REGIONAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT

Education with ENERGY

2011-12

Prepared by:

McNair Business Development Inc. 3419 Pasqua Street

Conclusions ... 2 Introduction ... 4 Wind ... 7 Solar ... 12 Geothermal ... 14 Biomass/Bio-Energy Sector ... 16

Learner Profile & Market Assessment ... 19

Green Energy Training Programs ... 22

Appendix A: Relevant NOC Codes ... 26

Appendix B: Industry Associations ... 30

CONCLUSIONS

There is overwhelming demand for skilled labour in Saskatchewan and recruitment from outside Saskatchewan is taking place in a number of industries to meet demand. There is an ongoing shortage in numerous sectors, including the construction sector which includes numerous major mining and utility projects and residential and commercial construction. The demand in the construction sector is expected to peak in 2013. There are also extensive shortages of trained mechanics in the heavy equipment industry, which have led many companies to recruit outside Saskatchewan to fill these positions. Firms like Brandt Industries Ltd., Kramer Ltd. and Young Equipment Inc. need several hundred mechanics and apprentices. Technicians in these industries generally earn $75,000 annually or more with overtime.

The Oil and Gas industry will continue to need labour as drilling and exploration activities will remain high. Also, the major utilities (SaskPower, SaskEnergy and SaskTel) are facing a surge in retirements and a need to build new infrastructure to satisfy the needs of a growing economy.

In contrast, the green energy sector is a small industry in Saskatchewan with minimal current requirements for trained labour. McNair does not foresee any significant growth in the demand for technicians in the near future. There will be some opportunity in supporting future modest growth in wind power generation, but this will not happen to a significant degree before 2017.

As a result, it is recommended that Great Plains College proceed with caution in the consideration of additional green energy programming.

That said, the students currently enrolled in the Wind Turbine Technician program at Great Plains College are likely to find employment in the wind sector or with employers requiring similar skills. The Wind Turbine Maintenance Technician program will

celebrate its first cohort of 13 graduates this spring and is anticipating a full class for 2012-13. The class was successful in obtaining its Level 1 Electrician Apprenticeship through the program and will be taking a placement test for Millwright. These skills are transferable and they have the potential to seek employment in other areas of the economy.

In addition to workforce training offered through the Wind Turbine Maintenance

Technician program, there may be additional opportunities for Great Plains College to offer public interest programming or industry training directed at individuals, small businesses and municipalities on a cost-recovery basis.

partnerships are investigated with industry associations and/or educational institutions to deliver existing green energy programs in Saskatchewan rather than developing new programming. Options may include:

 Solar

‐ NABCEP Certification (www.nabcep.org)

‐ CanSIA Canadian Solar Industry Association programs

 Geothermal

‐ Canadian GeoExchange Coalition’s Global Quality GeoExchange Program®

It is also recommended that promotion of green energy programming could be extended to include secondary and tertiary markets. Promotion of programs, specifically in solar and geothermal may be extended to building operators, municipalities and other end users.

Partnerships and potential sources for green energy training funding may include:

‐ Saskatchewan Go Green Fund

‐ Green Energy Industry Associations (Listed in Appendix B)

‐ Other environmental organizations and projects

‐ A list is available through RCE Saskatchewan (Regional Centre of Expertise for Sustainable Development) of Sustainable infrastructure projects throughout Saskatchewan:

www.saskrce.ca/files/SustainableInfrastructure.xls

‐ There may be additional opportunities for promotion or partnerships with those involved in environmental projects across the province.

Going forward, Great Plains College may wish to develop a framework for industry training and employment partnerships and use this framework to solicit support from firms or associations participating in growth sectors of the economy. Some of which, like heavy equipment dealers and provincial utilities, were listed above. The framework could outline:

‐ Great Plains College partnership principles

‐ Value of partnerships

‐ Structure and timelines for partnerships

‐ Contractual arrangements

INTRODUCTION

Purpose and Objectives

McNair Business Development was engaged early in 2012 to conduct a Regional Needs Assessment focusing on the opportunity for Green Energy Training for Great Plains College.

The results of the Assessment will be used to inform decisions relating to:

‐ Great Plains College expansion,

‐ Program planning, and

‐ Target market attraction

The results of the Assessment may also be used to support the evaluation of programming and resource allocation, support the strategic direction to “Deliver Education and Training for Employment” (Strategic Plan Pg. 9) and may be used to support the attraction of government and private sector funding and partnerships. Great Plains College currently offers a Wind Turbine Maintenance Technician program in affiliation with Northern Lights College, in Swift Current to prepare students for a career in Wind Energy. Other programming currently offered by Great Plains College builds transferable skills that could be used in wind, solar, geothermal or biomass careers. These courses include:

‐ Biggar

‐ Electrician (Applied Certificate)

‐ Kindersley

‐ Power Engineering Class 4

‐ Outlook

‐ Carpentry Certificate Program

‐ Rosetown

‐ Welding (Pre-Employment)

‐ Swift Current

‐ Wind Turbine Maintenance Technician

‐ Electrician (Applied Certificate)

‐ Power Engineering Class 3

‐ Power Engineering Class 4

Methodology

Secondary research was conducted to provide industry information, labour market information and demographic information for the wind, solar, geothermal and biomass (including bio-energy) sectors. Secondary research was complemented by primary research to gather additional data specific to the needs of this Assessment. McNair consulted the following industry representatives

‐ Doug Opseth, Yvonne Dionne and David Gwilliam, SaskPower

‐ David Anderson, Solar Outpost

‐ Barry Ireland, VBINE

‐ Patrick Batement, Canadian Solar Industry Association

‐ Kathleen Livingstone, SEIMA

‐ Ministry of Advanced Education and Employment (regarding green energy labour studies)

Green energy is an emerging, but small, industry in Saskatchewan. Wind electrical generation is the largest part of the industry with four wind farms connected to the SaskPower grid. Also, a number of small-medium sized companies provide wind, solar and geothermal solutions to residential, small commercial and municipal customers in Saskatchewan.

The green energy industry is made up of four primary functions:

‐ Research, Development & Demonstration (R & D)

‐ Manufacturing

‐ Sales & Marketing

‐ Operation and Technical

Because the industries are all relatively small in Saskatchewan, there is fairly limited information available for the industry and labour market, however the general trend in the province’s industry suggests that the research, development and demonstration taking place in Saskatchewan is led by independents or small teams of engineers or other university educated professionals. Often the owner/operator of the small

businesses operating in the green energy sectors are engineers, and take on multiple roles in the organization, from R & D, manufacturing or assembly, sales and marketing, and operations and technical support.

