I read an interesting article at Yahoo news that talked about the need for Wind Turbine technicians. It is a field that takes different areas and combines them into one.

But wind power officials see a much larger obstacle coming in the form of its own work force, a highly specialized group of technicians that combine working knowledge of mechanics, hydraulics, computers and meteorology with the willingness to climb 200 feet in the air in all kinds of weather.

Many of the alternate energy technicians have to combine knowledge of many fields into one. Schools have to fight off the companies who will hire untrained students out from their programs (because they know they have to pay trained students more).

Since NetWorks deals with helping faculty with resources in renewable energy classes and resources, I found this article interesting and shared it with Tom McGlew, NetWorks ESyst and Externship manager, he wrote this in reply:

This is a great article as it points out our need for Mechatronics training programs at more community colleges. 800 technicians are needed this
year which exceeds the outputs of known college programs in the US.
Great opportunity exists for the colleges that work quickly to adapt one
of their technology programs to Wind. With the wind blowing last night
out of the Super Bowl we could have generated some serious KW’s of power.

There are great opportunities for many colleges in renewable energy. I know the solar industry in Arizona is having a hard time finding trained technicians. Does your college have a renewable energy program? Are industry knocking on your door looking for students? Are you knocking on industry’s door? It will only be a matter of time before a shortage like this because even more critical.