Several local organizations have approached us in recent years seeking technical assistance in solving energy problems or reducing their environmental footprint. This has led us into many opportunities to build our own skills while collaborating with such diverse groups as the National Park Service and local Tribes.
UNPEPP 2006 Intern Erin McDonald adjusts the angle of the photovoltaic array installed by the interns at Espa Lagoon Ranger Station in Prairie Creek Redwood State Park, CA.
In 2007, SERC entered into an agreement with UIHS, which recently installed a 40-kW solar electric system on the roof of their main clinic in Arcata. SERC is providing UIHS with quality assurance testing of their system, a data acquisition system that will allow on-site and remote monitoring of the system’s energy production, and an interpretive display to educate clinic visitors about the benefits of solar energy.
SERC Engineer Richard Engel and Yuork Tribe Engineer Dustin Jolley measure stream flow along a Yurok creek.
In the spring of 2000, SERC initiated collaboration with the University-National Park Energy Partnership Program (UNPEPP). UNPEPP links national parks with university energy programs all over the United States. Students work as summer interns in the parks, identifying opportunities to improve energy efficiency or use renewable energy. SERC has successfully participated in six projects since the collaboration began.
The Yurok Tribe is the largest Tribe in California and among the poorest. Residents of their remote reservation have difficulty meeting their energy needs. With funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, the Tribe engaged SERC’s services to help them perform a feasibility study on forming a Tribal utility. We also worked with the Tribe to train members in energy efficiency and renewable energy skills, and we performed energy assessments in dozens of Tribal homes. Recently we have taken on a new project with the Yurok – a feasibility study on developing the Reservation’s wind and hydroelectric resources.
