Wind Energy Education
Learn more about Wind Energy Education at the website RouhNeckChronicles.com.
Q: What education would i need to get a job in solar energy or wind energy after graduating high school?
Im fresh out of high school and am not sure what education i should be seeking next. I have heard that renewable energy is a fast growing field and would like to know what education a good job in that field would require. By a good job i mean anything from installing solar panels or repairing wind turbines. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
A: Look into electrical, electronic, and mechanical engineering. I would say the best thing that anyone could tell you is to stay versatile. Things are changing so fast in the green industry that by the time you learn one thing very well, it has become obsolete, or close to it.
If you are a self help type of person and are really interested in installing or consulting, check out a program ‘RETScreen’. This is a program that the Canadian government has put out to help consultants and estimaters plan for renewable energy conversions
Q: What type of education would one need to install solar panels and small wind turbines?
Okay, I was curious as to what profession installs (small) wind turbines and solar energy panels. I’m in carpentry right now and I am very interested in learning of such a thing. Wehn I mention small wind turbines I’m speaking of roof top turbines that generate electricity from kinetic energy.
A: electrical engineering power and control
Q: Will I be able to get a job as a wind turbine tech?
I’m really wanting to change my major to wind energy. I’m having a problem getting ahold of my advisor to ask the questions I want to ask. My main question is ‘is there going to be a job when I finish my education?’. I know that a lot of people are getting into this field, are there going to be enough jobs to go around?? Thanks for any help!
A: Tammy, absolutely you can, wind turbine maintenance is one of the fastest growing areas in skilled labor right now, problem is, there are only a couple schools teaching college level credit for it. The only one I’m aware of off the top of my head is Kalamazoo Valley Community College in Southwest Michigan. If you go to their website, you can print information out to take to your guidance counselor, that will make for a better educated discussion when you do finally get in to their office.
One other suggestion for you, are you any good at basic wiring? I would suggest getting a journeymans electricians lisence in the state you live in. Basically, you get a book that covers the subject, study, then take a written test when you are ready. If you pass, you have a lisence to work under a master electrician for pay right now, then after 2400 hours of experience, you’ll have a lisence you can use yourself. It makes a great compliment to the wind tech training, and you can use it by yourself too.
I’m not a tech, but we live in a home that is powered by the wind and sun, it’s great technology. Good luck, and take care, Rudydoo
Q: Green Living, Environmental, Energy Efficient, and Durable Home; Info/Education for planning to build one?
If you watch the “Green Planet” channel, and have seen the show “World’s Greenest Homes”, well then you might get the idea.
I want to build an almost completely energy-efficient house, that is good, maybe even great, for the environment. Solar panels, wind turbines, and whatever else there could be that’d help. I don’t mind using recycled material for construction and furniture, and I definitely don’t mind if I have to have sturdy steel beams and etc. As long as it’s a very durable(in fact, I was hoping for: Durable enough to withstand natural and/or man made disasters), I don’t really mind style, but usually it seems the architecture of such houses ends up looking amazing anyway. If anyone knows of materials and furniture that can “really” last, that’d be nice.
I was hoping someone out there had some good ideas on how to learn all about this kind of stuff. Websites, books, E-books, guides. Prices to use on whatever you may know of don’t really matter since this is for my possible future.
I don’t need it to be too specific in all these areas, in fact, just respond to the title of this question if that’s okay!
Oh yeah brandon h, lol. I’ll have to update my picture, my hair “is” cut.
A: if your worried about the earth then cut your hair for the sake of humanity
Q: Is workforce development covered by Pell grant?
I plan on attending Tidewater Community College here in Virginia Beach for wind energy technology. It’s a workforce development certification program that is offered online via ProTrain Education. Is this kind of program eligible for federal aid? TCC counselors can’t give me a clear answer so I was curious if someone here may be able to enlighten me.
A: scholarships.onlinewebshop.net – it provides some tips about applying to US federal and state grants for college students.
Q: Why aren’t there any wind farms or tidal plants in New England?
Over the past 8 years, I’ve constantly been hearing people from New England (in particular Massachusetts) badmouthing my state and how we run things here. I’m from Texas. They base the way we think here based on George W. Bush. May I remind everyone that the Bushes are from Kinnebunkport, Maine, originally? GW Bush also went to Yale an Ivy League school. So he must be pretty smart then.
