For the Gazette

Announced by IREC at Intersolar

CUSTER – During an awards ceremony at Intersolar North America this week, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) honored its 2018 3iAward recipients, celebrating the nation’s best innovation, ingenuity and inspiration in renewable energy and energy efficiency.

The winners are based on a prestigious annual national search. The Midwest Renewable Energy Association’s (MREA’s) Solar Technical Assistance Coordinator, Julie Brazeau was named one of IREC’s Certified Trainers of the Year. MREA instructor and former Board Member, Bob Hattier was also awarded this prestigious honor.

“We’re proud to recognize our 2018 IREC 3iAward recipients – among the nation’s most extraordinary people, projects and programs making a sustainable energy future a reality,” said IREC Board Chair Larry Shirley.

MREA has itself maintained varying accreditation designations through IREC since 2010, and on April 11th, 2018, was recognized by the IREC Credentialing Award Committee as meeting the IREC Standard 01023: General Requirements for the Accreditation of Clean Energy Technology Training.

To meet the standard, MREA has demonstrated that its curriculum is market relevant, aligned with industry-establish learning objectives, and delivered by highly qualified and trained instructors, like Brazeau and Hattier.

Brazeau has been with the MREA for over six years, and her resume offers an impressive list: IREC certified PV instructor, IBEW journeyman wireman, master electrician, electrical inspector, NABCEP certified PV installer emeritus, and a steadfast member of the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA). A favorite instructor, Julie combines lectures with hands-on time in the MREA solar field lab to showcase proper, code-compliant installation, ensuring students understand both concepts and process. She also develops PV curriculum and coordinates customized PV training for electrical professionals and industry conferences.

In 2017, Julie led MREA customized training efforts to educate over 300 students from municipalities, businesses, educational institutions and community organizations. On the Illinois Solar for All Working Group’s training sub-team, she works to maximize benefits of the Future Energy Jobs Act for economically disadvantaged households and environmental justice communities in the state. Julie is an admired mentor for women in renewable energy and has earned an extraordinary reputation across the Midwest.

The MREA is very proud of Brazeau’s achievement and recognition from IREC and will add this award to a growing list of hard-earned recognitions for its training program through the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and multiple state licensing agencies across the Midwest. To learn more about MREA’s training programs, visit www.midwestrenew.org/training.