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Anyone here work in the alternative energy industry?

  • I am hoping to start an internship this summer with a construction company that does a lot of alternative energy projects (wind, solar, etc.) it's a field I've always been interested in but I'm curious if anyone has any info for me. One thing I am concerned about is having to uproot myself and/or travel all of the time following wind park projects around the country. I would hope that by the time I start my career (post graduation) that I would be able to settle in one area and not have to move very far if at all for a couple of years. I am willing to work on other projects that aren't alternative energy so I hope that would help my case for being able to stay put for a couple of years. My ultimate goal is to be in upper management potentially with a masters degree, in a more specified alternative energy field. So hopefully that would help my case in being able to stay in one spot for longer periods of time. Advice?

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    mdpowers55 ●

  • I wouldn't worry about moving around too much once the federal tap is turned off.

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    LooseGoose2012 ●

  • LooseGoose2012 said...

    I wouldn't worry about moving around too much once the federal tap is turned off.

    I figured there would be a "government subsidy" post at some point lol

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    mdpowers55 ●

  • mdpowers55 said...

    I figured there would be a "government subsidy" post at some point lol

    But I don't want this to turn into "move this to wells" thread, I just want some info from any posters who are either in the alternative energy industry, the construction industry and preferably both.

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    mdpowers55 ●

  • My advice is to narrow down the scope of what you are looking for. Saying you want to work with alternative energy is the same as saying you want to work with cars in that there are many different aspects you can get involved with.

    I work for a large company that does a lot in this field (I have very little to do with any of it) and I'm involved with a lot of career fairs. People are constantly saying they want to be involved in alternative energy but do not know what they actually want to do.

    Do you want to work with a supplier, distributor, solutions group, or an OEM? Do you want to work in sales, operations, engineering, R&D, project management, finance, or government relations?

    signature image

    Players play, tough players win.

    Victory for MSU

  • Victory for MSU said...

    My advice is to narrow down the scope of what you are looking for. Saying you want to work with alternative energy is the same as saying you want to work with cars in that there are many different aspects you can get involved with.

    I work for a large company that does a lot in this field (I have very little to do with any of it) and I'm involved with a lot of career fairs. People are constantly saying they want to be involved in alternative energy but do not know what they actually want to do.

    Do you want to work with a supplier, distributor, solutions group, or an OEM? Do you want to work in sales, operations, engineering, R&D, project management, finance, or government relations?

    I would work for the construction company, project management I suppose to narrow it further, (my major is construction management)
    And I would say I have the biggest affinity for wind turbines, but I'm really interested in all of it.

    This post was edited by mdpowers55 on 3/26/2012 at 8:56 AM

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    mdpowers55 ●

  • I produce my own methane. shrug

    Brodson ●

  • Brodson said...

    I produce my own methane. shrug

    Haha +1

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    mdpowers55 ●

  • mdpowers55 said...

    I would work for the construction company, project management I suppose to narrow it further, (my major is construction management)

    Do you want to work for a company that does retrofits or new construction? Residential or commercial? Do you want to work in sales, work on the evaluation of potential projects, or work with the actual construction crew? Do you want to work with the actual PV or wind devices or do you want to work more with the electrical distribution products?

    Everyone in your field of study wants to work with renewable energy. Focus your search then figure out what kind value you can provide.

    This post was edited by Victory for MSU on 3/26/2012 at 9:06 AM

    signature image

    Players play, tough players win.

    Victory for MSU

  • dude, I understand your young and think you can change the world and reverse global warming, but as of know alternative energy is a joke. The only money in that field came from the Obama administration and once that well dries up your shit out of luck.

    Duke Silver ●

  • RedCedarReaper said...

    dude, I understand your young and think you can change the world and reverse global warming, but as of know alternative energy is a joke. The only money in that field came from the Obama administration and once that well dries up your shit out of luck.

    you're x 2 nerd

    Brodson ●

  • Victory for MSU said...

