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As described in our previous report titled Wind Energy Jobs Grow Despite the Slow Economy, the best time to enter the wind industry is now. Record breaking growth, renewable energy investment, and ever increasing demand are all working synergistically to create an abundance of new employment opportunities. This being so, those eager to enter the industry have been searching for inside information detailing which wind energy jobs have the best pay, benefits, and long term job security. If you have been looking for information like that listed above, then look no further because this report will describe one such job that fits perfectly into all three of these categories; the Wind Technician.

Wind Technician - Description of Work

Wind Technicians are trained service professionals who are responsible for the continual operation of wind turbines. Common duties for Wind Technicians include; component replacement, circuit troubleshooting, and routine maintenance (e.g., oil changes, bolt torquing, accumulator recharging, etc…). As can be seen, a Wind Technician’s role is to keep wind turbines in good repair which means sure and steady work for anyone who has invested in the training necessary to get a job out in the field. In addition to this “built in” job security, Wind Techs are also known to enjoy both high pay rates and exceptional job satisfaction. This is because, as a field technician, you get the perfect balance of working with your hands while using specialized technical knowledge to manage a variety of wind turbine systems. Ultimately, the job of a Wind Technician is not at all difficult once one has been trained to work on wind turbine systems and this is especially true for anyone who enjoys the unity of teamwork and the benefits of working outdoors free from boring and unrewarding tasks.

Wind Technician - Pay and Compensation

Starting salaries for entry level Wind Technicians typically range between $55,000 and $65,000 for the first year. Once experience is gained and a new Wind Technician has demonstrated that they are a valuable team asset, most can expect promotions or bonuses that can total close to $80,000 by the end of their second and third years. Now some may say that this is a significant sum of money for such a short time out in the field, but remember that this occupation is a little known technical specialty and that years spent in the field are like dog years in the amount of experience gained. Also, note that a Wind Technician’s salary includes hazard pay which results in higher earnings even though workplace injuries are extremely rare. In truth, the benefits of working as a Wind Technician are excellent and it is not uncommon for those with significant field experience to make up to $95,000 per year as a Senior Technician or $110,000 per year as an Operations and Maintenance Manager. Now knowing this, the most common question that follows is… How can someone with no prior wind industry experience get a job as a Wind Technician?

How to Get Wind Technician Jobs

To get a job as a Wind Technician you must first be trained by a professional industry training program. Of the few training programs that are available, prospective students can choose from accelerated and affordable monthly certificate courses like those offered by California Wind Tech, or part-time year long courses that are offered at a handful of selective colleges. In either case, students who participate in these programs study subjects as outlined by the AWEA which include; wind turbine systems, schematic reading, hydraulic systems, electrical componentry, circuit troubleshooting, and safety certifications. Since training providers have to cover the same curriculum, the most significant difference between them is the length of the course and the cost of tuition. Fortunately, once a student has completed training they should have no problem getting a job out in the field because of the immediate and pressing demand for Wind Technicians. For more information about their monthly certificate course, click here to visit www.californiawindtech.com. For a comprehensive list of other training programs in the industry, click here … Wind Energy Training Programs.

Wind Technician - Job Outlook

According to AWEA studies, data shows that one Wind Technician is needed to routinely service and maintain every ten new Megawatts of installed capacity. With a projected 12,000 Megawatts to be installed in 2011, and 14,000 Megawatts in 2012, the next two years alone will see the creation of thousands of new jobs for trained Wind Technicians. Further, it is expected that every year following 2012 will see larger and larger turbine installations all over the United States. This really is an exciting time to enter the wind industry. (Editor’s Note: See our report titled Wind Energy Growth Breaks Previous Records, which shows that actual yearly installations should be significantly higher than projections)

By P. Stevens
Information Source: AWEA Data, http://dpc.senate.gov/docs/fs-111-1-59.html

Top information sources report that in 2008, during the most severe economic downturn since the Great Depression, wind energy created an impressive 35,000 jobs across the United States. Further, while U.S. unemployment figures continued to climb at an unprecedented rate through much of 2009, wind industry employment statistics continued to grow and still are. In fact, many top wind energy companies are projecting solid growth for wind energy jobs through 2020 due, in large part, to both public support and private investment.

The recent extension of programs instituted under the economic Recovery Act will continue to provide wind industry stimulus in the way of production tax credits, treasury grants, and loan guarantees. This additional stimulus will effectively increase the overall market penetration of wind energy and create thousands of additional wind energy jobs right here in the United States. With this extension, many believe that the next decade will see a continued boom for wind energy jobs, especially in the wind energy service sectors. Further, future legislation like the Renewable Energy Standard and Cap and Trade are likely to increase the overall demand for wind energy in two ways:

Public support measures are only one side of the gold coin though, as the private sector is now fiercely competitive about entering the wind industry. In fact, the private sector is now discovering that wind energy is a great investment even without government stimulus, tax credits, and renewable energy quotas. The truth is that a million dollar megawatt wind turbine can pay for itself in as little as 5 years. This is a return on investment of 20% for each new wind turbine and most turbines are built to last up to 20 years! Is it any wonder that big companies like General Electric, Siemens, and Mitsubishi are major market players? With this inside information, it is easy to see why the demand for new wind turbines has been greater than their supply since 2001 and projected demand will continue to outpace manufacturing capacity through 2020.

