MARET Center
Missouri Alternative and Renewable Energy Technology Center
PURPOSE
- Foster learning for alternative energy, preparing students for the workforce and further education
- Provide research opportunities and hands-on application for students
- Promote renewable and alternative energy awareness and education
- Cultivate relationships with alternative energy partners and educational stakeholders
PHILOSOPHY
- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
- Encourage sustainability through efficient design and conservation
- Advocate for alternative and renewable energies
Check out MARET’s 40 year History
Following decades of success in solar energy projects, the Missouri Legislature designated Crowder College in 1992 as the State’s renewable energy education center. The resulting Missouri Alternative and Renewable Energy Technology (MARET) Center is recognized internationally for its contributions to the energy field.
The mission of the MARET Center is to expand renewable energy throughout the region with education, applied research, and economic development. Educational programs include certification and transfer degrees encompassing green construction, solar thermal energy, solar electricity, and wind.
Crowder College & Drury University teamed up to compete in the 2015 US Department of Energy Solar Decathlon.
The once in a lifetime student-driven competition was an experience many cannot even imagine. Find out more about the team’s experience at: ShetlerR3
Follow the progress of the team:
Check out the Druy University and Crowder College Solar Youtube Channel
Crowder’s rich history in solar lead to the building of TSAR (Trans-American Solar Auto Run). TSAR was the first solar-powered vehicle to cross the continental U.S. from coast to coast in 1984. Today, it resides at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearbon, MI. The college went on to create STAR I, in 1987, which finished 2nd of U.S. teams behind General Motors and STAR II in 1990, which finished 8th out of 32 international teams. Solar Rayce Highlights
Crowder College built the first solar vehicle that traveled across the United States. Today, the vehicle resides at the Henry Ford Museum. Find out more:
https://www.nytimes.com/1984/09/02/us/solar-car-completes-cross-country-trip.html
Facility
The MARET Center houses the alternative energy classes and labs at Crowder College was opened in 2012. The MARET Center is a green building, meaning that it utilizes environmentally friendly construction.
As the result of the efforts of Congressman Roy Blunt, nearly 3 million dollars in Federal funds were allocated for the construction of the 12,000 sq. ft. MARET Center, and these resources were matched by local private donors.
Programs like this (MARET) are crucial to the efforts we have for our economy and for our national security. Our Nation needs to have a new energy policy, an all-of-the-above strategy, and this is definitely part of that all-of-the-above strategy.” — Roy Blunt