I could get on my soap box about LBJ being the only actual born-and-bred Texan as President. I could also rant about Barbara Jordan, too. I’m a senior at Texas State University where they both went to school. I’m a geography major doing research on alternative energy. FYI, our geography department here has been rated one of the top five in the entire country. Only one of the Ivy League schools’ programs ranked up there with us. I forget which one it was, but I know it wasn’t Harvard. I believe it was Brown.
Anyway, I’m going to be nice and subtle about this one. I don’t want to alienate anyone. For the record, we as Texans are far more progressive than people give us credit for. After all my state is the number one leader in wind energy. We passed California two years ago in wind energy production. Also, T. Boone Pickens is from Texas, too.
For those of you who go to Harvard and MIT, you ought to know who T. Boone Pickens is. You also should be able to answer this question I’m posting. With your Ivy League educations, let’s see you give me a plausible answer to this one. I’m intrigued.
Why are Bay Staters so adamant about not putting wind turbines out on Cape Cod? Can you imagine how much energy that could produce and how much that would help the environment? Why don’t they have tidal plants there? The tides there would be perfect.
New York City is building a tidal plant in the East River, but why aren’t there any around Boston. I know for a fact that there aren’t because there are only three places in the entire planet that have tidal plants and only two more places where they’re actually being built. Boston is not one of them.
Why hasn’t Ted Kennedy opened this can of worms? Why haven’t any of the locals in that neck of the woods come off the fence on this one? I would think that states as liberal as Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut claim to be that they would be willing to cooperate with us. Why not let all your actions do talking?
Just so you know, I’m not a fan of GW Bush either. That man is a disgrace to this country.
A: The opposition against the windfarm off of Cape Cod is just hypocritical obstructionism by some of the (otherwise proclaiming their greenness) wealthy there but be advised that most Bay State citizens are strongly in favor of the project as are all the major newspapers.
Meanwhile there are indeed a few wind farms in New England, such as
one in southern Vermont and a tiny one on the coast at Hull, MA (expansion being applied for) and more proposed. The difference vis a vis Texas is that in Texas your windfarms are located in vast open Panhandle ranches and farms and open plains with small populations and little tourist industry. So there has been little or no opposition. But almost everywhere in New England appropriate for turbines is in a tourist area or otherwise in populated areas with enough people knee-jerking that they feel turbines to be eyesores that they become effective, although minority, oppositions.
As far as tidal the major proposal at Passamaquoddy has had the problems of being located at the international border and its construction would require changing a sea lane navigated by oil tankers
(Irving Oil Company’s major refineries are located neaby) to one more treacherous. There has been no proposal for some of the more exotic
technologies because they have not been tried anywhere in the world and the cost is too high and to too much of a risk for private enterprise.
There has been no proposal as far as I know to dam the Cape Cod Canal where tidal differences are constant enough to more or less continuous power production.
The proposal for a tidal plant in New York City’s East River has been kaboshesd, by the way.
New England benefits from being near Quebec, with its vast, clean, hydro-power production so there is no real sense yet of crunch. (In fact, Quebec is not only expanding its hydro output but also building windfarms. Export of low production cost electric power to the USA at market prices is a huge contributor to the Quebec treasury; American consumere therefore help to pay for Quebecker Canadians’ free health care and other social benefits.)
Q: Where can I find education grants?
specifically for working with renewable energy. I am interested in finding funding for school to be a wind turbine technician.
A: you can find them here
http://www.grants.gov/
http://www.energy.gov/
http://www.ed.gov/index.jhtml
http://www.eere.energy.gov/
i hope these help you. also, look for foundations and charities that support your cause.
Q: Obama is turning the ship , with the wind. will the GOP ,fall apart.?
YES, health care, Education, Energy, is what America needs. the GOP that don’t move, will get steam rolled. its about time.
A: We cannot afford Obamas dreams, he will lead us into the deepest depression we have ever seen.
SFC
US Army
retired
Q: Which political party should I join?
I do not know which party to join, but I consider myself a Christian Democrat. Here are some of my view points.
Abortion: I believe in making abortion legal only in a situation where the woman would die. I however, would not do this unless adoption agencies, health care for children, easy access to education for the child, child care, and family planning organizations were easier to access or can be provided by the government.
Education: Support early childhood education, college tuition, and reward better teachers. Also I think everyone should have a chance at a great education.
