Master in Environmental Management student Eryka Thorley joins the Solar Forward team to help create a network for solar education and outreach
Paonia, CO – When Solar Forward first began a partnership with Western Colorado University (WCU) of Gunnison, CO in 2018, it could not have predicted the quality and experience that the Solar Forward Fellows would bring to developing the program. Over the past three years, the Master in Environmental Management (MEM) program of WCU has provided fellowship applicants to Solar Forward to expand the graduate program’s experiential learning and help develop Solar Forward for more communities across Colorado and beyond.
Solar Forward is a rural economic development program from Solar Energy International (SEI). This outreach program promotes holistic solar market development, part of which is a group buy-in program called Solarize. Since its pilot in Delta County in 2015, Solar Forward has helped 8 communities across Colorado install over 2.8MW of new solar on 378 residential and commercial roofs. With the new fellow, Eryka Thorley’s help, Solar Forward will continue to grow its impact by creating a network for Solar Forward communities seeking resources for solar market development and education.
Eryka’s background in anthropology, data collection, analysis, and communication will help develop practical tools for Solar Forward communities. As well as a background in environmental health and science communication, Eryka is also an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) instructor. She clearly has extensive experience communicating technical concepts in an engaging manner, which will enhance Solar Forward’s program offerings.
“I am excited to be part of rural solar development through Solar Forward and Solar Energy International. The Solarize program was a great success in my own community and I am thrilled to continue working with Solar Forward and their skilled team.” Eryka Thorley
Over the years, master’s students have contributed to the Solar Forward program by coordinating both the Gunnison County Solarize program in 2019 and the Nederland Solarize program in 2021. Through educational events and outreach for the group buy-in program, Gunnison County increased its installed solar capacity by 24%. The Nederland program enhanced its outreach by working with the local environmental education center, Wild Bear Nature Center. It is the innovative approaches and insights from master’s students which make the Solar Forward program flourish.
“The partnership between Solar Forward and the master’s program at WCU has greatly increased Solar Forward’s capacity and expertise,” said Solar Forward Program Manager, Ellen Ross. “These graduate students are creative and understand the significance of a holistic perspective in planning solar markets.”
The interdisciplinary Master in Environmental Management program provides Solar Forward with fellows from diverse fields and the systems thinking and project management skills necessary to innovate solutions for holistic solar planning. The holistic approach from Solar Forward toward developing solar markets entails workforce development, education, equitable access, as well as economic incentives.
“Access to affordable, reliable energy is key to providing a just and sustainable pathway to economic development and opportunity globally. We seek SEI Fellows that will complete projects that empower people in the United States or throughout the world,” as expressed by MEM director Dr. Jessica Young and the Sustainable and Resilient Communities Track director Dr. Ricardo Vazquez-Perales.
Solar Forward is accepting applications on a rolling basis for community partners. For more information, contact the Solar Forward Program Manager Ellen Ross at ellen@solarenergy.org or call 970-527-7657, extension 116.
About Solar Energy International: SEI was founded in 1991 as a nonprofit educational organization with the purpose of empowering students, alumni, and partners to expand a diverse, inclusive, well-trained and educated solar electricity workforce. SEI’s aim is to promote sustainable economic growth, mitigate climate change, and support energy independence.
About Western Colorado University’s Master in Environmental Management Program: The Master in Environmental Management (MEM) is a professional terminal degree, specifically focused on the content understanding and methods necessary to manage environmental organizations, public lands agencies, and communities towards sustainable and resilient solutions. The program emphasizes entrepreneurial and systems-thinking approaches to environmental issues associated with increasing climate disturbances, natural resource demands, and socio-economic insecurity. The MEM offers a “hybrid” learning environment for full-residency students rooted in the learning laboratories of Gunnison County, combined with a low-residency option for select environmental professionals from all over the world.
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