LAFAYETTE, Ind. — For Craig Porter, the future was green. The possibilities of wind and solar power were limitless, and he was determined to spread that gospel to students who believed as he did.

Porter, 36, a partner in ECI Wind and Solar of Fairmount, Ind., earlier this year added the duties as chair of the Energy Technology Program at the Lafayette campus of Ivy Tech Community College.

It was while teaching students about wind energy that Porter died at about 2:30 p.m. Nov. 2, when he fell from a 65-foot tower.

The Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA) is investigating, but the results aren’t expected for six months, said Robert Dittmer, a spokesman for IOSHA.

“Under Indiana law, an organization has eight hours to report a fatality, and Ivy Tech did that,” said Dittmer, who added the university has been cooperative. “Indiana law also requires that IOSHA investigate. There are no options to that. It’s required by law.”

Dittmer couldn’t talk about any findings thus far. “What we’re checking are the kinds of policies and procedures in place for this kind of work and whether those policies and procedures were knowingly, or unknowingly, violated. We’ll look to see if Ivy Tech should institute new procedures.”

Dittmer said the investigation could result in nothing more than a letter that Porter made a mistake, or there could be a safety order issued, which has the force of law.

Brandon Seitz, director of the Indiana Office of Energy Development, which includes wind energy, said as far as he knows, Porter’s death was simply a tragic accident. He said wind energy has become a big part of Indiana’s energy and economic future, and is a financial boon to Hoosier farmers who lease land to wind energy companies.

“It’s not part of our duties to investigate an accident like this. That’s just not something we’re involved in,” added Seitz. “I never personally dealt with him, but I know he was training young people who wanted to get into the business.”

Tom McCool, a spokesman for Ivy Tech, said Porter was in his first semester as chair of the Energy Technology Program. “He was passionate about wind energy,” he said. “We recognized his enthusiasm very early. When the previous chairman left, we pursued Craig because of that.”

That meant making accommodations so Porter could continue his duties with ECI Wind and Solar, where he was a partner with Eric Cotton of Lafayette. The company has been involved in several renewable energy projects around the state over the past few years, including a $700,000 project to install two 50-kilowatt wind turbines at Taylor University in Upland, Ind.

The turbines were part of a $4.5 million project at Taylor to install green science monitoring devices at the university, including solar panels at the science complex.

McCool said Ivy Tech is conducting its own investigation into Porter’s death, specifically looking at the safety of the tower. He explained it was important to get the safety of the tower checked so it could be put back in service for students in the program.

In order for students to work in the field on wind turbine technology, they have to be certified to climb a tower. That was what Porter was teaching students when he fell. McCool said Porter was wearing a safety harness at the time he fell, but no one has any answers thus far on what caused his fall.

While classes were canceled for one day following Porter’s death, they have resumed, said McCool.

“We’re committed to the program. It’s the only one of its kind in the state. If we canceled it, it would be unfair to the students in the program now. That’s why we’ve decided to move ahead,” he added.

In a posting on its website, ECI Wind and Solar had this to say about Porter’s death: “This is indeed a very tragic accident. Craig Porter was passionate about renewable energy and he was living his dream as a partner of ECI Wind and Solar, and in his new position as the chairman of the Energy Technology Program at the Lafayette campus of Ivy Tech. Porter earned recognition as one of the few people in the state of Indiana who held NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) certification as both a Solar Thermal and Solar PV installer. Our deepest and most sincere condolences go to Craig Porter’s family and colleagues.”

Porter is a graduate of Lizton High School and attended Purdue University from 1992-97. Funeral services for Porter were last week.