Energy: I believe in making sure we replace our dependence on oil with clean coal, solar, wind, bio fuel, water, and other forms of energy that can be renewed.
Free Trade: I support Fair Trade to make sure we do not lose jobs, workers, or are disadvantaged more than what we gain.
Gun Control: I believe in stricter registration laws that make sure the person who buys a gun hasn’t committed a felony in the past 20 years and the person can be trusted with a gun. I do believe people should have the right to defend themselves.
Heath Care: I believe in supporting health care in a way very similar to Barack Obama.
Homeland Security: I would revise the Patriot Act so it won’t violate peoples rights as much.
LGBT Rights: I oppose marriage and civil unions for gays, but I believe they should be able to see each other in the hospital.
Social Secruity: I believe that some social secruity should be private so that people can choose what they want to invest in.
Stem cell research: I oppose stem cell research.
Taxes: I believe in progressive tax policies to tax higher on the rich and lower on the middle class.
Foreign Policy: I believe we should try to get support from the UN for wars, but if we don’t, I think we should still keep it an option. I also believe in trying to be a lot more peaceful than warbound. I believe that going to Iraq was a mistake because a civil war was likely to happen either way.
A: You are a populist. Fiscally, you vote with the Democrats but when it comes to social issues you vote with Republicans. During hard economic times, populists vote for a Democrat. Note, populists are the ones who are usually exploited by the Republicans because they play on your Christian values and pretend to be more socially conservative when in reality, they are true libertarians and don’t care much about abortion issues, gay marriage, etc. It’s kind of like how McCain and Bush played up the “born again Christian” angle. The libertarian meme is “do whatever the hell you want but don’t touch my money.”
Long story short: The economy sucks right now so vote Democrat. Had this been a more social issues based year like 2000 or 2004 I would tell you to vote Republican.
Q: How would you fix this economy?
Here are my ideas. What are yours?
1) Small scale lending must be nationalized. The “free market” has little interest in lending to individuals and small businesses. The “free market” will always avoid the risk of small loans. It isn’t something that will get better with affluence or wealth. Thus, all of the historic government programs designed to facilitate lending to small borrowers must be nationalized or firmly regulated like a monopoly. The historic separation of risk and reward, the co-signing or guaranteeing of loans that has been done by Freddy mac, fanny May, FHA and others, needs to be scrapped for a government department dedicated to small capitalization lending, or heavily regulate it. Most mortgages and small business loans will fall into this category, say anything under a million dollars. Here is an easy way to think of it: We all understand that utilities have monopoly power and must be regulated. Think of residential lending in the same way. The free market will not willingly fulfill this function. The current system of private funding and government guarantee is a separation of function that simply does not work. Do you find this idea somewhat socialist? Then is the regulation of your utility company also socialist?
2) the aspects of derivative trading legalized by the “Financial reform act of 2001″ needs to be repealed, permanently, or revised to have the same underwriting and capitalization requirements as the insurance industry. If an insurance business insures beyond their means, then they are consequently held criminally liable. Derivative trades must be held to the same standard. Is this too harsh? Too conservative? Then why do we hold the insurance industry to this standard, and not the investment houses?
3) Outsourcing needs to be taxed to attempt to slow or stop the capital that the the United States bleeds to India, Mexico and China. The amount those countries have grown from our outsourcing, the economic power they’ve used to bid up the global price of oil, is an accurate measure of the economic power the United States has lost, to outsourcing. Those revenues should be used to help fund higher education (state university systems). Let’s build an affluent populous. Are you thinking Smoot Halley? India really likes it that you think that way.
4) the federal government must make provisions to develop energy sources other than foreign oil, primarily wind and nuclear energy. The raping of our coast lines and oceans for oil should be legislated permanently illegal. Notice how the call for drilling has stopped? The destruction of our oceans and coast lines shouldn’t be subject to the daily price of oil.
5) disclosure of the terms of adjustable rate mortgages must be required to be in a large font size, in plain English, like effective interest rates are required to be displayed currently on all conventional mortgages. The length and nature of the “teaser” period of ARMs must be legislated to be clear and comprehensive to someone with a sixth grade education.
A: Tell each billionaire to give up 1 billion dollars to the US government
Q: What do you think are the three biggest threats to the human species?
