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HIGH ENERGYA guide to finding your place in the renewable energy field

High Energy is published by Minnesota West Community and Technical College.

Minnesota West is a comprehensive community and technical college with five Southwestern Minnesota campuses and three learning centers. Students have the opportunity to earn associate’s degree, diplomas, or certificates in more than 60 disciplines.

This publication is made possible in part by a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Minnesota West is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System.

An Affirmative Action Equal Opportunity Educator/Employer. ADA Accessible.

For TTY communication, contact the Minnesota Relay Service at 800-627-3529 and ask them to place a call to any Minnesota West campus or center.

© 2009 Minnesota West Community College. All rights reserved.

CONTENTS

FEATURE ARTICLE: Power Surge

Minnesota is a hotbed of renewable energy resources, and Minnesota West is training

the workforce to lead the charge.

STUDENT PROFILE: Christine Adamietz

Thanks to Minnesota West, Christine Adamietz is climbing her way to

success in the wind power industry.

ALUMNI PROFILE: Mike Bauman

Getting laid off from his old job opened up a door to a new and rewarding

career for Mike Bauman.

ALUMNI PROFILE: Brodie McKeown

Switching degree paths from construction management to renewable energy turned out

to be the right move for Brodie McKeown.

3

6

8

10

2 MINNESOTA WEST

FEATURE ARTICLE: Renewable Energy Career

Training at Minnesota WestLet Minnesota West power your efforts

to find a career in the energy field.

SPECIAL SECTION: Renewable Energy Careers 101

A look at types of careers, the training and skills needed for each,

salary information, and more.

RENEWABLE ENERGY INDUSTRY LINKS

Renewable Energy Careers 101

CONTACT INFORMATION

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www.mnwest.edu 3

Mention “renewable energy” and “Minnesota” in the same sentence, and you probably think of ethanol or biodiesel. But there’s more going on in alternative energies than making fuel for cars. Biomass, wind energy, and solar power have also experienced serious growth in recent years.

The result: jobs. A recent American Solar Energy Society’s Green Collar Jobs report found that more than 9 million jobs in the United States came from the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries. The report also predicts that figure will grow to more than 16 million by 2030.

With the increasing government support we’re seeing, though, the industry will grow even more. In Minnesota, the 25x’25 Renewable Energy Standard requires that the state’s utilities provide 25 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by the year 2025. The state’s Next Generation Initiative has earmarked more than $35 million for bioenergy, biofuels, and solar projects.

As the demand for renewable energy grows, the demand for skilled workers will rise as well. That’s where Minnesota West comes in. Its programs in wind energy, biofuels technology, and energy technology, coupled with its strong relationships with the energy industry, make it a leader in training for the coming career demand.

Here’s a look at some industries and career fields that are emerging as particularly strong areas in the new renewable energy landscape.

Minnesota is a hotbed of renewable energy resources, and Minnesota West is training the workforce to lead the charge.

Want to learn more about today’s energy sector and how to find your place in it? Read on.

POWERSURGE

Solar FlareWe may have frigid winters, but Minnesota gets plenty of sun. Surprisingly, our annual solar energy potential is similar to that of San Francisco, Houston, and even Jacksonville, Fla. Though the state currently doesn’t have any large-scale municipal projects or utilities that generate solar power, Minnesota has several notable manufacturers of solar equipment and companies that install solar panels.

Minnesota West students can explore the solar field by taking solar electives in the brand-new Energy Technical Specialist degree program. They’ll study a core of classes applicable to a variety of traditional (i.e., coal-fired and natural gas) and renewable industries (ethanol production, biodiesel production, wind turbine maintenance, and solar energy). The major benefit of this program, developed in part through a grant from a U.S. Department of Labor and offered at nine colleges in the MnSCU system, is that students get a broad overview of energy industries.

