SUNY Canton and Fort Drum's Solar Ready Vets Program Brings Power to Norwood Fountain

CANTON, NY (09/27/2017) Fort Drum soldiers enrolled in SUNY Canton's Solar Ready Vets program will be installing photovoltaic panels to power Norwood's landmark fountain.

The class will be working from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29, at the fountain's site on Prospect Street. This is the latest in a series of restorations initiated through the Save the Fountain campaign and fundraising effort, according to committee co-chair and SUNY Canton employee Teresa L. Sharlow Clemmo.

Clemmo said that Kevin McAdoo, a SUNY Canton faculty member and Solar Ready Vets Program Coordinator offered to help with the project.

"We couldn't have been more grateful for his guidance," she said. "We are so honored and thankful to the veterans who first served our country and are now giving back to our community by assisting with this project."

McAdoo runs the Solar Ready Vets program with the assistance of personnel from Fort Drum, SUNY Canton's Career Ready Education and Success Training (CREST) Center for Workforce Development, and industry professionals. Solar Ready Vets trains soldiers in the growing industry of solar energy, and SUNY Canton's program was one of the first and most successful of these efforts.

The Save the Fountain project came about in May 2016 and has garnered the support of the greater Norwood community. Many area donors have contributed to the project, according to Clemmo. She said they'd also received support from the Village of Norwood, and its Department of Public Works, Clarkson University Engineer Michael Tremper, and help from many Norwood residents. "It has truly been a community effort," she said.

About Solar Ready Vets

Solar Ready Vets at Fort Drum was the U.S. Department of Energy's first program in New York State. It was created through collaboration with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). SUNY Canton's CREST Center helps teach five-week classes focusing on solar photovoltaic systems and installation through hands-on labs. The program boasts the best pass rate on industry-specific examinations and has the highest placement rate with almost 300 employers nationwide.

About SUNY Canton

SUNY Canton is Northern New York's premier college for career-driven bachelor's degrees, associate degrees and professional certificate programs. The college delivers quality hands-on programs in engineering technology, health, management and public service and recently received number one rankings in library resources, library services and tutoring services in the SUNY Student Opinion Survey. The college's faculty members are noted for their professional real-world experience in addition to outstanding academic credentials. SUNY Canton OnLine offers hundreds of flexible and convenient courses as well as 13 exclusively online degrees. The college's 15 athletic teams compete at the NCAA Division III level and are conference members of the newly formed American Collegiate Athletic Association. For more information, visit www.canton.edu.