I Have some humble opinions on this one. (surprise) 1. Over consumption/pollution. Solution: divert all global oil subsidies to r and d and use of green energy (solar, wind, hydroelectic, electromagnetic, geothermal, etc) 2. Overpopulation. Solution: stablize world govts through U.N. emphasis on basic human rights and elimination of economic/political corruption. Global education K-12 (especially for females) with a strong, early critical thinking component. 3. Current wealth distribution. Solution: U.N. discussion of global tax code along progressive lines for income, capital gains and estates. Example. Income: $0-$30,000:0%, $30.000-$40,000:5%, $40,000-$50,000:10%, $50,000-$100,000:20%, $100,000-$200,000:25%, $200,000-$300,000:30% $300,000-$400,000:35% $400,000-$500,000:40%, $500,000-$600,000:45% $600,000-$700,000:50%, $700,000-$800,000:55%, $800,000-$900,000:60%, $900,000-$1,000,000:65%, $1,000,000+:70%. The numbers are negotiable, it’s the principle I’m trying to get accross.
A: Your solutions to 1 and 2 are good, but the U.N doesn’t have the ability to impose a global tax code, and even if it did it wouldn’t be plausible. They have funds, such as the UNFPA, which adress the problems such as overpopulation throug education, access to contraception, and sanitation. They could work to increase the wealth of their funds, but they cannot impose a worldwide tax.
Q: Do you think a resource based economy is a good solution to humanities problems?
taken from http://www.thevenusproject.com
All social systems, regardless of political philosophy, religious beliefs, or social customs, ultimately depend upon natural resources, i.e. clean air and water, arable land and the necessary technology and personnel to maintain a high standard of living.
Simply stated, a resource-based economy utilizes existing resources rather than money and provides an equitable method of distributing these resources in the most efficient manner for the entire population. It is a system in which all goods and services are available without the use of money, credits, barter, or any other form of debt or servitude
.
Earth is abundant with plentiful resources; today our practice of rationing resources through monetary methods is irrelevant and counter productive to our survival. Modern society has access to highly advanced technologies and can make available food, clothing, housing, medical care, a relevant educational system, and develop a limitless supply of renewable, non-contaminating energy such as geothermal, solar, wind, tidal, etc. It is now possible to have everyone enjoy a very high standard of living with all of the amenities that a prosperous civilization can provide. This can be accomplished through the intelligent and humane application of science and technology.
To better understand the meaning of a resource-based economy consider this: if all the money in the world were destroyed, as long as topsoil, factories, and other resources were left intact, we could build anything we choose to build and fulfill any human need. It is not money that people need; rather, it is free access to the necessities of life. In a resource-based economy , money would be irrelevant. All that would be required are the resources and the manufacturing and distribution of the products.
When education and resources are made available to all people without a price tag, there would be no limit to the human potential. Although this is difficult to imagine, even the wealthiest person today would be far better off in a resource based society as proposed by The Venus Project. Today the middle classes live better than kings of times past. In a resource based economy everyone would live better than the wealthiest of today.
In such a society, the measure of success would be based on the fulfillment of one’s individual pursuits rather than the acquisition of wealth, property and power.
Human behavior is subject to the same laws as any other natural phenomenon. Our customs, behaviors, and values are byproducts of our culture. No one is born with greed, prejudice, bigotry, patriotism and hatred; these are all learned behavior patterns. If the environment is unaltered, similar behavior will reoccur.
Today, much of the technology needed to bring about a global Resource-Based Economy exists. If we choose to conform to the limitations of our present monetary-based economy, then it is likely that we will continue to live with its inevitable results: war, poverty, hunger, deprivation, crime, ignorance, stress, fear, and inequity. On the other hand, if we embrace the concept of a global resource-based economy , learn more about it, and share our understanding with our friends, this will help humanity evolve out of its present state.
A: yes, i do.
Q: James Hansen says renewable energy ‘just too expensive’ and calls for more nuclear power – agree?
NASA GISS scientist, James Hansen, on a recent tour of Australia, has criticised renewable energy for being too expensive currently to be viable and argued for more nuclear power and more research into nuclear power to help speed up the transition away from fossil fuels.
QUOTE:
——————————————–
“While renewable energies such as solar and wind were gaining in economic competition with coal-fired plants, Professor Hansen said they wouldn’t be able to provide baseload power for years to come.
Even in Germany, which pushed renewables heavily, they generated only 7 per cent of the nation’s power.
“It’s just too expensive,” said Professor Hansen, an expert in climate modelling, planetary atmospheres and the Earth’s climate.