Manufacturing taking place in the province did not have specific requirements, and one respondent suggested that his staff of 26 did not have any formal training (e.g.

electrician) to assemble the wind turbines and would most likely not require any training. Sales and marketing professionals, if other than the owner/operator with an engineering background, most often do not have any specific training in green energy, and have

learnt on the job. Operations and technical positions which are the focus of this study, would most likely have specialized training as an electrician, boilermaker or may

sometimes (but not required to have) training or accreditation specific to their industry. Many industry associations across Canada offer training and accreditations and have partnered with post-secondary institutions across Canada to deliver training locally. National Occupation Classification (NOC) codes were not found that were specific to the green energy sectors. Therefore, assumptions were made based on our research and consultations on what types of occupation may be required for each sector. We focused primarily on operations and technical positions that were applicable to the type of

WIND

Saskatchewan Industry

Almost five percent of Saskatchewan’s total installed electrical capacity is derived from wind power generated at the province’s four wind farms1. SaskPower’s Centennial Wind Power Facility has the fourth largest generating capacity of any wind farm in Canada at 150 megawatts. SaskPower’s wind power offsets carbon dioxide emissions by six million tonnes over the course of their 25-year life, which is equivalent to the emissions created by heating 37,500 homes for 25 years. The major companies operating in this segment are Centennial, Cypress Wind Power Facility, Red Lily and SunBridge Wind Power Facility.

A fifth facility is in the planning stage. The contract was currently awarded to Algonquin Energy to construct a major wind power plant in the south west area of the province around Swift Current. The following table estimates the total permanent FTE’s for the sector by 2017. The level of employment is small and represents a variety of

occupations, but primarily technician jobs. An industry estimate provided by Great Plains College suggests a requirement of eight technicians per every 75 turbines. This estimate is supported by technician and staffing numbers provided by SaskPower for the Red Lily wind farm and for the Centennial Wind Farm.

Major Companies

Ownership Location Turbines MW of Power Total Est. FTEs

Centennial SaskPower Swift Current area 83 wind turbine generators 150 MW (=power to 64,000 households) 12 Cypress Wind Power Facility

SaskPower South West

Sask

16 wind turbine generators

11 MW n/a

Red Lily Concord Pacific Group, operated by Algonquin Power &

Utilities Corp Moosomin 16 wind turbine generators 26.4 MW 2 on site to maintain turbines SunBridge Wind Power Facility

Suncor Energy Inc. and Enbridge Inc.

Gull Lake 17 wind turbine generators 22 MW (= power to 9,000 households) n/a Algonquin (Start-up 2017)

Algonquin Power & Utility Corp. Swift Current Area Est. 83+ wind turbine generators 177 MW Est. 12+ Projected

Total 2017 Est. 215 386.4 MW Est. 30

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Given the above the current employment wind technicians at wind farms will be about 25 annually. However, this industry experiences a significant turnover in technicians as employees are not attracted to this type of strenuous labour over the long term. In addition to the large scale industrial facilities, there are a number of companies that provide wind options on a small scale to corporate, private or municipal clients and offer sales and service/installation and repairs. It was reported in industry interviews that this is a declining sector due to the high cost of wind turbine installation combined with the unreliability of wind as a power source.

Major Companies2 Location

Suncatcher Solar Homes Delisle Sound Solar Systems Inc. Kronau

Kelln Solar Lumsden

Sweeney Electric Prince Albert

Deck’s Geo-Electrical Ltd Regina

Electrical Solutions Regina

Evergreen Energy Solutions Regina

Koenders Windmills Regina

Raum Energy Regina

Regina Geothermal & Solar Inc. Regina

VBINE Energy Regina

WestSource Regina

Custom Power Systems Saskatoon

Hitachi Canadian Industries, Ltd. Saskatoon

Nexus Solar Corp Saskatoon

Raum Energy Saskatoon

Saskatchewan Solar & Wind Saskatoon Saskatoon Geothermal Eco Tech

Solutions

Saskatoon

Sequoia Energy Inc. Saskatoon

Solar Outpost Saskatoon, Swift Current

WSE Technologies Saskatoon

Working Wind Energy Shaunavon

Southwest Battery Tech. Swift Current

Truewest Solar Val Marie

Dwight’s Geothermal Watrous

Steepbank Energy Consulting Inc. Weyburn

There are two major companies working in R & D in Saskatchewan: Vbine and Raum Energy. In addition the Government of Saskatchewan’s ‘Go Green’ funding program has provided a multi-year agreement with the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) for the development and demonstration of new wind battery storage technology. This project is being financially supported by Natural Resources Canada and Cowessess First Nation. If the research is successful, the technologies developed could significantly impact the future of the Saskatchewan wind energy industry.

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WIND SECTOR EMPLOYMENT DEMAND

Currently, there appears to be little demand for Wind Turbine Technicians in

Saskatchewan. In the next three to five years, there will be an increase demand for workers to replace generation and transmission lines. There is also a larger scale wind farm being developed in the next five years in the Swift Current area by Algonquin Power and Utility Corporation that will need skilled labour. Attrition of existing Wind Turbine Technicians (which is estimated to be an average of approximately 5–7 years) will provide ongoing opportunities for those with Wind Turbine Technician training. Additionally, there is a need in the private and small scale wind market; however, the level of future demand is hard to forecast as the market is made up of a number of small companies.

Occupations in the wind sector in Saskatchewan fall into the following categories:

‐ R & D

‐ Construction and maintenance of Industrial size wind farms that supply energy to the SaskPower grid

‐ Sales, service, installation and repairs for small residential, commercial or municipal uses

‐ Manufacturing

There are no standard qualifications for working in the wind industry in Saskatchewan. Generally, those working in R & D positions normally have an engineering background, and for wind technicians the industry favours journeyman electrician qualifications. Maintenance work is sometimes contracted out to local companies.

In discussion with SaskPower representatives, they indicated that wind turbine training would be desirable, but is not a necessity for employment as a Wind Turbine

Technician. They rarely find applicants with experience. SaskPower require their Wind Turbine Technicians to have the following minimum qualifications:

‐ Grade 11 education

‐ Two years experience as a millwright or as a journeyman electrician

SaskPower’s Wind Technician job description is attached in Appendix C.