Biomass for the MassesLumber mill scrap, yard trimmings, byproducts from sugar beet processing, and even manure are no longer seen as waste, but fuel. These leftover organic materials are prime biomass energy sources. Biomass can be used directly for power production; district heating systems burn biomass materials (most often wood) to produce heat for a group of residential, commercial, and industrial users. In fact, much of downtown St. Paul is heated and cooled by such a system.

Biomass can also be used for fuels. In a process called gasification, organic materials are converted to synthetic gas. They also can be fed to microorganisms to produce methane in a process called anaerobic digestion. And corn and soybeans are the main biomass sources in Minnesota for conversion to ethanol and biodiesel, respectively.

Redwood County, in the southwestern region of the state, is looking at options for biomass, according to Julie Rath, an economic development specialist for the Redwood Area Development Corp. The county already boasts wind power generation, a biodiesel facility, and the state’s newest ethanol plant.

next generation of biomass materials—agricultural wastes like corn stalk and husks, wheat straw, and prairie grasses—for production of cellulosic ethanol in Minnesota. Support is promising: Since 2007, the U.S. Department of Energy has announced more than $1 billion in multiyear biofuels research and development projects.

Winds of ChangeBesides biofuels, Southwestern Minnesota is also a prime location for wind energy generation. One of the best known is Buffalo Ridge, an embankment of hills near the community of Lake Benton, in Lincoln County. But it’s not the only one. As of June 2009, the American Wind Energy Association counted 83 wind projects in Minnesota, which ranks the state fourth in nation for installed capacity. Nearly 8 percent of Minnesota’s electricity is generated by wind, a percentage that will grow as the 25x’25 initiative takes effect. Xcel Energy—the state’s largest supplier of wind energy—has committed to using renewable energy sources to supply 30 percent of Minnesota’s electricity by 2020.

“Wind energy is still considered to be in its infancy,” says Katie Delaney, Minnesota West’s wind energy development coordinator, who networks with industry contacts and post-secondary and high school students. “That said, it has grown by leaps and bounds, especially in 2008.”

Minnesota West was the first in the state to offer programs in wind energy (starting in 2005). It awards a Wind Energy Mechanic diploma and an online Windsmith certificate, as well as an

Minnesota West is right on track with those developments, offering an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Biofuels Technology, as well as certificates in Biodiesel and Ethanol Biofuels Technology. Other biomass-oriented courses may be on the horizon; meanwhile, the school is partnering with the University of Minnesota-Morris to develop new curriculum in biomass gasification technology. “We worked with them on a grant last summer— they have a sophisticated gasifier,” says Rose Patzer, a Biofuels Technology instructor at Minnesota West. “The collaboration efforts going on in the renewable field are really phenomenal.”

Ethanol and Biodiesel Though it doesn’t have a gasifier, the Minnesota West campus does have an onsite lab for ethanol and biodiesel production. “Students tell us that the hands-on stuff is a lot of fun,” says Patzer. “We work with microbiology, enzymes, and investigate how they behave in different environments. [Students review] process plant chemistry, and actually produce ethanol from ground corn. They go through the whole step-by-step process.”

According to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, ethanol is a $3 billion-a-year industry in the state. There are currently 19 ethanol plants and three biodiesel plants in the state. A new biodiesel refinery in Isanti just went online in September. It produces biofuel using next-generation biomass sources, including algae and weeds, waste oils, and residue from sewage treatment.

Researchers are still investigating the

The Four Most Common Nonrenewable Energy Sources• Oil and petroleum products including gasoline, diesel fuel, heating oil, and propane• Natural gas• Coal• Uranium (nuclear energy).

The Top Five Renewable Energy Sources• Biomass (wood and wood waste, municipal solid waste, landfill gas, and biogas, ethanol, and biodiesel)• Wind• Solar• Water (hydropower)• Geothermal

Source: U.S. Department of Energy

4 MINNESOTA WEST

A.A.S. in Wind Energy Technology. The training is extensive, and takes place in the electrical and wind energy labs, as well as on the Canby campus’ wind turbine, where students learn climbing safety and fall rescue techniques. In fact, the program’s rigor garnered an Excellence in Curriculum Programming Award from MnSCU last spring.