“Right now, fossil fuels are the cheapest form of energy, except for operating nuclear plants,” he said on the first day of a lecture tour in Australia.
According to Professor Hansen, because the threat of global warming was so serious, nations such as the US, China and even Australia must crank up support for so-called third and fourth generation nuclear systems.”
—————————————————–
Do you agree with Dr Hansen that the US and other countries must “crank up support” for nuclear power?
Source: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/james-hansen-keen-on-next-generation-nuclear-power/story-e6frgcjx-1225838858482
.
EDIT @ Didier -
some good points – thanks. I personally can’t wait until i can power my home from solar panels on the roof and maybe a small wind turbine without having to invest tens of thousands in installing it, but until they are efficient enough we need some way to keep the lights on!
A: Completely.
Renewables will be able to provide a lot more than they currently do: maybe ~20% of electricity in most developed nations by the 2020s.
That leaves a gaping hole and nuclear is the only sensible way of heard of filling a good chunk of that without massive air pollution and CO2.
Q: What is a good “GREEN” magazine?
I’m looking for a magazine that will tell about the future of electric cars, wind turbines, other future energy oriented stuff, green technology, engineering breakthroughs to help green the planet up some, information on biofuels, organic/natural/local foods, sustainable living, and whatever else you can think of that is “GREEN” oriented. I am preparing to go into engineering and would like a good source of education to help direct my future.
A: http://www.naturallifemagazine.com/
http://www.livinggreenmag.com/
http://www.greenlivingonline.com/
http://www.thegreenguide.com/
http://www.nature.org/
you may also want to search out scientific magazines on particular topics such as environmental science, conservation, engineering and so on
Q: Y!A Politics Users – Will you tell us all how you stand on the following political issues?
For Each category, give a plus sign (+) to indicate that you support or would increase, an equal sign (=) or a minus sign (-) to indicate that you do not support or would decrease spending.
1) Gun Control
2) Abortion/Women’s Choice
3) GayMarriage/Civil Unions
4) Education Spending
5) Military Spending
6) Veterans Spending
7) Oil Drilling on US Soil
Oil Drilling offshore
9) Solar/Wind Energy options
10) Nuclear Energy
11) Minimum Wage Increases
12) Lower Taxes For $300K and Under
13) Lower Taxes For All Income Levels
14) Universal Healthcare
15) Private Health Insurance
16) Homeless Shelter and Poverty Support
17) HIV and Infectious Diseases Care
18) Foreign Aid and Disaster Relief Outside US
19) Faith Based Initiatives
20) National ID Cards
If you like, you can also tag your response with who you support for President in the USA elections…
My response:
1) Gun Control (=)
2) Abortion/Women’s Choice (=)
3) GayMarriage/Civil Unions (+)
4) Education Spending (+)
5) Military Spending (-)
6) Veterans Spending (+)
7) Oil Drilling on US Soil (-)
Oil Drilling offshore (-)
9) Solar/Wind Energy options (+)
10) Nuclear Energy (=)
11) Minimum Wage Increases (+)
12) Lower Taxes For $300K and Under (+)
13) Lower Taxes For All Income Levels (=)
14) Universal Healthcare (+)
15) Private Health Insurance (-)
16) Homeless Shelter and Poverty Support (=)
17) HIV and Infectious Diseases Care (+)
18) Foreign Aid and Disaster Relief Outside US (-)
19) Faith Based Initiatives (-)
20) National ID Cards (-)
A: 1) Gun Control (=)
2) Abortion/Women’s Choice (+ I’m for choice)
3) GayMarriage/Civil Unions (+)
4) Education Spending (+)
5) Military Spending (=)
6) Veterans Spending (+)
7) Oil Drilling on US Soil (-)
Oil Drilling offshore (-)
9) Solar/Wind Energy options (+)
10) Nuclear Energy (= only after other options)
11) Minimum Wage Increases (+)
12) Lower Taxes For $300K and Under (+)
13) Lower Taxes For All Income Levels (=)
14) Universal Healthcare (+)
15) Private Health Insurance (-)
16) Homeless Shelter and Poverty Support (=)
17) HIV and Infectious Diseases Care (+)
18) Foreign Aid and Disaster Relief Outside US (=)
19) Faith Based Initiatives (-)
20) National ID Cards (-) (but we already have them…its called a drivers license/passport)
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