    Do you want to work for a company that does retrofits or new construction? Residential or commercial? Do you want to work in sales, work on the evaluation of potential projects, or work with the actual construction crew? Do you want to work with the actual PV or wind devices or do you want to work more with the electrical distribution products?

    Everyone in your field of study wants to work with renewable energy. Focus your search then figure out what kind value you can provide.

    I want to actually manage the construction of wind farms. And potentially other facilities too, like solar plants, and biomass plants.

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    mdpowers55 ●

  • mdpowers55 said...

    I want to actually manage the construction of wind farms. And potentially other facilities too, like solar plants, and biomass plants.

    New construction for these types of things are incredibly rare. Even so, they are almost always lead by people with 20+ years of experience.

    You are much better off focusing your energy on a smaller segment and working your way up once you gain experience.

    signature image

    Players play, tough players win.

    Victory for MSU

  • Victory for MSU said...

    New construction for these types of things are incredibly rare. Even so, they are almost always lead by people with 20+ years of experience.

    You are much better off focusing your energy on a smaller segment and working your way up once you gain experience.

    Honesty, I am willing to work on other projects as needed within this company. But my interest lies in alternative energy, and I will try to get those projects whenever I can.

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    mdpowers55 ●

  • I applaud you for your interest, just know what you are getting into. Alt energy is going to be a very rocky industry for a long time, since they are primarily funded by government and not nearly efficient enough to stand on their own yet. As govt funding comes and goes, so will a lot of the jobs.

    Europe is already abandoning much of their efforts to fund alt energy, because they are running out of money and the investment did not lead to any return.

    I think the industry will not completely dissolve, but when Republicans take over it will lose a lot of funding, and rightly so in many opinions. There is a place for it, but you can't force technology like this to go too fast, like Europe did.

    Although if Nuclear can get the favor back of the government, it is the most viable alternative right now.

    BleedGreen4ever

  • BleedGreen4ever said...

    I applaud you for your interest, just know what you are getting into. Alt energy is going to be a very rocky industry for a long time, since they are primarily funded by government and not nearly efficient enough to stand on their own yet. As govt funding comes and goes, so will a lot of the jobs.

    Europe is already abandoning much of their efforts to fund alt energy, because they are running out of money and the investment did not lead to any return.

    I think the industry will not completely dissolve, but when Republicans take over it will lose a lot of funding, and rightly so in many opinions. There is a place for it, but you can't force technology like this to go too fast, like Europe did.

    Although if Nuclear can get the favor back of the government, it is the most viable alternative right now.

    Yes I understand that, my "mentor" recently told me that a bill just got axed in the senate that would have secured more funding, so the industry will slow down

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    mdpowers55 ●

  • mdpowers55 said...

    I am hoping to start an internship this summer with a construction company that does a lot of alternative energy projects (wind, solar, etc.) it's a field I've always been interested in but I'm curious if anyone has any info for me. One thing I am concerned about is having to uproot myself and/or travel all of the time following wind park projects around the country. I would hope that by the time I start my career (post graduation) that I would be able to settle in one area and not have to move very far if at all for a couple of years. I am willing to work on other projects that aren't alternative energy so I hope that would help my case for being able to stay put for a couple of years. My ultimate goal is to be in upper management potentially with a masters degree, in a more specified alternative energy field. So hopefully that would help my case in being able to stay in one spot for longer periods of time. Advice?

    Honestly..I would just abandon Alternative Energy as a career path for now and re focus your life on the health care industry. That's where the money is shifting too right now.

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    Izzomsu ●

  • BleedGreen4ever said...

    I think the industry will not completely dissolve, but when Republicans take over it will lose a lot of funding, and rightly so in many opinions.

    What drives me nuts is the funding of new construction when we have thousands of idled windmills because the subsidies ran out. It would make more sense to me to operate those than build new ones.

    I agree nuclear makes much more sense but the politics of nuclear will always be dicey.

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    LooseGoose2012 ●

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