• GE Employees Eligible to Receive up to 49 College Credits for Completing Wind Technician Certification Program
• Technicians Train on Wind Turbine Components at GE's Energy Learning Center
• Excelsior College Adds Renewable Energy Technology Concentration to Bachelor's Degree Program
• Initiative Highlights U.S. Energy Industry Efforts to Recruit, Train and Retain New Workers

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (August 7, 2012) - Citing the need to recruit and train a larger, educated workforce to support the global expansion of renewable energy, GE (NYSE: GE) and Excelsior College today announced that GE employees can receive up to nearly 49 college credits from the College for completing the company's intensive renewable energy services training program.

To earn GE's Lead Certification Standard, technicians must complete more than 500 hours of classroom, online and practical, hands-on field training on wind turbine components at GE's Energy Learning Center (ELC) in Schenectady, N.Y., where GE's renewable energy business is headquartered.

Technicians who complete the certification program now are eligible to earn up to 49 credit hours for their work experience through Excelsior College.

The quality and thoroughness of GE's certification program is a significant differentiator for GE's renewables services business. The Energy Learning Center also offers one of the most comprehensive array of training classes in the energy industry.

"Offering our employees the opportunity to earn college credits for completing our Wind Technician Certification Program not only enhances the value of our products and services, but it also enables GE to compete for - and retain - the skilled workers we need to support our globally installed base of wind turbines," said Andy Holt, general manager - renewable energy services for GE Power & Water.

The Excelsior College program marks the first time GE has partnered with a U.S. college to award credits to its renewable energy technicians for their work experience. GE has forged relationships with a number of other U.S. colleges and universities in complementary fields as the energy industry seeks to recruit and train new engineers and technicians as employees from the "Baby Boomer" era retire.

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