Information regarding the salary ranges by occupation in the wind sector is very limited as there are currently a small number of those employed in the sector, and would most likely have reported their employment classification as an electrician or other

occupation. The minimum requirement for Wine Turbine Technician programs is electrician training, and therefore was a focus for this report. In Alberta, NOC 2243 for Industrial Instrument Technicians and Mechanics: Wind Turbine Technicians shows that

the hourly wage is between $16-$45/hour. Our consultations produced a similar range for Saskatchewan. However, maintenance work is sometimes contracted out to local electricians.

Canadian Industry

Although the third largest source of renewable electricity following hydro, wind produces less than one percent of Canada’s energy; however, the sector is growing every year. Most of this new energy is generated by wind farms using large wind turbines, but micro-generation, using small wind turbines installed by individuals, businesses and communities is becoming more common. One of the major challenges of wind energy is the cost of turbine installation and the unreliability of wind power. Research is being conducted to develop wind power storage options, which would make wind a much more viable option on a large scale. Other countries such as Denmark, Spain and Ireland use wind to produce in excess of 10% of their electricity generation.

According to the “Working Report on Industry Metrics for the Canadian Wind Energy Sector 20083”, employees in the wind energy sector across Canada worked primarily in:

‐ Research, Development & Demonstration – 11%

‐ Sales and marketing positions – 13%

‐ Operations and technical positions – 39%

The majority of companies operating in the wind sector employ fewer than ten employees that are 100% dedicated to wind. According to the “Working Report on Industry Metrics for the Canadian Wind Energy Sector 2008” study:

‐ 71% of companies that responded had a workforce of less than 10 employees (a 100% wind-dedicated workforce)

‐ 15% of companies that responded that 11–25 employees

‐ 7% of companies that responded had 26–50 employees

‐ 7% of companies that responded had more than 50 employees

A high number of respondents (66%) from the “Working Report on Industry Metrics for the Canadian Wind Energy Sector 2008” indicated that there was a shortage of

experienced and skilled labour in the wind energy sector. Fields where a shortage of experienced and skilled labour was identified included specialist technicians, project managers, power engineers and technology workers. However, it is not known if these shortages still exist in other jurisdictions.

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Only a small percentage of the Canadian wind energy market is in Saskatchewan. Therefore, these numbers would be largely indicative of the Quebec and Ontario markets, which are the largest markets for wind power production.

55% 54% 27% 25% 18% 16% 13% Specialist Technicians Project Managers Power Engineers Information Technology Workers Mechanical Engineers Construction Workers Other

Key Fields with a Shortage of Experienced & Skilled Labour

SOLAR

Solar energy is widely recognized as one the cleanest and most abundant of the renewable energy sources available. Solar energy systems use devices that convert light and heat from the sun into usable energy, and Canada is considered to have many areas with superior solar resources. Solar energy has experienced significant growth over the past number of years, however it still only represents less than one percent of the energy mix in Canada.

There is potential for industry growth, in part due to increased awareness and

acceptance about this renewable energy solution as well as the accessibility and ease of procurement and installation. At present, solar power is not used for large-scale generation or in industrial projects in Saskatchewan because of its high cost and low generating capacity.

Solar energy is used in Saskatchewan primarily for solar hot water heating, solar air heating and cooling and solar pool heating. The industry in is represented by two major segments:

1. Solar Photovoltaics (PV)

‐ Uses technology (most often a solar panel) to produce free electrons when exposed to light which results in the production of an electric current

‐ Projected that the PV segment could meet up to 10% of Canada’s new electricity requirements by 2025

2. Solar Thermal (ST)

‐ Uses technology to harness solar energy for thermal energy

Saskatchewan, particularly the southern part of the province, has very high photovoltaic potential because of the high number of sunny days. Nevertheless, solar sector of the Saskatchewan economy remains small and is dominated by small businesses such as:

Major Companies4 Location

Kelln Solar Lumsden

Seib's Electrical Repair North Battleford

Sweeney Electric Prince Albert

Electrical Solutions Regina

Evergreen Energy Solutions Regina Regina Geothermal Solar Inc Regina Sound Solar Solutions Regina WC Greenpower Solutions Regina

WestSource Regina Custom Power Systems Saskatoon

Cypress Sales Partnership Saskatoon

Mech-El Services Saskatoon

Prairie Alternative Energy Solutions Saskatoon

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Saskatchewan Solar & Wind Saskatoon

Solaero Energy Ltd Saskatoon

Solar Outpost Saskatoon, Swift

Current

Suncap Energy Saskatoon

Suncatcher Solar Homes Saskatoon

Solar West St. Brieux

Dwight’s Geothermal Watrous

SOLAR EMPLOYMENT DEMAND

Labour demand in the Saskatchewan solar industry is flat and there is no indication that this will change in the near future. The industry in Saskatchewan is comprised primarily of those working in sales and marketing, and installation and maintenance of solar systems. Technicians install and repair solar energy systems for residential and small commercial buildings. Some of the occupational opportunities in this field include5:

‐ Installing solar hot water and pool heating systems;

‐ Identifying systems and their components;

‐ Adapting a system design;

‐ Conducting a site assessment;

‐ Installing solar collectors, water heater and storage tanks;

‐ Installing piping, pipe insulation and connecting system piping;

‐ Installing mechanical/plumbing equipment and other components;

‐ Installing electrical control systems, operation and identification tags and labels;

‐ Performing a system check out; and

‐ Maintaining and trouble-shooting a solar thermal system.

Industry information from CanSIA (Canadian Solar Industry Association) forecasts the jobs in the solar industry across Canada will remain constant until 2025. Market competiveness or grid parity, according to CanSIA, will only occur when power

generation costs are competitive with coal and solar thermal is competitive with natural gas fired generators.

Although there is no standard requirement for those working in the solar sector, obtaining the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) certification is looked upon as highly desirable in the industry. Solar Energy

International's ISPQ Accredited Training Program offers online and in-person training that prepares students for the NABCEP Entry Level Exam, NABCEP PV Installer Certification, NABCEP PV Technical Sales Certification, NABCEP Solar Heating Installer Certification, NABCEP Small Wind Certification and NABCEP continuing education.

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GEOTHERMAL

Geothermal is used primarily for heating purposes, but can be used as well for cooling purposes by reversing the heat pumps. The pumps capture the heat that is trapped in the ground using closed or open loop pumps. Closed Loop System fluid is constantly pumped through a set of pipes to draw heat from the earth while an open loop system draws fluid from water sources around the home. Electricity can also be generated using geothermal power, however outside of a handful of demonstration projects across Canada there are currently no geothermal power plants in operation.