Delaney says the wind industry is still emerging. Wind turbine technicians who like to travel can also find jobs as traveling technicians. “More opportunities are on the way,” she says, adding that each wind turbine contains roughly 8,000 parts, and those parts need skilled technicians to keep them working. “There are opportunities wherever turbines are installed.”

In sum, there is now plenty of crossover in the alternative energies field, experts say, as ethanol plants learn to conserve more water or use byproducts as fuel sources in the biofuel production loop. “Green can go greener,” says Patzer. “What an exciting field to be part of.”

The Top Five Renewable Energy Sources• Biomass (wood and wood waste, municipal solid waste, landfill gas, and biogas, ethanol, and biodiesel)• Wind• Solar• Water (hydropower)• Geothermal

Sources: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, Minnesota Department of

Employment and Economic Development

Minnesota’s Ethanol Producers• Number of companies: 16

• Number of Minnesota locations: 19

• Total employment: 680-1,190

• Average annual wage: $55,400

Minnesota’s Biodiesel ProducersNumber of Plants 3

Total Employment 19

Average Annual Wage $49,200

Wind Turbine Maintenance Firms in Minnesota• Minnesota companies: 14

• Total employment: 906

• Average annual wage: $52,200

www.mnwest.edu 5

FIND OUT MORE

To learn more about

Minnesota West

programs, fill out the

interactive request

form on page 22,

call 800-658-2330, or

e-mail lori.alderson@

mnwest.edu.

student profileCHRISTINE ADAMIETZ

6 MINNESOTA WEST

Even as a kid, Christine Adamietz loved climbing so much that her dad had to remove the bottom rungs from the grain bins on the family’s farm to keep her out of harm’s way. So it was no surprise to anyone that she decided to enroll in Minnesota West’s Wind Energy Technician program.

Since starting the program, Adamietz has regularly climbed the school’s lattice-tower wind turbine to perform such services as inspecting, cleaning, and regreasing—all of which she’ll be doing in the field as a technician when she completes her two-year degree in May 2010. One of a handful of women in the program, she says she feels welcome and comfortable at Minnesota West. “We’re not competitive,” she says. “It’s a small group and everybody knows everybody, so people just try to help each other.”

Help at handAdamietz, who chose the college’s Canby campus because it’s six miles from Porter, Minn., where she grew up, admits she was a little discouraged when she started the program and initially struggled to understand lessons on electricity. But her instructor, Gary Olsen, gave her the help she needed to succeed. “He’s not just a teacher, he has his own electrical business so he knows his subject really well and he knows how to explain it,” she says. “He listened to me and told me I would be able to get it—and I did.”

Adamietz also appreciates how Minnesota West helped her land a sought-after internship with Vestas, a wind energy company in Tyler, Minn., that will boost her skills and her resume. “Minnesota West got us started by bringing in companies to do interviews, and I chose to pursue Vestas because it was the top-rated internship in my class,” says Adamietz, who will be interning with the firm (and climbing 200-foot towers) until she graduates.

Right now, Adamietz is considering several options for the future. While she likes the idea of working as a technician close to home, she’s also interested in hiring on with a company that would send her all over the country, and maybe the world, to work on turbines. “I’m glad to have so many opportunities,” she says. “If you’re not interested in your job, you’ve made the wrong decision for your life.”

Thanks to Minnesota West, Christine Adamietz is climbing her way to success in the wind power industry.

“Minnesota West got us started by bringing in companies to do interviews, and I chose to pursue Vestas because it was the top-rated internship in my class.”

—Christine Adamietz

FIND OUT MORE

To learn more about the Wind Energy A.A.S., go to www.mnwest.

edu/programs/program-type/aas/wind-energy-technology,

You can also fill out the interactive request form on page 22,

call 800-658-2330, or e-mail [email protected].

www.mnwest.edu 7

8 MINNESOTA WEST

alumniprofileMIKE BAUMAN

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“I went from a job and career I didn’t like to one that I love. You can’t ask for more than that.

