Bachelor's Degree in Alternative-Energy at Canton College
by Michael Graham Richard, Gatineau, Canada on 01.17.06
Canton College of Technology, in New York, is launching a new four-year degree in alternative and renewable energy in the fall of 2006. The New York state legislation that mandates the use of 25 percent renewable energy by 2013 will certainly open some doors. "The program will teach students about fuel cells, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric and solar power and biofuels. Canton Tech already operates several environmentally friendly renewable energy sources, including the ability to make biodiesel fuel. A methane digester will also begin supplying natural gas to the campus from manure produced at a nearly farm this fall. The digester will capture the methane gas produced by the teRiele [sic] family farm's 600-plus cows and pipe it under Route 68 to furnaces on campus. The digester is expected to generate about 500 kilowatts of power." The college also wants to partner with Fulton-Montgomery Community College in Johnstown to offer an associate's degree in alternative energies there too. ::TMCnet, ::Canton College of Technology, via ::Sustainablog, ::Shea Ghunter
My two cents: they ought to teach them about the Stirling cycle and investigate the use of stirling engines to utilize alternative fuels. Alternative fuels are great, but if you don't utilize them efficiently, they are not going to compete as well.
Stirling engines are barely even mentioned in conventional engineering thermodynamics courses: the study of engineering thermodynamics is dominated by steam engines, jet turbines, and internal combustion. Robert Stirling's design was not practical in its day (1800's) in some ways which have long since been overcome by advances in materials technology. Unfortunately, these advances did not bring the old engine insights back into research because the Stirling design was regarded as impractical and obsolete.
It's always great to hear about colleges that teach useful subjects!
Though I hope they come up with a better name for the program than "Alternative Energy", which is sort of unprofessional sounding. Maybe something like "Sustainable Energy"...