The Energy Corps officially launched a new program in Iowa with the training and orientation of nine new AmeriCorps members on January 26-28, 2011. Training sessions included overall orientation to NCAT and the AmeriCorps program as well as energy efficiency, conservation and renewable energy topics. Rich Dana of NCAT and Steve Fugate of Fugate Consulting presented information on energy essentials and Jordan Scheibel and Melissa Strovers of Imagine Grinnell and Emy Soutter of Prairie Woods provided sustainability workshops. Iowa Energy Corps members pitched in on two service projects helping to insulate the Iowa Renewable Energy Training Center and working to clear invasive species from the woods surrounding the training center in Hiawatha, Iowa. The final training day was spent in Fairfield touring an off-grid Eco Village and the LEED certified Sustainable Living Center at the Maharishi University of Management. The members were sworn in by Fairfield Mayor Ed Malloy on January 28.