The Canadian GeoExchange Coalition published a yearly state of the industry entitled “The State of the Canadian Geothermal Heat Pump Industry 2011”. It indicates a general industry decline in Canada of approximately 28% in 2010 after multiple years of growth. The report predicted a market rebound and stabilization across Canada. The largest markets for the Geothermal Heat Pump Industry are Ontario, Québec and British Columbia, which collectively represented approximately 87% of the Canadian market in 2010. In Saskatchewan, the geothermal market saw a 24% decline in 2010 compared to continuous increases in the previous three years. Growth market in

Saskatchewan is predicated to be primarily in rural areas that do not have ready access to natural gas, but are able to access geothermal energy at a reasonable drilling depth. Saskatchewan has limited geothermal potential because of the drilling depth and cost in many areas of the province. As we’ve seen with other green sector companies, those in the geothermal sector have expanded their offerings to include other green energies, such as wind turbine, solar thermal and offer radiant in floor design and install. Companies working in the geothermal industry in Saskatchewan include:

Major Companies6 Location

Krueger’s Plumbing & Heating Grenfell Lecomte Refrigeration & Heating Moosomin

Global Geotherm Prince Albert

Heat Smart Plus Prince Albert

Hwy One Drilling Qu’Appelle

Evergreen Energy Solutions Regina Regina Geothermal Solar Inc Regina

WestSource Regina Platinum Mechanical Saskatoon

Prairie Alternative Energy Solutions Saskatoon

Solar Outpost Saskatoon, Swift Current Taylor Building Services Saskatoon

Reaume Enterprises Tisdale Dwight’s NextEnergy Watrous

NexGen Geothermal Weyburn

6

Yorkton Geothermal Ltd Yorkton

Dwight’s Geothermal, of Watrous, is reported to be the largest geothermal company in Western Canada with over 1,000 installations since 2000. Attempts to contact Dwight’s were unsuccessful; however our calls and emails to them were forwarded to the

Canadian GeoExchange Coalition for a response. Dwight’s website indicates that they have expanded their product offerings to include wind and solar, partnering with the Saskatoon-based wind turbine manufacturer, Raum Energy, and a solar thermal technology company, EnerWorks.

GEOTHERMAL EMPLOYMENT

There are no specific training qualifications were found geothermal industry, however industry training in Canada is offered by the Canadian GeoExchange Coalition (CGC). The Coalition offers a voluntary CGC Global Quality GeoExchange Program which focuses on quality assurance with the objective of protecting users of GeoExchange systems for existing and new construction. The following components are included in the CGC Global Quality GeoExchange Program7:

‐ Training for drillers, designers and installers;

‐ Accreditation of drillers, designers and installers;

‐ Qualification of design firms and installation contractors;

‐ Certification of GeoExchange projects;

‐ Arbitration between parties;

‐ Communication of the program and its benefits.

While no salary information is available for Saskatchewan, a website in the States notes that the mean annual salary for a technician is $36,420, with a salary range of $26,600-$50,000 per year, or $12.81-$24.02 per hour.8

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www.geo-exchange.ca 8

BIOMASS/BIO-ENERGY SECTOR

Biomass produces energy from organic materials, including woody plant matter, agricultural residues, urban and industrial organic wastes and energy crops (e.g. agricultural crops specifically grown for energy purposes).

Biomass is of particular interest because it is a renewable, sustainable fuel source.

Electricity: Biomass is used to run turbines at thermal electric facilities. There are approximately 33 biomass-powered electricity plants across Canada. Direct combustion of biomass is the primary technology used today for electricity generation. Biomass is burned in a boiler to produce steam from water. The steam is then fed through a turbine generator set, which results in the production of electricity.

Heating: Biomass is used as a heat source as well as a gasification technology.

Transportation: Ethanol and biodiesel production plants in Canada produce 1,376 million litres of biofuels yearly. Ethanol is made by the fermentation of organic material, and biodiesel is made by combining vegetable oils with fatty acids, alcohol and a catalyzing agent. An average of 5% of ethanol and 2% of biodiesel is blended into Canada’s gasoline pool. The benefits of ethanol and biodiesel are that they are natural non-toxic fuels that burn cleaner than

conventional fossil fuels, which helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and are safe for use in vehicles. Saskatchewan currently has five operational ethanol plants, one operational biodiesel plant and two biomass plants. Biomass has one company in operation and one in the planning stage. Currently, there is a very limited market for biomass electrical generation. The related industries of ethanol and biofuel production have more established market in Saskatchewan.

This table outlines both the benefits and concerns about biomass as a fuel source9:

Benefits of Biomass Concerns about Biomass  Could be used as a substitute for coal

 Local, sustainable and renewable fuel source

 Reduced material going to landfills

 Less expensive than other renewable fuel sources

 Potentially less expensive than other renewable fuel sources

 Potentially less expensive than other renewable fuel sources

 Cannot replace coal entirely

 Limited scale

 Emissions other than GHGs

 Technology is still in development

 Cost of extraction and transportation

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sources that are abundant in Saskatchewan—sawmill, pulp and paper by-products, energy crops and landfill gas. The two companies in Saskatchewan involved in biomass projects are shown below.

Major Companies Location Status # of FTE’s

Titan Clean Energy Projects Corp.

Craik Operational 11

(employees/ contractors) Meadow Lake Tribal Council

Meadow Lake Bioenergy Centre

Meadow Lake Projected opening in 2014: Will sell power to SaskPower

Expected 36 Mwh

Anticipate 25 employees by 2014

Both of these projects have received public funding through Saskatchewan’s Go Green Fund to support their research and development. Titan specializes in creating bio-char, bio-oil, electricity and heating briquettes from waste organic materials and is also

researching cellulosic ethanol and its potential as an energy source. The Meadow Lake Wood Pellet Project has a multi-year agreement funding agreement with the “Go Green Fund”. The Meadow Lake Tribal Council Resource Development Limited Partnership is using these funds to conduct demonstration projects at four sites to explore the

environmental and economic viability of using wood pellet heating to generate electricity. The wood pellets are made from sawmill waste material.

In addition, a new power plant is in the development phase at the Prince Albert pulp mill, operating as Paper Excellence, which is expected to create 21 new maintenance positions. The power plant will use a biomass boiler and power turbine to produce power for the pulp mill. Excess power will be sold to the SaskPower grid. It is expected that the power plant will be operational by May 2012.

