CVTC Receives Donation From Couillard Solar Foundation

Saturday, May 8th, 2021 -- 9:01 AM

A donation from the Couillard Solar Foundation will significantly increase the energy harvested through solar energy at the Chippewa Valley Technical College’s Energy Education Center and provide expanded learning opportunities for students.

An 80-kW system is currently being installed with the help of students in the solar and wind applications class in the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration program.  On May 4, students began installing the racks to hold the bifacial solar panels.

The first few panels were installed before the end of that week.  “It will be very beneficial for us to get that real-life experience,” said student Barrett Boeckmann of Osseo the day before work was to begin. “It’s not just looking at an array; it’s actually working on it and installing it.”

To provide students with such experiences and to help schools and other non-profits that may not ordinarily be able to afford money-saving solar systems is part of the goals of the Couillard Solar Foundation.

Cal Couillard, who attended Owen-Withee High School in his youth, graduated from CVTC in 1975 in what was then a fluid power technology program. He went on to UW-Madison, where he studied construction administration and built a model of an earth-sheltered passive solar house for a class, later designing and building a passive solar house for his own residence.

Couillard’s involvement in alternative energy only increased over the years. In 2018, when he sold his manufacturing company, Componex, Inc., he established the foundation.

Since then, the foundation has supported the completion of over 100 solar projects for non-profit organizations.  Ron Wright, 53, a student from Stanley, said he returned to CVTC and chose the HVAC program because of the wide range of opportunities, including solar.

“As we find a place for solar in the wider picture, I am seeing a lot of interest. It’s good that we have students here who will understand solar and know how to work with it,” he said.

With over 115 programs offered both online and on-campus, Chippewa Valley Technical College delivers superior, progressive technical education which improves the lives of students, meets the workforce needs of the region, and strengthens the community.

CVTC programs are designed with input from business and industry to prepare graduates for today’s jobs, with 95 percent employed within six months of graduation and associate degree graduates earning an average annual salary of $47,452.

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