Current events and news from the desk of ND's editor.
Geothermal Certification Offered
The Heatspring Learning Institute, in partnership with the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA), is offering an accredited geothermal installer certification course. Those who pass the open-book exam become IGSHPA-accredited geothermal installers. These design and installation seminars also include hands-on fusion certification training. Dates and locations:- Sept. 15 – Denver
- Sept. 22 – Danbury, Conn.
- Sept. 22 – San Mateo, Calif.
- Sept. 29 – Salt Lake City
- Sept. 29 – St. Louis
- Oct. 6 – Minneapolis
- Oct. 13 – Boston
- Oct. 20 – Auburn, N.Y.
- Oct. 27 – Somerset, N.J.
- Nov. 3 – Asheville, N.C.
- Three days of expert instruction from trainers who want to help you get into the industry.
- Access to pre-course resources and materials.
- A network of experts and local professionals to work with.
- A directory listing of your contact details on both the IGSHPA and HeatSpring Web sites.
- An advance copy of the new IGSHPA manual.
- A full set of seven design and installation manuals.
- HDPE pipe fusion certification.
- Course presentation materials.
- Coffee, breakfast and lunch on all three seminar days.
- A one-year IGSHPA membership.
- Discounted room rates at site hotel.
Stimulus Projects on Hold
Water projects, which have been cleared to receive billions in economic stimulus funds, are being held up because lawmakers insisted upon pretty strict “Buy American” standards. In today’s global economy, many of the products typically required to complete these projects are made in other countries. For example, a good many projects are sitting idle because of a so-called shortage of water filters. In the meantime, GE has warehouses full of the filters, but they can’t be used because they’re made in Canada. So the yahoos who fancy themselves as patriotic protectors of the working people actually are squeezing those people out of work. But they wear flag pins on their lapels and have “Buy American” bumper stickers on their American cars (filled, by the way, with imported parts), so they can be proudly smug about their ignorant stand. The real shortage involves common sense.Michael Moore Now Leads ADSC
ADSC: The International Association of Foundation Drilling reports that Michael Moore has been appointed to the position of CEO, as long-time ADSC executive director S. Scot Litke moves on to other things. Moore joined the ADSC in 2005, initially serving as the association’s education and membership administrator. He was promoted to the position of assistant executive director in 2006.Litke had informed the ADSC board that he planned to leave his post as executive director at the end of this year, and recommended that Moore be appointed to take on the staff leadership role. A formal transition plan was put into effect at the beginning of 2008 with the expectation that Litke would stay on through the year, working closely with Moore as he assumed tasks related to his new role.
Litke will stay on to assist Moore as needed in the role of senior advisor. Moore is excited about taking on the responsibilities associated with being the CEO, and has been mapping out his vision of how the ADSC staff can support the wide range of activities. These include providing assistance to the association’s eight regional chapters, working with its 20 technical and operations committees, coordinating the workings of the ADSC board of directors, and continuing to enhance the ADSC’s education and training programs. Moore feels it is of utmost importance to maintain and extend the association’s long-standing industry liaison activities, such as those with federal and state agencies, as well as other sister organizations in the geo-industry.
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