In a related industry, Saskatchewan has five operational and one proposed ethanol companies and one biodiesel company:

Major Companies Location Feedstock Capacity Status # of FTE’s

Husky Energy Inc. Lloydminister Wheat 130 M Litres Operational 26 (2009 Husky Ethanol Factsheet) NorAmera BioEnergy Corporation Weyburn Wheat 25 M Litres Operational n/a

North West Terminal Ltd Unity Wheat 25 M

Litres Operational Pound-Maker Agventures Ltd. Lanigan Wheat 12 M Litres Operational Terra Grain Fuels Belle Plaine Wheat 150 M

Litres

Operational 50 (BBB website)

New Generation Co-operative Ltd.

Operational Milligan Bio-Tech Inc

(biodiesel)

Foam Lake Canola 1 Mmly Operational n/a

BIOMASS EMPLOYMENT

Opportunities in operations include Plant Operator, which involves control room tasks such as, water testing, inspections and operation of equipment. Plant Operators require a high pressure boiler license, a steam engineer’s license and one to three years of power plant experience.10 Other job classifications may include:

‐ Auxiliary plant operator

‐ Boiler operator

‐ Stationary engineer

‐ Power engineer apprentice

‐ Power engineer

‐ Stationary engineer apprentice

‐ Steam plant operator

‐ Power system operator

‐ Apprentice power dispatcher

‐ Chief operator, area dispatch

‐ Distribution control operator

‐ Diesel station operator

‐ Generating station operator

‐ Nuclear reactor operator

‐ Power dispatcher

LABOUR DEMAND

The biomass market in Saskatchewan is very new and employment opportunities may be significant in the future as new technologies are developed and commercialized. In the near to medium term there is not a significant skilled labour shortage that could be filled by a Great Plains College program.

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LEARNER PROFILE & MARKET ASSESSMENT

For the purpose of the Assessment, we have divided the learner market into primary, secondary and tertiary markets.

Primary Market

The primary market is defined as the immediate and surrounding areas of the 10 Great Plains College Campuses and focuses on males and females, aged 20–24. These values were taken from the 2006 census, and were increased by 5.9% to better reflect the growth in economy from 2006 to 2011. The 5.9% was the growth in population between both censuses, and this was used since the detailed information for the 2011 census hasn’t yet been released.

The following chart shows a demographic breakdown of the Great Plains College communities of young adults from 20–24 in comparison with the secondary (Saskatchewan) and tertiary (Alberta and Saskatchewan) markets.

Primary Market

Kindersley Swift

Current Warman Biggar Gravelbourg Macklin Maple

Creek Outlook Rosetown Shaunavon Males 20-24 196 561 148 53 26 90 58 53 64 53 Females, 20-24 143 514 138 42 21 37 58 53 48 37 Total 20-24 339 1,075 286 95 47 137 116 106 112 90

Secondary Market Tertiary Market

Males 20-24 34,492 174,195

Females, 20-24 34,322 171,177

Total 20-24 68,814 345,372

The primary market is also considered the region surrounding the Great Plains Regional College Campuses. For the purposes of the regional demographic profiles, we’ve

chosen to refer to the boundaries of the existing Enterprise Regions which provides a more comprehensive overview of the region, the demographics and growth

As of the 2012 provincial budget, the enterprise regions will not be funded and may be reorganized, however for the purposes of this study the boundaries of the enterprise regions represented a reasonable primary market area for each of the colleges.

Enterprise Region Campus(es) in Region Population Size (2009) – All ages

West Central Enterprise Region Kindersley Biggar Rosetown

Macklin

27,060

Saskatoon Enterprise Region Warman 242,040

Mid-Sask West Enterprise Region Outlook 15,770

South West Enterprise Region Swift Current Shaunavon Maple Creek

43,380

South Central Enterprise Region Gravelbourg 51,530

There is significant opportunity to market the course offerings within each specific enterprise region in order to build student attendance. Enterprise Regions such as West Central and South West, where there is more than one campus, demonstrates the opportunity to have a significant presence in the community.

Secondary Market

The secondary market is comprised of the provincial population of males and females aged 20-24, with the 5.9% growth rate applied to it to make it reflective of 2011 census information, minus the population in the primary market. Because there are no other green energy specific technical or trade courses being offered in Saskatchewan, the market potential for attracting students would extend beyond the boundaries of the campuses to the remainder of the province (and to the neighbouring provinces – the tertiary market)

The graph below shows a detailed breakdown of the different demographic categories in Saskatchewan, by age and gender:

Tertiary Market

These numbers are comprised of the population of males and females in both Alberta and Manitoba, with the 5.9% growth rate applied to it, between the ages of 20 and 24. The number of graduates in trade programs has fluctuated slightly from 2007 – 2009 (the most recent data available from Statistics Canada—CANSIM data), many programs that develop skill sets required for employment in green energy sectors, such as

electricians, plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters have either steady or slight increases or decreases in enrolment.

0 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000 60,000 70,000 80,000 90,000 <1 to 9 10 to 19 20 to 29 30 to 39 40 to 49 50 to 59 60 to 69 70 to 79 80 +

Saskatchewan Age & Gender

GREEN ENERGY TRAINING PROGRAMS

Saskatchewan

In addition to the Great Plains College Wind Turbine Technician program, there are currently no other green energy specific training programs being offered through any of Saskatchewan’s post-secondary institutions. Industry employees in the province currently receive training as engineers, through other programs across Canada, or through industry specific training offered through industry associations, employers or through the College of Renewable Energy.

SIAST: No information for classes in Wind/Solar/Geothermal or Biomass areas. Through one of the industry interviews, it was noted that SIAST was inquiring about courses that may be required by the wind and solar energy sectors

Carlton Trail College: No information for classes in Wind/Solar/Geothermal or Biomass areas.

University of Regina and University of Saskatchewan: Engineering programs with emphasis on green technologies is available, but no specific classes in

Wind/Solar/Geothermal or Biomass areas were found. Two similar programs that were found at the University of Saskatchewan include:

‐ Electrical Engineering – one career path indicated developing green energy technologies such as solar panels and wind generators

‐ Mechanical Engineering – one career path indicated designing and developing advanced renewable energy systems like wind turbines and solar collectors

ALBERTA

A number of Alberta colleges offer programs specific to wind, solar or geothermal. Lakeland College, Lethbridge College, Medicine Hat College and Northern Alberta Institute of Technology all offer industry specific programs.

Lakeland College, Vermillion:

‐ Renewable Energy and Conservation Certificate (online)

Lethbridge College, Lethbridge:

‐ Wind Turbine Technician - 1 year course (in person).

‐ Small Wind and Solar Installer Training available. Prerequisites: Minimum first year electrical apprenticeship is required (11-day course in person Vulcan & Main Campus).