—Mike Bauman

Getting laid off from his old job opened up a door to a new and rewarding career for Mike Bauman.

OK, what should I do now?That’s what went through Mike Bauman’s mind back in 2002 when he was laid off from his construction

job. After he rebounded from the initial shock, he began to see the layoff as an opportunity. “I was tired of construction,” he says. “I wasn’t sure what my next step would be, but it was time to check out my alternatives.”

That attitude led him to the Biofuels Technology program at Minnesota West. His A.A.S. degree from the program earned him a fresh start—and a rewarding new career—at Granite Falls Energy, a state-of-the-art ethanol production plant. In fact, the company was so impressed by Bauman’s training that it made him one of its first hires before it started production in November 2005.

Bauman is a shift supervisor at the plant, a role that puts him squarely in the center of the action. Ethanol is manufactured via a multi-step process that involves milling and cooking corn, adding enzymes to ferment the sugars, distilling the resulting alcohol, and finally dehydrating it to create pure ethanol. Bauman oversees the processing operation. “I’m in charge of a four-person crew that makes sure everything is correct in terms of creating the alcohol, monitoring the conversion of alcohol and the water content, and making sure we have proper controls on bacteria growth,” he explains. “We keep track of the process by performing tests and running samples. I make any needed adjustments on the DCS (Distributed Control System) that controls the entire plant.”

It’s a big job. “One of the most important things is the process control—if something happens and you lose your boiler or steam, you have to put the entire plant in recycle,” he says. “I feel fortunate because I have a great crew working for me. One of the guys recently graduated from Minnesota West’s program, another has previous experience at a corn plant, and my boiler operator has 25 years experience.”

Grounded in the fundamentalsBauman credits Minnesota West with preparing him for the job. The Biofuels Technology program grounds students in mechanical and instrumentation basics, chemistry and biology, safety fundamentals, process optimization, and more. Bauman has also given back to the college by helping develop a computer-based ethanol plant simulation program that is now a staple of the Biofuels Technology program. “One of the program’s instructors, Duane Carrow, asked me to use my knowledge to help debug the simulator and make sure that it was a realistic training tool,” he says. “It prepares future plant operators for process control scenarios they’ll face on the job. I have a tremendous amount of knowledge that I was taught at Minnesota West—it feels good to give something back.”

Bauman adds that he feels fortunate to have found a rewarding career. “The best part of my job is knowing management feels comfortable counting on me to make the right decisions that will make the company more efficient and profitable,” he says. “I went from a job and career I didn’t like to one that I love. You can’t ask for more than that.”

FIND OUT MORE!

To learn more about the Biofuels Technology A.A.S., go to www.mnwest.edu/programs/program-type/aas/biofuels-technology. You can also fill out the interactive request form on page 22, call 800-658-2330, or e-mail [email protected].

10 MINNESOTA WEST

alumniprofileBRODIE McKEOWN

As the plant manager overseeing the day-to-day operations at Heron Lake BioEnergy in Heron Lake, Minn., Brodie McKeown has achieved a level of success he’s been working toward for years. Though he hadn’t planned on a career in renewable energy, he decided to go in that direction when his dad brought home information about the new Biofuels Technology program at Minnesota West’s Granite Falls campus.

Though he was already working toward a degree in construction management and playing on the basketball team at Minnesota West’s Worthington campus, McKeown opted to make the switch, in part because the college was offering a wide variety of financial incentives to students willing to give the new program a try. “I’ve always been mechanically inclined so I thought my skills fit well with the curriculum,” he recalls. “So between that, the financial aid, and the fact that I saw the field as having good earning potential, I thought it would be a smart move for me.”

