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WIND ENERGY
You know that wind you enjoy on a hot summer day? Well it is the oldest source of energy in the world.
And guess what? Harnessing this energy is a job that keeps you from being trapped at a desk. Oh, and
youll also feel good knowing youre doing something good for the Earth every day.
This e-book is your complete guide to wind power careers. Ever wonder what a typical day is like? Weve
got you covered. Want to know how much youll earn? Thats in here too. What about where those jobs
are? Yep, all that, and more, is in here.
As for actual jobs, wind power employs all types of people. If you
strong winds. There are several different types out there, but the
most common is a tower with blades that harness the wind and
Pretty simple, huh? Good thing were building more and more
each day.
them.
Data Analyst
Site Supervisor
Site Manager
the American Wind Energy Association, the U.S. has more than
550 manufacturing facilities, producing more than two thirds
of the materials for wind turbines domestically. Because of this
THE FUTURE
Also, unlike that song on the radio this morning, its popularity is
resource for electricity. And, more and more people are realizing
safe on the job is THE number one priority. Because the average
wind turbine is over 300 feet high, wind technicians are equipped
with a Personal Fall Arrest System for self-rescue. They are also
mechanical safety, crane signal and rigging practice are all skills
regions of the U.S. Texas, Iowa and California lead all states in
Wind farms are a clean source of power and are becoming less
expensive than they used to be. According to the most recent
per year.
else but sit inside a cubicle for a large part of their day. Some have
way, they are the kind of people that like to mix it up, problem-
new adventure!
solve and stay on their toes. Thats why the traditional desk job
is brain-numbing. In the wind energy industry, a technician will
Our planet doesnt have unlimited resources, but for a long time
people acted like it did. Luckily, the renewable energy field is
finding ways to make use of sustainable resources. Working
in the renewable energy field makes a huge difference for the
environment, because these jobs focus on addressing climate
change and reversing the resource depletion that has already
been done. Lawrence Smith wanted to change his career and
make a difference in the world, so he enrolled in the Wind Energy
Technology program at Ecotech Institute. Now he now works for
NextEra Energy as a Wind Technician II. Keep reading to learn
more about his experiences in the field.
Working in wind is no joke. Just ask Paul Roamer, President of Ethos Distributed Solutions,
a Colorado-based company that provides services to the solar, wind and telecom industries.
Paul shares what it its like to work in wind energy, what hes looking for in new employees
and common mistakes made on the job.
When you get on a site, theyre going to start with a job safety
briefing. Theyre going to analyze the hazards, know where the
local hospital is and know how to get responders here if we need
them. Theyre going to talk about the days activities then get
geared up and get the right tools and supplies and climb the
turbine to start the work. It can be simple or complex corrective
maintenance that takes days to complete.
4 RULES TO BECOME A
NETWORKING MASTER
Networking. It seems simple enough, walk into a room, shake peoples hands, eat some appetizers and
leave, right? For a lot of first-timers its not that easy. Picture walking into a room filled with some of the
most prominent professionals in renewable energy and sustainability. Whats the first move?
Figuring out what to say, what to bring and what to do after the event can suddenly seem as hard as
advanced calculus. But with some rules to follow and a little practice anyone can become a master of
networking.
people hiding out near the food table or staring at their phone.
Networking pros on the other hand will be working the room and
There are lots of groups to pick from too; theres almost a group
table but staring at that veggie tray wont lead to a job. Leave
that comfort zone and make an effort to speak to other attendees.
to pick up facts and trends that can make them seem smart at
normally that easy to access. But talking to these big shots isnt
Attending networking events also has the potential to pay off big
around like baseball cards. Take a cue from them and look into
getting some business cards printed, its a great way to leave behind
can print them for less money than it takes to fill up a tank of gas.
masters something to leave with the new contact they just made,
which has the potential to keep the conversation going after the
look at what Rihannas famous mentor Jay-Z has done for her
event.
career.
Article adapted from Wind Energy student Networks with U.S. Senator
TECHNICAL SKILLS
SOFT SKILLS
Mechanical Skills
Theres not always one answer for wind technicians, often they
Computer Skills
Communication Skills
control systems.
Collaboration Skills
Safety Skills
it. Learning and being able to apply safety training, like first aid
Integrity
Physical Strength
Being the county arm wrestling champ isnt a requirement, but
having the strength to lift heavy objects is useful. Especially
since wind professionals have to climb with heavy tools and
equipment sometimes weighing up to 45 pounds.
Physical Stamina
Its not just about strength! Working in wind means climbing
high, often with tools and equipment, to reach the turbines.
The wind industry is blowing up right now. But where are the best employment opportunities for wind
energy technicians? Texas takes the top spot for the most job openings in the wind industry, but for job
seekers who arent eager to add cowboy boots to their wardrobe, there are some other states on the list to
consider.
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10
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1. Texas
2. Colorado
3. California
4. Oklahoma
5. Iowa
6. Kansas
7. Illinois
8. North Dakota
9. Minnesota
10. Oregon
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1. SIZE COUNTS
Wind energy has always had the need for speed. The quest
to place wind turbines in areas of high wind have limited the
possibilities for wind farm sites. But, a new innovation, the vortex
generator (VG), is changing that. The VG is a small, simple fin
thats smaller than a wallet and attaches to wind turbine blades.
VGs actually attract wind and help it attach to the blade to keep
it from scattering in different directions. This means turbines are
more easily able to harvest medium and low speed winds.
The power system in the U.S. is old school, really old school.
The country is still using a system that was built in the 1890s
thats before smart phones, computers and even the first electric
refrigerator! This impacts the cost of electricity. For example,
theres more than a 10-cent difference between what people in
New York pay versus people in Washington. Many experts think
the answer is the smart grid. The smart grid works more like the
internet, where theres information going in and out of a house
which means if a particular house is using more or less electricity
the grid can respond better. In the future wind turbines will be
part of the smart grid making it more stable and standardizing
electric rates across the country.
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NEWS / RESEARCH
ASSOCIATIONS / BOARDS
ORGANIZATIONS / GOVERNMENT
DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES
(DSIRE)
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REFERENCES
Click on the links below for references.
5 Things Wind Energy Technicians Know Are True
i. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Careers in Wind Energy, http://www.bls.gov/green/wind_energy/
ii. American Wind Energy Association, Fact Sheets
http://www.awea.org/Resources/Content.aspx?ItemNumber=873&navItemNumber=588
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