Are your instructors honest with you about the fact that two major projects have already been cancelled, many more have been scaled back and the industry is really in a state of flux right now??
There is a major wind energy tax credit that expires this year and the congress has signaled that they don't expect it to be renewed. This will effectively end the wind energy construction boom. Excelon(Com-ed/PECO/Constellation) cancelled an expansion on a large wind project out east, and recently the CEO said that without a renewal of the tax credit, they wouldn't bother with another wind project.
This is an industry that right now is short of workers... but about to be really, really overloaded on them if construction stops or curtails to the degree expected. Where exactly do you think those turbine builders will go if there are no construction jobs available?? Right into those maintenance jobs you freshly minted schoolies want.
I have heard through the grape vine that the "booming" part of it is coming to an end. couple things about that dont really worry me.
1, there are thousands of these bad boys spread all over the country, even if they stop building them we have to keep the ones that are built working or it was all for nothing.
2, i understand that this mean that general techs looking for work will sky rocket but form my research, career counselors, and instructors, i am informed that the guys that went to 2 year colleges like myself are way more experienced and preferred by companies than the guys that went to 8 week wind turbine school. this is because those guys went to a class and learn that machine, meanwhile i am learning that machine, fluid power, air power, all forms of renewable energy, industrial electronics, mechanical technology, and electrical technology.
3, i have a back up plan. knowing that i may not get that particular job, or may not want to work it my whole life im going to school for a couple degrees, renewable energy will be my 1st degree, this obviously will get me a gig in the entire field not just the turbines. i maybe install solar roof panels on some guys house who knows. to achieve an industrial electrical degree will only be about 3 or 4 more classes, so im also going for that. this will open may options waaaay up, (hopefully) i plan to work for comed and probably be one of their repair guys. last if i go for the mechanical degree i will have the opportunity to handle any form of work dealing with power/energy, weather it be towers, poles, factories, wind mills etc.
not to mention i will have 3 degrees in the field of energy. :attom:
SAM'i got a plan........i think'SET