Hit the ground runningAs he goes about his work each day, McKeown, who graduated in 2001, is highly aware of the fact that he learned the fundamentals of ethanol production, as well as “the ins and outs of industrial facilities,” during his time at Minnesota West. “I feel like the college prepared me really well for what I do,” he says. “We learned a lot about safety, environmental compliance, and regulatory issues, which I deal with on a regular basis.”

Right out of college—his class was the first one to graduate from the program—McKeown got a job as an operator overseeing all aspects of the ethanol process at Poet Biorefining (formerly known as Ethanol 2000) in Bingham Lake, Minn., after being told that he had been one of the top interviewees for the position. “I give credit for that to Minnesota West because they had us do several internship interviews that were great real-world experience,” says McKeown, who also interned with Minnesota Energy in Buffalo Lake while in college.

From Poet Biorefining, McKeown went on to become a shift lead at Minnesota Soybean Processors in Brewster, Minn., before being promoted to manager of the biodiesel and refinery portions of the business. He then moved on to Heron Lake Bioenergy.

Now, he would like to give back by finding ways to help current students. “I’ve been talking with the college about it,” says McKeown, who sits on Minnesota West’s advisory board for the Biofuels Technology program. “I would be happy to help out by talking with students, or maybe I could start an internship. It made an impact on my life, and I’d like to return the favor.”

www.mnwest.edu 11

Switching degree paths from construction management to renewable energy turned out to be the right move for Brodie McKeown.

“I feel like [Minnesota West] prepared me really well for what I do. We learned a lot about safety, environmental compliance, and regulatory issues, which I deal with on a regular basis.”

—Brodie McKeown

FIND OUT MORE!

To learn more about the Biofuels Technology A.A.S., go to

www.mnwest.edu/programs/program-type/aas/biofuels-technology.

You can also fill out the interactive request form on page 22,

call 800-658-2330, or e-mail [email protected].

12 MINNESOTA WEST

Looking for training that can

help you land a career in

the energy sector? Look to

Minnesota West. The college

has emerged as a destination

for a wide variety of

people—including dislocated

workers and traditional-aged

students—who are pursuing

energy career education.

Minnesota West offers

degree, certificate, and

diploma programs that can

lead directly to employment

or which are transferable to

four-year institutions. What’s

more, students can take

classes at one of the colleges

five campuses, and through

multiple delivery methods:

traditional classrooms,

instructional television

classrooms, and online.

ENERGY CAREER TRAININGAT MINNESOTA WEST

specialties: ethanol production, biodiesel production, wind turbine maintenance, and solar energy assessment. The certificate programs, which can be completed in as little as one semester, will be available online.

For more information, go to www.mnwest.edu/programs/program-type/aas/energy-technical-specialist-aas, or contact Carol Hegna at 800-651-3247, [email protected].

Biofuels Technology While biofuels have made plenty of headlines in the last few years, industry observers agree that we’ve only scratched the surface of their potential. Minnesota West prepares students to work in today’s high-tech and highly automated biofuels processing plants. A 60-credit A.A.S program on the

NEW! Energy Technical Specialist degree and certificate Thanks in part to a three-year, $1 million High Growth Job Training Initiative grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, Minnesota West now offers an innovative, two-year Energy Technical Specialist Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree.

Students who earn the degree will be prepared for work in traditional and renewable energy fields, including coal-fired electric power generation, natural gas distribution, ethanol production, biodiesel production, wind turbine maintenance, and solar energy. Courses for the 60-credit program are offered at the Canby and Granite Falls campuses, and online. Students also have the option of earning a 16-credit certificate in one of four

www.mnwest.edu 13

Let Minnesota West power your efforts to find a career in the energy field.

Granite Falls campus provides students with a solid background in mechanical and instrumentation basics, chemical and microbiological processes, safety fundamentals, and process optimization techniques. It includes courses in Biodiesel Fundamentals, Hydraulic Theory, Industrial Water Treatment, and more.

To find out more, go to www.mnwest.edu/programs/program-type/aas/biofuels-technology.