As detailed in the AWEA’s 2009 Year End Market Report, the massive surge in new installations will mean an increase in demand for skilled workers with plenty of well paying job opportunities in wind industry service sectors like Construction or Operations and Maintenance (O&M). As we stand now, new employment opportunities are already advertised by wind energy companies with more and more frequency and those of us here at WindEnergyJobsInfo.com believe that future job growth could make the 35,000 wind energy jobs created in 2008 seem relatively small in hindsight. Check Back soon for our next reports which will describe these profitable wind energy jobs that are already in top demand…

1) Wind Technician
2) Construction Laborer
3) Wind Turbine Commissioner

By P. Stevens
Information Source: AWEA Data

According to the AWEA’s 2009 Year End Market Report, the U.S. just had another record breaking year for new wind energy installations. As reported, close to 10,000 Megawatts of new generating capacity came online in 2009 which is enough to supply over 2.4 million homes with clean and renewable wind energy. This shattered all previous estimates earlier in the year which predicted that the total installed capacity would increase between 5,000 and 7,000 Megawatts. As we stand now, the U.S. has regained its position as the number one wind energy producer in the world with an unparalleled total installed capacity of over 35,000 Megawatts and an incredible five-year average annual growth rate of 39%!

Just think about the significance of these statistics for a moment. During a period of time when the national and global economies were experiencing a major contraction, the U.S. wind energy industry was expanding at record rates. In truth, wind energy companies are now a major and mainstream market force with an ever expanding support infrastructure that is driven by domestic jobs in construction, manufacturing, distribution, and Operations and Maintenance (O&M). In 2009 alone, information was compiled detailing 38 manufacturing facilities that were newly announced or expanded to support this incredible growth in wind energy. It really is an exciting and historic time for the industry with fantastic opportunities for those looking to get wind energy jobs.

By P. Stevens
Information Sources: Ventyx, SNL, AWEA, SEIA, Berkeley Lab Data, U.S. Department of Energy, 20% Wind Energy by 2030

Wind has proven itself time and again as a powerful force in the renewable energy industry. Its success has been made possible through the cooperation of engineers and technicians who, working together, have dedicated countless hours toward developing massive 300 foot tall wind turbines that tower over both land and sea. These gentle giants, although complex and sophisticated, are typically based on a common design. Atop a main tower sits a nacelle and attached to the nacelle is a rotor which drives a large horizontal shaft found inside of the nacelle. This spinning shaft is then fed into a generator which, in turn, rotates through magnetic fields to produce electrical energy. The horizontal placement of the rotor, main shaft, and generator gives these giants the title of "Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines." As engineers press on to find more cost efficient ways to harness the wind's energy, new designs are gaining interest from both small scale and utility scale segments of the wind energy sector. One such design that is growing in popularity is the Vertical Axis Wind Turbine.

The vertical axis wind turbine gets its name from the orientation of the shaft that rotates perpendicular to the ground in order to create electrical energy. Currently there are two different vertical axis designs that are receiving critical attention and appear to be quite promising. The first design is called the Savonious Wind Turbine. The construction of this type of wind turbine is very simple in concept. Attached to a vertical shaft are two concave surfaces mounted side by side but facing in opposite directions. This technology also focuses on using drag to capture the wind's energy. The second design uses lift as opposed to drag, and is more similar to the technology used in horizontal axis wind turbines. This design is more accurately called the Darrieus wind turbine. The blades of this turbine stretch vertically from the top of the shaft to its base and are set out into the wind away from the center of the structure. The blades in this design are airfoils that create lift as wind flows over them. This lift factor rotates the turbine blades around the center axis. Both designs have their benefits and down falls.

The Savonious wind turbine has several benefits. First and foremost is its simplicity. The location of the gearbox and generator can be mounted very close to the ground allowing easy access and maintenance. Ease of production and lower cost of materials make this design appealing for those on a budget. Its basic and durable construction also allows them to withstand very strong and turbulent winds, while producing even more electrical energy. Also, they do not need to be oriented into the wind like horizontal axis turbines. These turbines also have a very quiet operation. Unfortunately, they do have a series of disadvantages that come with the simplicity of the design. Because the turbines rotation is caused by air pushing on its surface, its rotational speed can only be equal to or less than the speed of the air driving it. This lack of rotational speed results in overall performance inefficiency. What they lack in RPMs is made up in torque, thus making them a prime candidate for work such as grinding, turning, or pumping but not for electrical energy production. The Darrieus style of vertical axis wind turbines has much better potential for electrical energy production. Unlike the aforementioned design, this design uses lift to create its rotation and therefore has a blade speed to wind speed ratio greater than 1:1, meaning that the blades can rotate faster than the air that is striking them. Another benefit to this design is that they do not need to be oriented into the wind. No matter what way they are facing they will make use of the oncoming wind. The combination of this high speed rotation and the fact that its gearbox and generator are located near the ground make this the most appealing of design to pursue for future development. Even though there are many benefits to this design there are still some inherent shortcomings. This design is not self starting and will need to be started by another method such as small motors. Another issue that arises is the difficulty of supporting the structure. It's widely spread blades and the centrifugal forces that are associated with rotation, makes it a challenge to support a tower. Even when mounted directly to the ground, the structure needs to be supported by guy wires at its peak. These wires would need to stretch across a large surface area to clear the rotating blades.

