$20,000 From BP America

Alfred State College School of Applied Technology is pleased to announce a $20,000 donation from BP America that will further the development of alternative energy instruction on the campus.

Currently the campus is developing expertise in various alternative energies including solar energy systems, wind energy, biodiesel, and geothermal energy.

"We are very fortunate to have a good neighbor like BP that supports education," stated Craig R. Clark, dean, School of Applied Technology. "These funds are critical so that students will be exposed to the installation and monitoring of a working photovoltaic system on campus."

Jeffrey Stevens, assistant professor, Electrical/Electronic Service Department, is leading the initiative of developing the college's educational opportunities on photovoltaic systems and is already developing a certification program working the New York Solar Energy Research and Development Agency (NYSERDA). He will be installing a new solar energy system funded by BP America on the Wellsville campus, tapping the ideas and energy of students in the construction and maintenance electrician program.

"As a leader in the solar industry, BP is pleased to be able to contribute toward the college's program on alternative energy," said Joe Sontchi, an environmental business manager with Atlantic Richfield, a BP-affiliated remediation company. "BP believes it is important to be a part of the fabric of the communities in which we operate, rather than a company simply doing business in the community."

The donation from BP will be used to develop a working on-campus solar system that can be used to train students and show the public and businesses how a solar system operates. Alfred State will take BP America's $20,000 and leverage that with NYSERDA funds to install a 5000-watt system to be installed on the Wellsville campus which will be monitored for the overall cost effectiveness of the system.

"We will use the system to train students to understand how a solar power system integrates into an existing electrical service as well as monitor how this benefits the customer through the cumulative power production effects. Electricians (and customers) have a difficult time understanding how a solar power system will save money because both the customer and electrician installing the system have been trained only to view energy usage in a snapshot picture. A solar electric system's (or photovoltaic system's) full benefit is not recognized until the time component is added to the picture. ASC students and the public will be able to get a better understanding through a visual representation of a completed grid-connected system and its monitoring equipment. Having this equipment right on the campus will add greatly to our ability to help them understand the technology," said Stevens. "The future will feature an abundance of alternative energy technologies and Alfred State wants to educate students in this field to prepare them for the world of tomorrow. We're thrilled that a leader in the industry, like BP, also is a great neighbor."

Pictured here, l-r: Roy Butler, NABCEP Certified Solar PV
Installer® and NYSERDA eligible PV & wind installer, Four Winds
Renewable Energy, LLC, Arkport; Patricia Gallery, (ASC class of 1976),
Region Manager -US North Remediation Management Function, Atlantic
Richfield Co. (a BP-Affiliated Co.); Jeffrey Stevens, assistant
professor, ASC Electrical/Electronic Service Department; Joe Sontchi,
Environmental Business Manager, Remediation Management Function,
Atlantic Richfield Company (a BP-Affiliated Co.); and Craig R. Clark,
dean, ASC School of Applied Technology.

Alfred State College, a member of the technology college sector within the State University of New York (SUNY) system, offers outstanding educational opportunities for students in its nearly 60 associate degree programs, 14 baccalaureate degree programs, and several certificate programs. ASC continues to expand its online education offerings to include more than 56 online courses as well as two complete curriculum options (health information technology and court and realtime reporting). Numerous vocational-technical offerings stressing hands-on learning are available at the School of Applied Technology Campus located in nearby Wellsville, NY. The College is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, and several programs are also accredited or approved by program-specific professional organizations. In recent years, the College has expanded its computing and networking choices to include a wireless option. Academic programs, residential facilities, and co-curricular activities are provided to meet the educational, cultural, social, and recreational needs of students. The College is located in Alfred, NY, in Allegany County. It is 15 miles north of the Pennsylvania border, 70 miles south of Rochester, and 90 miles southeast of Buffalo.

BP is one of the world's largest oil and gas companies, serving about 13 million customers every day in more than 100 countries across six continents. BP's business is in exploration and production; refining and marketing; and gas, power, and renewables including its new BP Alternative Energy business. Through these, BP provides fuel for transportation, energy for heat and light, retail services, and petrochemicals products.