Minnesota West also offers 17-credit Biodiesel and Ethanol certificates available online or at the Granite Falls campus. Both provide foundational learning to support process plant technologies and operation with a concentration in biodiesel technologies. To find out more about the Ethanol certificate, go to www.mnwest.edu/programs/program-type/certificate/biofuels-technology-ethanol. For Biodiesel,

go to www.mnwest.edu/programs/program-type/certificate/biofuels-technology-biodiesel. You can also call 800-658-2330 or e-mail [email protected]. for informaton on either program.

Wind Energy Technology (Canby campus)Minnesota West’s Wind Energy Technology A.A.S. combines lecture and hands-on training to provide students with the skills needed to work in the wind energy turbine troubleshooting and repair sector. The 64-credit program includes courses in Electrical Circuit Fundamentals, Turbine Siting and Construction, Fluid Power Hydraulic Theory, and more. And Minnesota West also has its own 35kW wind turbine on the Canby campus, along with a custom lab and shop areas.

To find out more, go to www.mnwest.edu/programs/program-type/aas/wind-energy-technology, call 800-658-2330, or e-mail [email protected].

Windsmith CertificateThe college’s 16-credit Windsmith Certificate offers a concise introduction to the wind energy industry. Students learn how the wind works, and study the basic operating principles of wind energy systems, OSHA safety regulations and standards, basic concepts of AC and DC circuits, and more. Available on the Canby campus or online.

To find out more, go to www.mnwest.edu/programs/program-type/certificate/windsmith, call 800-658-2330, or e-mail [email protected].

14 MINNESOTA WEST

Why should you consider a career in the renewable energy field? For starters, there’s the issue of demand. While most of the energy consumed in the United States and Minnesota still comes from traditional sources such as coal, petroleum, and natural gas, renewable energy has become the fastest-growing segment of the overall utilities industry.

That’s particularly true here in Minnesota. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, renewable energy sources such as biomass, solar, and wind provide more than 30 percent of the fuel used for generating electricity in the state—a figure that’s no surprise to anyone who’s witnessed the rapid growth of wind farms and ethanol production facilities around the state in the last decade.

But that’s not all.

The overall demand for energy is rising and the supply of workers is shrinking as baby boomers in the workforce approach retirement age. Shortages are expected to be particularly severe in the electric and natural gas utilities sector, where about 45 percent of the workforce can retire by 2013.

Green investments and government incentives are spurring job growth in many energy segments.

Companies and higher-education institutions are partnering to offer apprenticeships, internships, and on-the-job training.

RENEWABLE ENERGYCAREERS 101

New Energy Finance, a global research firm, has also uncovered some remarkable statistics about the renewable energy sector:

• The worldwide market for solar photovoltaics, wind power, and biofuels expanded from $75.8 billion in 2007 to $115.9 billion in 2008 (the latest year for which stats were available)

• The wind sector alone generated revenues or more than $50 billion in 2008.

• New global investments in clean energy technologies expanded from $148.4 billion in 2007 to $155.4 billion in 2008.

In short, renewable energy will make up much of Minnesota’s future energy production and play a crucial role in tomorrow’s economy. What career paths are out there for you? What sort of training do you need? How much can you make?

Read on for details.

INDUSTRY—WIND POWER

Job Type Knowledge Needed

Operations

Blade TheoryOperation Control SystemsBasic ElectricityAC/DC Electrical TheoryIndustrial Safety

Mechanical Maintenance Technicians

BearingsLubrication PrinciplesHand and Power ToolsAlignmentsPrecision MeasurementsValvesCompressorsHydraulicsWeldingRigging and LiftingFiberglass RepairIndustrial Safety

Electricians

AC/DC Electrical TheoryHand and Power ToolsAlignmentsPrecision MeasurementsRigging and LiftingProgrammable Logic ComputersPipingAC/DC Electrical Motors and GeneratorsCircuit BreakersTest Equipment and Measuring DevicesIndustrial Safety

Instrumentation and Control Technicians

Basic ElectronicsAC/DC Electrical TheoryOperation Control SystemsRigging and LiftingPneumatic ControlsProgrammable Logic ComputersMicroprocessorsControl Instrumentation and LoopsTest Equipment and Measuring DevicesField DevicesIndustrial Safety

www.mnwest.edu 15

CAREER FIELDS Types of renewable energy jobs—and the skills needed for each.

