout the U.S. are enrolled in the BAS program. |
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NECE Lab Spotlight |
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Biodiesel trainer in the NECE Lab
Recently Bismarck State purchased a new biodiesel trainer. This renewable fuel trainer offers the students an opportunity for hands-on training on a state-of-the-art fully functional/operational piece of manufacturing equipment. This project was co-designed by Bismarck State Faculty/Staff and Darby Tech and at present is the only one of its kind.
The Biodiesel trainer incorporates standard technology in the production of bio-diesel fuels. Students experiment using all available opportunities for equipment application in the process programs; considering safety, process equipment, basic print reading, instrumentation and control, thermodynamics, hydrocarbon chemistry, ethanol and biofuels, auxiliary systems, process operation and troubleshooting, practical applications.
The biodiesel trainer was purchased with funds provided by the State Workforce Enhancement Grant through the North Dakota Department of Commerce. | |
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| Commerce Presents Nearly $200,000 to BSC for Energy Workforce Programs |
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Ron Harper from Basin Electric, Dr. Larry Skogen from BSC and Shane Goettle from the ND Department of Commerce
Commerce Commissioner Shane Goettle presented a check on July 7, totaling $196,959 to Bismarck State College to support the school's efforts to train new workers for North Dakota's energy sector. The funding will support the Lineworker Program and the Process Plant Technology Program.
"Our state's energy sector continues to experience high demand for skilled workers, and we want to encourage and support this growth," Goettle said. "These Workforce Enhancement Grants help increase the capacity of our higher ed institutions like BSC to provide a consistent pipeline of well-trained workers to meet the needs of growing industries in our state."
A grant for $52,770 will enhance the Lineworker Program by funding the purchase of a new trencher to replace the existing aging trencher. The proposed project was industry driven and guided by recommendations from the energy industry. Energy industry employers are providing a cash match.
The private sector partners are Montana Dakota Utilities Co., Otter Tail Power Co., Aerial Contractors Inc. of Moorhead, Cass County Electric Cooperative, Cavalier Rural Electric Cooperative, and Duratel. In addition, Basin Electric Power Cooperative is matching donations from these member cooperatives: Capital Electric, Mountrail-Williams Electric, Verendrye Electric, Mor-Gran-Sou Electric, Roughrider Electric, Slope Electric, McLean Electric, McKenzie Electric, KEM Electric, and Central Power.
The second grant supports the Process Plant Technology Programwith an additional $144,189 to acquire a biodiesel process trainer with materials and supplies. This modification increases the original grant of $496,826 presented in May 2008 to a total of $641,015. Major private-sector partners for this grant are Tesoro, Challenger Industries, Bobcat, and Great River Energy.
The original grant provided funding for state-of-the-art equipment, curriculum development and other critical needs for the Power Plant Technology, Process Plant Technology, Mechanical Maintenance, and the new Instrumentation and Control Technology programs. This project was industry driven and guided by recommendations from the energy industry.
BSC President Larry C. Skogen said the Workforce Enhancement Grant program helps the two-year colleges meet the needs of North Dakota industries and students. "The state funds, along with matching funds from our industry partners, allow BSC to deliver these very expensive education and training programs to meet the needs of the energy industry. We appreciate the ongoing support of Governor Hoeven, the Legislature, the Department of Commerce, and our industry partners," Skogen said.
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| Fall Semester Registration |
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| The fall semester is quickly approaching! If you are interested in taking courses, the next semester start date is August 24th. Courses begin throughout the semester and can be taken for a degree, training or continuing education reasons.
If you have further questions, please contact us at 701.224.5651 or 800.852.5685. |
| NECE Employee Spotlight |
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Walt DeLeeuw
BSC NECE Adjunct Instructor
Walt DeLeeuw has been working as an adjunct instructor for BSC since 2001 and comes with many years of experience. DeLeeuw worked for 35 years in power generation, transmission, distribution, petroleum refining and petrochemical plants. Many of his years were spent working for Raytheon as an executive overseeing engineers in Taiwan, Pakistan and the United States.
When asked why DeLeeuw teaches for BSC he said, "I feel that I have a lot of experience and knowledge to share. I also enjoy the continued interaction with people from the industry or those who are pursuing a career in the industry."
DeLeeuw teaches courses such as Industry Safety, Applied Math, Print Reading and Electrical Fundamentals. He has been married for 27 years, has five children and eight grandchildren.
Thank you Walt, for your dedicated service to BSC!
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| NECE News CORRECTION |
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The article about the NECE's VFT Simulation defined the acronym VFT as Variable Frequency Transmitter when its correct definition is Variable Frequency Transformer.
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| BAS in Energy Management |
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| Attention Associate Degree Alumni!
Courses begin August 24th! |
| Credit for Military Training |
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If you are considering BSC and have previous military training, please contact us. BSC reviews military transcripts for credit towards the energy education programs.
Thanks you for your service to our country! |
| Keep in Contact with Former Energy Classmates on Facebook! |
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| Attention former BSC Energy program graduates! A Facebook group has been established for all BSC Alumni for Power Plant, Process Plant, Electric Power, Electrical Transmission Systems, Nuclear Power and BAS in Energy Management programs. Please use this group to keep in contact with your former classmates.
When in Facebook, search Groups for Bismarck State College Energy Alumni. | |
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