Renewable Energy
Renewable energy is a burgeoning industry, especially in Oregon, where public and private programs and incentives are fueling rapid growth. Oregon Institute of Technology has long been both an advocate and user of sustainable energy systems in the region.
Oregon Tech, the only completely geothermally heated university campus in America, is home to the Geo-Heat Center, a national resource for geothermal development, and the Oregon Renewable Energy Center (OREC), which conducts applied research on photovoltaic power systems, ground-source heating systems, fuel-cell systems, wind, biomass and integrated systems.
In 2005, Oregon Tech furthered its commitment to sustainable energy by introducing the first Bachelor of Science degree in Renewable Energy offered in North America. Electrical and mechanical engineering fundamentals, combined with upper-division coursework in energy-specific classes, prepare graduates for careers in the energy sector in general, and renewable energy in particular.