‐ Geothermal Installation Training, evenings part-time – 35 hours (in person)

‐ Plastic Fusion for Geothermal, evenings part-time – Prerequisite Geothermal Installation Training – 7 hours (in person)

‐ Solar Hot Water Installation – 24 hours (in person)

BRITISH COLUMBIA

‐ Northern Lights College, Dawson Creek, B.C.

‐ Wind Turbine Technician – 40 weeks (in person)

‐ WFTR400 Solar Thermal Installer – 36 hours (in person)

‐ Selkirk College, West Kootenay Region, B.C.

‐ Advanced Certificate in Renewable Energy Technology (in person)

‐ Pre-requisites for the Advanced Certificate in Renewable Energy Technician: minimum two-year post-secondary credential in a Career Technology, Trades, or University Arts and Science Program or other credential approved by the program Chair; English 12 with a C grade; Principles of Math 11 with a C+ or Math Applications 11 with a B

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

‐ Holland College, Summerside, PEI

‐ Wind Turbine Technician Program

‐ Prepares graduates for opportunities as Maintenance Technicians, Wind Turbine Constructors, and Wine Turbine Manufacturers

OTHER

‐ Canadian Solar Institute

‐ The curriculum has been designed to address both the Ontario FIT program and off-grid power generation. All courses teach students to design and install systems that are Canadian Electrical Code compliant.

‐ 4-Day Grid-tie Solar PV Design & Installation

‐ 5-Day Off-grid Solar PV Design & Installation

‐ CanSIA, Ottawa

‐ Canadian Solar Hot Water Installer workshops (Level 1)

‐ STT200 Solar Domestic Hot Water Installation - Design, Installation and Maintenance

‐ STT100 Solar Domestic Hot Water Installation – Fundamental

‐ College of Renewable Energy, Clarington, Ontario

‐ NABCEP entry level exam preparation course – 5 day (in person)

‐ PV Installer Certification (in person)

‐ Kortright Centre – Woodbridge, Ontario

‐ Enphase - micro-inverter seminar

‐ Sentinel Power Systems - Solar PV seminar

‐ Academy for Clean Energy – London, Ontario

‐ A retraining program focused on the London, On market

‐ Solar PV Design & Installation

‐ Solar Energy International (SEI) – Carbondale, CO

‐ Advanced Photovoltaics

‐ Grid-Tie Photovoltaics

‐ Residential Wind Power

‐ NABCEP Certification (solar industry)

‐ Obtaining the NABCEP certification is looked upon as highly desirable by prospective employers in the industry. More information can be found at: http://www.nabcep.org

‐ Canadian GeoExchange Coalition

‐ The Canadian GeoExchange Coalition offers the Global Quality GeoExchange Program® which they describe as a Canadian-made

industry based program developed and designed with the goal of ensuring quality geoexchange installations in Canada. The program is voluntary for those working in the Geothermal sector. The program trains and offers accreditation of individuals as well as qualification of firms and

certifications of systems. The program is applicable for installers, drilling, well construction and loop installation, residential system designers, commercial system designers, pipe fusion courses, heat loss calculation, municipal inspector, direct expansion. The program is also used by

governments, utilities, financial institutions, and insurance companies as a quality reference tool as well as in procurement policies.

‐ GeoExchange BC

‐ Offers a number of programs, many which are also offered through the Canadian GeoExchange Coalition:

‐ Certified Geo-Exchange Designer (CGD) Workshop Series

‐ Attendance in-person or via Providence’s eProv interactive distance education system

online)

‐ For geothermal heat pump installers and designers

‐ Clean Energy Education (online)

‐ The Clean Energy Institute of GPEKS delivers 9 clean energy courses via e-learning format.

‐ Geothermal Drilling Fundamentals – Certificate program

‐ Designed to prepare those interested in working as drillers in the highly specialized field of geothermal energy systems.

‐ Accredited Geothermal Installer/Residential Designer Training

‐ Environmental Professional Certification (EP)

‐ The Canadian Environmental Certification Approvals Board (CECAB) oversees the administration, evaluation and ratification of ECO Canada’s certification of Environmental Professionals (EP) in Canada.

‐ The certification is not a requirement to practice in the industry; however is a national professional designation that formally recognizes and verifies environmental skills and knowledge.

‐ There are approximately 63 professionals in Saskatchewan with this designation.

‐ www.cecab.org.

‐ Saskatchewan Environmental Society

‐ Building Operator Training course teaches energy conservation principles, new technologies and facility retrofits that will save energy and money. The course is targeted to custodians and building operators.

In addition to the programs outlined above at trade schools or through industry associations, a number of Universities across the country offer graduate and

undergraduate programs with a focus on sustainable energy. The careers pursued by those attending these programs would most likely be in R & D, or in administration, policy and management in private sector, government, industry associations, etc. For more information, refer to Appendix B.

APPENDIX A: RELEVANT NOC CODES

Boilermakers fabricate, assemble, erect and repair boilers, vessels, tanks, heat exchangers and other heavy-metal structures. Boilermaker is a designated trade in Saskatchewan. Technical training for boilermakers is provided by Red River College in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

$73,900 200 good

Construction Millwrights and Industrial Mechanics (Except Textile) - NOC 7311

Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics install, maintain and repair stationary industrial machinery and mechanical equipment. Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) is a designated trade in Saskatchewan. Technical training is delivered at SIAST. Pre-employment programs are also offered by SIAST.

$82,200 2080 good

Contractors and Supervisors, Electrical Trades and Telecommunications Occupations - NOC 7212

Supervisors, foremen/women and contractors in electrical and telecommunications trades supervise, co-ordinate and schedule the activities of electricians,

telecommunication workers and workers in related occupations. Electrician is a designated trade in Saskatchewan. Training is delivered at SIAST, Palliser Campus in Moose Jaw.

$96,700 215 good

Contractors and Supervisors, Mechanic Trades - NOC 7216

Supervisors, foremen/women and contractors in

mechanic trades supervise, co-ordinate and schedule the activities of heating, refrigeration, air-conditioning, millwrighting and elevator installers; various mechanics; railway car repairers and railway equipment maintenance inspectors; and other workers in related occupations. Machinist, Motor Vehicle Body Repairer, Motor Vehicle Body Refinisher and Welder are designated trades in Saskatchewan.

$89,600 690 good

Contractors and Supervisors, Metal Forming, Shaping and Erecting Trades - NOC 7214

Supervisors, foremen/women and contractors in sheet metal, ironwork, welding and boilermaking trades

supervise, co-ordinate and schedule the activities of sheet metal workers, boilermakers, structural metal and

platework fabricators and fitters, ironworkers, skilled welders, blacksmiths and die setters. Machinist, Iron Worker, Sheet Metal Worker, Carpenter, Boilermaker, Motor Vehicle Body Repairer, Motor Vehicle Body Refinisher and Welder are designated trades in Saskatchewan.