INDUSTRY—SOLAR POWER

Job Type Knowledge Needed

Installers

PlumbingHVACPipefittingCarpentryPumpsConstructionBuilding Energy Basics

Designers

PhysicsAuto CADDynamicsCircuitsPumps

Site Assessors

Advanced MathGeometryTrigonometrySolar EconomicsSolar Time

16 MINNESOTA WEST

CAREER FIELDS Types of renewable energy jobs—and the skills needed for each.

www.mnwest.edu 17

INDUSTRY—ETHANOL PRODUCTION

Job Type Knowledge Needed

Operations

Heat and Heat TransferProcess AutomationChemistry and BiologyDistillation TheoryThermodynamicsWater Chemistry/TreatmentPumps and CompressorsIndustrial Safety

Mechanical Maintenance Technician

PumpsBearingsLubrication PrinciplesPrecision MeasurementsValves and CompressorsHydraulicsWeldingIndustrial Safety

Electricians

Plant Electrical SystemsAC/DC Electrical TheoryBearingsLubrication PrinciplesRigging and LiftingPrecision MeasurementsProgrammable Logic ComputersTest Equipment and Measuring DevicesIndustrial Safety

Instrumentation andControl Technicians

Plant Electrical SystemsPollution ControlPlant Performance and OperationsBearingsLubrication PrinciplesPower Plant Control SystemsRigging and LiftingPneumatic ControlsProgrammable Logic ComputersMicroprocessorsControl Instrumentation and LoopsTest Equipment and Measuring DevicesCEMS EquipmentIndustrial Safety

CAREER FIELDS Types of renewable energy jobs—and the skills needed for each.

Job Type Knowledge Needed

Operations

Heat and Heat TransferProcess AutomationBiology and ChemistryDistillation TheoryThermodynamicsWater Chemistry and TreatmentCEMS EquipmentIndustrial Safety

MechanicalMaintenance Technicians

Pumps and BearingsLubrication PrinciplesAlignmentsPrecision MeasurementsValves and CompressorsHydraulicsWeldingIndustrial Safety

Electricians

Plant Electrical SystemsBearingsLubrication PrinciplesRigging and LiftingPrecision MeasurementsProgrammable Logic ComputersTest Equipment and Measuring DevicesIndustrial Safety

Instrumentation and Control Technicians

Plant Electrical SystemsPollution ControlPlant Performance and OperationsBearingsLubrication PrinciplesRigging and LiftingPneumatic ControlsProgrammable Logic ComputersMicroprocessorsControl Instrumentation and LoopsTest Equipment and Measuring DevicesField DevicesCEMS EquipmentIndustrial Safety

18 MINNESOTA WEST

INDUSTRY—BIODIESEL PRODUCTION

CAREER FIELDS Types of renewable energy jobs—and the skills needed for each.

www.mnwest.edu 19

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS AND NONPROFITS

American Coalition for Ethanol

American Council On Renewable Energy

American Solar Energy Society

American Wind Energy Association

Minnesota Renewable Energy Society

Midwest Renewable Energy Association

Minnesota’s Renewable Energy Marketplace

Northern Minnesota Renewable Energy Center

Solar Energy Industries Association

Solar Minnesota

Windustry

CAREER INFORMATION

Central Minnesota Careers

Going Green Jobs

Green Jobs Training Guide

ISEEK Energy Website

South Central WorkForce Council

Southwest Minnesota Careers

Workforce Development Inc.

