The Power of Energy
Where would you be without energy?
You wouldn't be on the computer or watching TV. You couldn't drive a car or ride the bus. And no turning on the air conditioner or using the refrigerator at home. We're all used to the benefits energy brings to our lives. But where does energy come from? How is it delivered?
Energy is generated from a variety of traditional and renewable energy sources. It is then distributed and consumed. The numerous steps within generation, distribution, and consumption all require a variety of energy workers. Do something that benefits millions of people every day. Consider a career in energy.
What Type of Energy Careers Are Out There?
Energy employers recruit people with a variety of educational backgrounds. Most employers prefer candidates with technical degrees in the following fields:
Once you find a career field that interests you, the choice of where to work is open. If you like the stability and the scale of projects at a medium-large company, utilities might be the ideal setting. If you prefer a smaller, dynamic work environment, you might like to work in an ethanol plant where transportation fuel is produced. If you like helping the community, you might find distribution and building operations most rewarding. Skills and competencies you gain in one industry segment can easily transfer to another.
You will find jobs at all levels of education. The typical education and training paths are:
- Moderate on-the-job training (from one to 12 months)
- Long-term on-the-job training, or combined work experience and classroom instruction up to five years
- Bachelor's degree (required for engineering careers)
Ready to find a job? Power up your job search by finding energy employers.
The Smart Grid
Do you remember the summer 2003 blackout? The northeastern U.S. and part of Canada lost power. Eleven people died and 50 million people had no power for two days. It started with a tree branch brushing over an over-heated line in Cincinnati. Because of old mechanical equipment and alarm system failure, the outage quickly spread across several states.
But things are changing. The traditional power grid is being transformed into a "smart grid" by amazing technological innovations. The main advantages of the smart grid are:
- Preventing blackouts with fiber-optic sensors that identify "hot spots" before they get too hot.
- Increasing safety for line workers.
- Connecting small-scale renewable energy sources by connecting them to the grid. These might include independently run windmills, solar cells, and ethanol-fuelled power stations. This allowed some power plants to be shut down when the wind blows or sunlight is stronger.
- Helping homeowners take control of their energy usage through "smart readers." These tell how much energy is being consumed at what price at any time of the day.