$79,100 410 good

Contractors and Supervisors, Other Construction Trades, Installers, Repairers and Servicers - NOC 7219

Supervisors, foremen/women and contractors in roofing, masonry, painting and other construction trades supervise and co-ordinate the activities of various tradespersons, installers, repairers and servicers. Training programs for other trades in this occupational group are available outside Saskatchewan.

Contractors and Supervisors, Pipefitting Trades - NOC 7212

Supervisors, foremen/women and contractors in plumbing and pipefitting trades supervise, co-ordinate and schedule the activities of plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters, gas fitters, sprinkler system installers and other workers in related occupations. Steamfitter-Pipefitter and Plumber are designated trades in Saskatchewan.

$72,000 160 good

Electricians - NOC 7241

Electricians in this unit group lay out, assemble, install, test, troubleshoot and repair electrical wiring, fixtures, control devices and related equipment in buildings and other structures. Electrician is a compulsory designated trade in Saskatchewan. Technical training is delivered at SIAST. SIAST also offers a pre-employment program in this trade.

$53,100 1930 good

Gas Fitters - NOC 7253

Gas fitters install, inspect, repair and maintain gas lines and gas equipment such as meters, regulators, heating units and appliances in residential, commercial and industrial establishments. Gas Fitter is not a designated trade in Saskatchewan. However, plumbers may be licensed as gas fitters in the province.

$89,000 105 fair

Glaziers - NOC 7292

Glaziers prepare, install and replace glass in residential, commercial and industrial buildings, on exterior walls of buildings and other structures and in vehicles, furniture and other products. Glassworker is a designated trade in Saskatchewan.Technical training is delivered in Calgary, Alberta.

$39,500 270 good

Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics - NOC 7312 Heavy-duty equipment mechanics repair, overhaul and maintain mobile heavy-duty equipment used in

construction, forestry, mining, material handling,

landscaping, land clearing, farming and similar activities. Both Agricultural Machinery Technician and Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanic are designated trades in

Saskatchewan. Program includes work-based and technical training (SIAST).

$68,900 2410 good

Industrial Electricians - NOC 7242

Industrial electricians install, maintain, test, troubleshoot and repair industrial electrical equipment and associated electrical and electronic controls. Industrial Electrician is not a designated trade in Saskatchewan. Electricians wishing to become certified in this field must study out of province.

Oil and Solid Fuel Heating Mechanics - NOC 7331 Oil and solid fuel heating mechanics install and maintain oil, coal and wood heating systems in residential and commercial buildings. Oil Burner Mechanic is not a designated trade in Saskatchewan, and there are no apprenticeship programs offered in the province.

$49,000 30 -

Plumbers - NOC 7251

Plumbers install, repair and maintain pipes, fixtures and other plumbing equipment used for water distribution and waste water disposal in residential, commercial and industrial buildings. Plumber is a compulsory designated trade in Saskatchewan. Program includes 5-year apprenticeship and technical training through SIAST.

$55,500 1665 good

Power System Electricians - NOC 7243

Power system electricians install, maintain, test and repair electrical power distribution system equipment and apparatus. Power System Electrician is not a designated trade in Saskatchewan. Apprenticeship programs for this occupation are available out of province.

$90,500 195 -

Power Systems and Power Station Operators - NOC 7352

Power systems operators monitor and operate

switchboards and related equipment in electrical control centres to control the distribution of electrical power in transmission networks. Power station operators operate reactors, turbines, boilers, generators and other related equipment in electrical generating stations and

substations. Formal training is offered by SIAST and several regional colleges through the Power Engineering course and the Building Systems Technician\Technology program.

$87,000 405 good

Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanics - NOC 7313

Refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics install, maintain, repair and overhaul residential central air conditioning systems, commercial and industrial

refrigeration and air conditioning systems and combined heating and cooling systems. Refrigeration Mechanic is a compulsory apprenticeship trade in Saskatchewan.

$66,400 365 good

Stationary Engineers and Auxiliary Equipment Operators - NOC 7351

Stationary engineers and auxiliary equipment operators operate and maintain various types of stationary engines and auxiliary equipment, such as boilers, turbines, generators, compressors and other equipment, to provide heat, ventilation, refrigeration, light and power for

buildings, industrial plants and other work sites. Formal training is offered by SIAST and several regional colleges through the Power Engineering course and the Building Systems Technician\Technology program. SIIT also offers a Building Maintenance Technician program.

$77,100 625 good

Steamfitters, Pipefitters and Sprinkler System Installers - NOC 7252

Steamfitters and pipefitters lay out, assemble, fabricate, maintain and repair piping systems carrying water, steam, chemicals and fuel in heating, cooling, lubricating and other process piping systems. Sprinkler system installers fabricate, install, test, maintain and repair water, foam, carbon dioxide and dry chemical sprinkler systems in buildings, for fire protection purposes. Steamfitter-Pipefitter, Petroleum Installer Technician, and Sprinkler Systems Installer are designated trades in Saskatchewan. All of these programs have work-based and technical components.

Welders - NOC 7265

Welders operate manual or semi-automatic welding equipment to weld ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Welder is a designated trade in Saskatchewan. Technical training is delivered at SIAST, Palliser Campus in Moose Jaw.

APPENDIX B: INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS

‐ Canadian Renewable Energy Alliance

‐ Saskatchewan Environmental Society http://www.environmentalsociety.ca/main/

‐ Pembina Institute http://www.pembina.org/

‐ Green Communities Canada http://greencommunitiescanada.org/

‐ BC Sustainable Energy Association http://www.bcsea.org/

‐ David Suzuki Foundation

‐ Ecology Action Centre

‐ ecopei Energy Direct

‐ Clean Energy Classrooms – the Canadian Guide to Sustainable Energy Training. www.cleanenergyclassrooms.ca

‐ Centre for Energy www.centreforenergy.com

‐ Eco Canada – Environmental Careers Organization www.eco.ca

‐ Canadian Wind Energy Association

‐ CanSIA (Canadian Solar Industry Association) http://www.cansia.ca/

‐ Biomass Innovation Centre http://www.biomassinnovation.ca/

‐ Biomass Magazine http://biomassmagazine.com/

‐ Canadian Renewable Fuels Association www.greenfuels.org

‐ Canadian Biomass Magazine http://www.canadianbiomassmagazine.ca/

‐ CanGIA (Canadian Geothermal Energy Association) http://www.cangea.ca/

APPENDIX C: SASKPOWER JOB DESCRIPTION: WIND

TURBINE TECHNICIAN

CLASSIFICATION TITLE: Technician, Turbine CLASS CODE: 896

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITES:

The employee in this classification installs, commissions, maintains, troubleshoots and repairs electrical/mechanical/hydraulic and associated control equipment at generating facilities. The employee in this classification also operates and controls the station to meet generation requirements.