GOVERMENT AGENCIES

Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Minnesota Office of Energy Security

U.S. Department of Energy

RENEWABLE ENERGY INDUSTRY LINKS

20 MINNESOTA WEST

What energy career is right for you?

There are opportunities in numerous areas, covering a variety of skill and education levels.

FINDINGTHE RIGHTCAREER

How Much Will I Make?A look at salaries in the energy sector.

Occupation Minnesota Median Hourly Salary

U.S. Median Hourly Salary

Boilermakers $32.89 $25.63

Chemical Plant and System Operators $20.06 $25.85

Construction and Building Inspectors $29.32 $24.60

Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door $21.00 $23.27

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technicians $25.89 $26.21

Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment $23.98 $23.96

Electrical Engineers $40.61 $40.44

Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers $33.02 $27.25

Electricians $32.21 $22.77

Electronics Engineers, Except Computer $43.09 $42.51

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers $25.83 $19.63

Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers $12.43 $11.79

Industrial Engineering Technicians $23.91 $23.23

Industrial Machinery Mechanics $23.99 $21.59

Mechanical Engineers $36.14 $36.88

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators $30.55 $19.26

Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers $23.70 $27.10

Pipelayers $31.98 $16.03

Plant and System Operators, All Other $22.68 $23.94

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $35.97 $22.38

Power Plant Operators $28.81 $28.80

Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators $27.71 $24.53

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $20.44 $16.52

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Engineering CareersAn engineering career in energy could be for you if you like:• Designing and building things• Analyzing information to identify where

problems are likely to occur• Translating practical problems into

mathematical expressions and techniques• Being self-directed and quick to learn

new technologies

Job titles:• Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Technicians • Electrical Engineers• Electronics Engineers (non-computer) • Industrial Engineering Technicians• Mechanical Engineers• Stationary Engineers and Boiler

Operators

Production CareersProduction workers are typically employed in power plants, often combining the duties of operators and technicians. A production career could be for you if you like:

• Working with current tools and technology and learning about ones that are new and emerging

• Keeping equipment in top condition• Teamwork• Leading and coordinating others in everyday

situations as well as in emergencies (for example, in a major storm)

Job titles:• Equipment Operators and Tenders • Plant and System Operators• First-Line Supervisors/Managers of

Production and Operating Workers• Gas Plant Operators • Power Distributors and Dispatchers• Power Plant Operators• Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers

Installation and Repair CareersInstallation and repair workers primarily install, inspect, test, and repair electrical or mechanical equipment. A career in this field could be for you if you like:

• Working with tools and technology• Working outdoors• Troubleshooting• Physical activity, including climbing and

standing for long periods of time

Job titles• Control and Valve Installers and

Repairers• Electrical and Electronics Repairers• Electrical Power-Line Installers and

Repairers• First-Line Supervisors/Managers of

Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers• Heating, Air Conditioning, and

Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers • Industrial Machinery Mechanics

Source: iseek.org

Source: iseek.org

CAMPUSESCanby1011 First St. W.Canby, MN 56220507-223-7252, 800-658-2535

Granite Falls1593 11th Ave.Granite Falls, MN 56241320-564-5000, 800-657-3247

Jackson401 West St.Jackson, MN 56143507-847-7920, 800-658-2522

Pipestone1314 N. Hiawatha Ave.Pipestone, MN 56164507-825-6800, 800-658-2330

Worthington1450 CollegewayWorthington, MN 56187507-372-3400, 800-657-3966

LEARNING CENTERS Fairmont CenterSouthern Minnesota Educational Campus115 S. Park ST.Fairmont, MN 56031507-235-3385

Luverne CenterLuverne Educational Center for Health Careers311 N. Spring St., P.O. Box 718Luverne, MN 56156507-449-2772

Marshall CenterCustomized Training/Continuing Education Services607 W. Main St., Suite 100Marshall, MN 56258507-537-7051, 800-576-6728

Redwood Falls CenterRedwood Falls Area Learning Center403 South Mill StreetRedwood Falls, MN 56283507.637.6007

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