Both of these turbine designs have shown their potential to make use of the vast source of wind power available. Although some inherent flaws in their design are keeping them from gaining ground in the commercial wind energy market, engineers and technicians will be continuing to press forward with new technology in order to make it happen. As this new design begins building a reputation in small scale and home based wind energy production we may find ways to solve some of these flaws over time.

- Guest Post

As the “Golden State” continues to accelerate its investment in renewable energy technology, wind energy jobs in California are really taking off. With wind farm jobs stretching from Shasta County in the north to Kern and Riverside Counties in the south, employment opportunities in California have never been better. In addition to these existing projects, the state currently has 4 major wind farm developments planned which, when complete, will re-position California as second in the country when ranked according to total installed wind power capacity. To learn more about California wind farm jobs in detail, like those at the Alta Wind Energy Center, click the link below and read our latest industry report.
Wind Energy Jobs in California

To find wind energy jobs in Colorado look no further. The updated report that we have provided below lists both the names and locations of top wind farms found within the “Centennial State.” Not only are these wind farms currently operational, but they are actively employing newly trained service professionals like wind technicians and wind farm construction laborers. In addition to the listing of Colorado wind farms included within this report, we will also disclose some of the most promising state projects that are planned to begin within the next couple of years. Please click the link below to continue reading about Colorado’s wind energy employment opportunities.
Wind Energy Jobs in Colorado

Wind energy jobs in Minnesota are continuing to gain momentum. To find the latest employment openings in the “North Star State,” job hunters should start by determining where each wind farm is located and which specific companies are contracted to operate them. In order to make the search for this information simple, please make use of our updated industry report which provides both the names and locations of major wind farms found in Minnesota. Of the projects that are planned within the state, forecasts indicate that many jobs will be created in operations and maintenance with wind technicians and construction laborers being the primary beneficiaries. To learn more, click here -
Wind Energy Jobs in Minnesota

If you are looking for wind energy jobs in Wisconsin then be sure to make use of our “Top Jobs Resource,” which details the latest employment opportunities across the state. Our resourced reports not only highlight leading employers in the region, but they also contain valuable information about new projects set to come online in the “Land of 10,000 Lakes.” As illustrated in our reports, the wind farm developments currently taking shape in Wisconsin are sure to make the state a major hub for wind power production in the Midwest. To learn more about current and upcoming job opportunities, please click on the link below. If you are interested in learning more about current wind technician salary information, scroll up.
Wind Energy Jobs in Wisconsin

Wind energy jobs in Oklahoma have come full circle. In fact, industry reports have shown that employment opportunities in the “Sooner State,” are expected to double within the next couple of years alone. With the number of wind technician jobs in Oklahoma also on the rise, the state is sure to become a major wind power employer in the central U.S. Recognized for its fantastic wind resources, Oklahoma truly has the potential to become a leading producer of renewable energy in the central plains. For additional information about Wind Energy Jobs in Oklahoma or wind energy salaries in general, feel free to click here.
Wind Energy Jobs in Oklahoma

Texas is currently ranked as the #1 wind power producer in the United States. This being so, the “Lone Star State” has also worked hard to establish itself as the wind energy capital of North America. Taking this role seriously, Texas hosts multiple industry events ranging from conventions to conferences and trade focused seminars. Leveraging its leadership position in the wind industry, Texas has also been able to attract the investments needed to fund several new wind farm expansions across the state. To find out more about wind farm locations and wind energy jobs in Texas, please click on the link below.
Wind Energy Jobs in Texas

Wind energy jobs in Illinois are increasing at record rates. To find leading areas of employment in the “Prairie State” one must to look no further than Bureau, Lee, and Livingston Counties. For those who are able to meet the industry’s entry level requirements, wind farm jobs as wind technicians, site engineers and wind turbine construction laborers are all readily available. In fact, some of the best employment opportunities in the Midwest can be found in Illinois’ top two wind farms which are appropriately named Big Sky and Top Crop II. To learn more about careers out in the field, please click on the link below to read our latest report that details new developments in Illinois.
Wind Energy Jobs in Illinois