In an earlier B-Green Collaborative article titled “The Green Jobs Debate”, it became clear there are wide ranging opinions and predictions with respect to the number of new jobs that will be created as a result of renewable energy and energy efficiency progress within the U.S. Nevertheless, it seems certain that current and future green energy initiatives will have a significant impact on career opportunities going forward. Many of the new jobs will require a post-secondary education, but not necessarily 4-year degrees. Others will require people with bachelors and masters degrees in technically advanced fields. Whichever the case, individuals planning to benefit from this transformation will need to be educated and trained in emerging energy technologies and new areas of energy expertise.

photo courtesy NREL (Photo by Jack Dempsey)

Many post-secondary educational institutions have been aggressively adding curriculum in green energy and related sustainability studies. According to a recent USA Today article, U.S. colleges added more than 100 majors, minors or certificates in energy and sustainability-focused programs in 2009 versus only three such programs added in 2005. Some of these may have been recently influenced by huge investments from the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Labor focused on creating a labor force able to meet the demands of a clean energy economy. Others are merely the result of forward thinking educational institutions recognizing the tremendous future opportunities associated with the clean energy movement.

Associate’s of Applied Science degrees in renewable energy technology prepare students for entry-level positions constructing, installing and maintaining renewable energy systems in residences, businesses and other buildings, and may offer concentrations or certificates for specific types of renewable energy systems, such as wind, PV solar, biofuel and solar thermal energy. Bachelor’s degrees in renewable energy educate students in the research, conversion, design and development of alternative energy systems, and prepare graduates for careers as energy systems sales or installation specialists, energy resource analysts or community sustainability consultants. Many colleges and universities offer Master of Science degrees in renewable energy, or as a concentration within basic electrical engineering degree programs. Renewable energy master’s degree studies prepare students for professional careers within government organizations as alternative energy systems analysts, advocates, conversion specialists or administrators. Graduates of master’s degree programs in renewable energy may also explore positions as academic researchers seeking new methods of energy conservation and efficiency, or go on to pursue doctoral degrees in renewable energy.

This new education focus gives traditional college-age students a chance to begin their working lives in a green energy field, or it may motivate mid-career professionals to consider taking new green energy career paths. This article will highlight some of these educational programs as well as resources for determining where other such opportunities are offered.

A Varied Sampling of College and University Programs:

photo courtesy Laramie County CC

At Laramie County Community College in Wyoming, a new Wind Energy Technology associate degree program is now being offered with the purpose of teaching and training those who will be needed to maintain wind turbines that are springing up around the state. The program, funded in part by a $200K DOE grant, will provide the industrial maintenance courses, specialized wind power maintenance skills courses, and on-the-job experience required for this new green energy workforce.

At the University of Wisconsin in Madison, a series of undergraduate and graduate-level courses are being developed that will center on wind energy and power engineering. Students who take these courses and complete an internship at a utility or energy-related company will be eligible for a new certificate program in wind energy. The new program is the result of a $400K DOE grant and a partnership between the UW College of Engineering and Vestas, a leading producer of wind power technology, who will provide funding support to as many as 10 graduate and undergraduate students working on wind technology projects.

The University of Dayton, in conjunction with Wright State University, Central State University and the Air Force Institute of Technology, has started Ohio’s first master’s program in clean and renewable energy. The coursework focuses on development of energy-reducing design techniques, renewable energy and manufacturing systems, and better forms of solar energy, fuel cells and biofuels.

Ten community colleges in Southern California will also soon be offering Green Energy training, thanks to a $1 million Green Jobs Education Initiative from Southern California Edison. According to an SCE news release, the initiative provides funding for dozens of $2,000 scholarships to help prepare students for solar panel installation, water and wastewater management, transportation and alternative fuels, biofuels production and farming, environmental compliance or sustainability planning.

photo courtesy Iowa Lakes CC

Iowa Lakes Community College, with several campuses in the Iowa Great Lakes Region, is now offering an Associate degree in Wind Energy and Turbine Technology, which is claimed to be the first and only 2-year Associate in Applied Science program that provides hands-on, real-life experiences in the state of Iowa. By offering this program, ILCC is working to help meet the growing demand for skilled technicians who can install, maintain, and service modern wind turbines.

Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois has established an undergraduate renewable energy major using a grant of nearly $1 million from the U.S. DOE dedicated to researching renewable energy. Students there are majoring in renewable energy and electronics, electrical circuits and machines, information gathering systems and project management and weather. Graduates are prepared for jobs in biofuels, wind and solar energy or regulatory and other governmental agencies.

At Arizona State University in Tempe and the greater Phoenix area, an alternative energy technologies concentration at the bachelors and masters levels in the electronics engineering technology department explores renewable energy sources such as solar, fuel cells, batteries and wind. This program provides hands-on laboratory experience on several energy conversion and storage technologies including photovoltaics, fuel cells, batteries, electrolyzers and supercapacitors.

photo courtesy Humboldt State Univ.

Allied American University offers a Solar Energy Certificate on-line program which provides graduates with a thorough understanding of the fundamentals of a solar energy business, the design and construction of a green building, and components and methodologies of a complete PV system. This program is designed to prepare students to play an essential part in the planning, organizing and managing of renewable energy projects nationwide.

Humboldt State University in Arcata, California offers an Energy and Climate Option as part of its 4-year bachelor’s degree from the Department of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences. This program is designed to provide students with a foundation in climate change related sciences as well as a background in important concepts related to energy, economics and policy.

Lake Washington Technical College in Kirkland, Washington offers a 2-year Energy & Science Technician AAS degree, including specialty concentrations in Bio-Energy and Renewable Electric Energy. Graduates of this program will be qualified to serve as technical representatives across a range of industries that include developmental technologies in the renewable energy field. Short certificates that can be completed in two quarters are also available in Energy Technology and/or Bio-Energy.

Finding More Educational/Training Opportunities and Information About Green Energy Jobs:

The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) provides on its site a Directory of University Courses in Renewable Energy. The directory makes available information on 4-year universities which are offering undergraduate and graduate courses in renewable energy and energy efficiency and allows searches by state as well as by specific renewable energy technologies, such as alternative fuels, bioenergy, solar, wind, geothermal and energy efficiency. The IREC site also provides a Renewable Energy Training Catalog which allows searches for renewable energy training providers (public and private) by location and technology. In addition, IREC has a Workforce Links page with a listing of numerous resources on preparing for and finding green energy jobs.

photo courtesy NREL

The U.S. Department of Energy offers an Educational and Professional Development site relating to clean energy. Included in the site are listings of colleges and universities with degree programs or specializations in clean energy fields, community colleges and training centers offering two-year degrees or certificates in the field of energy efficiency and renewable energy, and individual seminars, training, or courses on clean energy topics. The DOE also provides a listing of websites to find out more about opportunities at the U.S. Department of Energy and at some of the national laboratories working specifically on energy efficiency and renewable energy issues, as well as private-sector and nonprofit websites that can be accessed to help identify a wide range of additional clean energy jobs.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) website lists a variety of undergraduate and graduate student internships available to help develop a capable and diverse workforce for the Laboratory, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and the nation with respect to renewable energy and energy efficiency. The NREL is also looking for qualified university faculty, students, and professional scientists and engineers to participate in the Laboratory’s research and development programs as post-doctoral researchers and research associates.

Other good resources for green energy educational and job opportunities include:

• American Council on Renewable Energy
• Green Collar Association
• Environmental Energy Technologies Division of Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory
• TechnicalGreen
• Northwest Energy Education Institute

Educating in Green could mean a brighter future for you!