TYPICAL DUTIES:

 Maintain, inspect, construct, install, repair and commission

electrical/mechanical/hydraulic equipment and associated controls.

 Ensure the readiness of turbines and associated equipment to meet peak load demands and emergency operating requirements.

 Operate, commission, monitor and troubleshoot turbines, generators, electrical apparatus, mechanical equipment and hydraulic machinery and take corrective action to maintain the security of the plant system and optimize plant availability and efficiency.

 Participate in preventive and corrective maintenance programs.

 Issue or arrange for appropriate permits and perform switching, as authorized, in accordance with the Standard Protection Code/Wind Turbine Safety Manual.

 Climb towers on a daily basis while handling weights up to 25kg.

 Work in confined spaces with diverse environmental conditions.

 Willingness and ability to take initiative and work without direct supervision.

 Convey operating information to the system control center and perform generation and switching instructions.

 Prepare and maintain detailed work plans, reports, operating logs, charts and graphs of plant operations, required resources, materials, procedures, tools and permits.

 Interpret plans, drawings and specifications related to installation, modification, repair and operation of plant equipment.

 Conduct inspections, analyze and diagnose equipment malfunctions and take corrective action as required.

 Participate in the design and field modification of apparatus and equipment.

 Maintain drawings associated with the position.

 Inspect, service and operate specialized equipment and tools. (e.g., forklifts, hoists, rigging and cranes)

 Requisition, maintain and monitor an adequate inventory of materials, supplies, equipment, tools and contracts to facilitate work plans.

 Provide technical expertise and support to internal and external groups.

 Adhere to and trained in applicable safety practices.

 Adhere to applicable environmental standards, regulations and corporate commitments.

 Assess work requirements utilizing information received from incoming notifications, work site visits and consultation with plant staff, material suppliers, and technical resources.

 Verify, compile and maintain records detailing work performed, installed equipment, problems encountered, resources used, repairs made and/or corrective action taken.

 Participate in the development and modification of work instructions and maintenance plans.

 Participate in continuous educational and professional development, both internal and external and driver’s licencing upgrades, as required by the position.

 Maintain a clean and orderly work area.

 Utilize SaskPower’s computer operating environment as required by the position, including utilizing SAP for creating notifications, work orders, work plans and all associated tasks.

 Cooperate and deal tactfully with others.

 Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.

 Perform other related and assigned duties associated with this position.

QUALIFICATIONS:

 Grade XI with Grade XI Math and Science (20 level in Saskatchewan) or Grade XII or equivalent with Grade XI Math and Science (20 level in Saskatchewan) (these qualifications meet the entrance requirements in accordance with the Provincial Apprenticeship and Trades Certification Standards)

 The following qualification requirements will be posted as one of the following:

1) Two (2) years experience pertaining to maintenance of wind turbines and Interprovincial Journeyperson Electrician Certificate

OR

2) Two (2) years experience pertaining to maintenance of wind turbines and Interprovincial Journeyperson Mechanical (Millwright) Certificate

 Valid Class 5 Driver's Licence

 Ability to climb specified towers

 Possess presentation, facilitation and interpersonal skills to conduct instruction and interact with participants

 The qualifications listed for this position use the current naming conventions. Refer to the equivalency chart for previous naming conventions, which are considered equivalent to those listed.

 If there are no fully qualified applicants, appointments may be made based on the following qualifications:

 Grade XI with Grade XI Math and Science (20 level in Saskatchewan) or Grade XII or equivalent with Grade XI Math and Science (20 level in Saskatchewan) and Wind Certification with two (2) years experience pertaining to maintenance of wind turbines.

 Grade XI with Grade XI Math and Science (20 level in Saskatchewan) or Grade XII or equivalent with Grade XI Math and Science (20 level in Saskatchewan) and Journeyman Electrician or Journeyman Mechanic (Millwright)

 Valid Class 5 Driver’s Licence

 Must be able to perform the physical requirements of the position

 The applicant will be assigned to the appropriate training step based on relevant experience.

 Applicants must obtain fully qualified status by successfully completing the

prescribed Electrician/Mechanic apprentice examinations or applicable Wind Turbine courses. Employees failing any prescribed examination and applicable rewrites required to achieve fully qualified status within the allowed time frames shall be reverted to their previous rate of pay and will be required to procure another position through the bidding procedure in the following 30 calendar day period. If such employee does not procure a position in this time, the employee will be issued a notice of lay off (notice based on current Labour Standards requirements).

 For multiple position bid locations, the above qualifications, numbered 1) through 2), inclusive, shall be selected, specified and confirmed by the position’s reporting out of scope supervisor prior to the issuing of the bulletin.

 In order to keep the technicians fully employed they may be required to perform maintenance and operating tasks at gas, wind and hydro turbine facilities, as assigned.

 Technicians will assist / perform tasks that are not specific to their qualifications.

 Successful Applicant will be required to undertake and successfully complete various Wind Turbine technical courses.

 Successful Applicant with only wind technical background will be required to enroll in and successfully complete an apprenticeship program (mechanical or electrical) confirmed by the position’s reporting out of scope supervisor.

 Applicable notes to the apprenticeship program will apply.

 Candidates will be required to pass and undertake a cardio screening and meet the physical demands assessment of this position.

Kindersley, SK S0L 1S0 Phone: (306) 463.6431 Fax: (306) 463.1161 Swift Current, SK S9H 4G3 Phone: (306) 773.1531 Fax: (306) 773.2384 Warman, SK S0K 4S0 Phone: (306) 242.5377 Fax: (306) 242.8662

ROSETOWN PROGRAM CENTRE

Phone: (306) 882.4236 GRAVELBOURG PROGRAM CENTREPhone: (306) 648.3244

MAPLE CREEK PROGRAM CENTRE

Phone: (306) 662.3829

NEKANEET PROGRAM CENTRE

Phone: (306) 662.3829

BIGGAR PROGRAM CENTRE

Phone: (306) 948.3363

OUTLOOK PROGRAM CENTRE

Phone: (306) 867.8857