In fact, it would seem that alternative energy is no longer alternative.
As a result, jobs in alternative energy are more and more providing a stable place to work for people who are interested in math, science, environmental issues, engineering, and sales and marketing. The opportunities in alternative energy jobs are being driven by fierce competition among private companies and even different governments as the citizens of the world demand increased awareness of reducing and eliminating pollutants, increased social responsibility from corporations (demands which are shown to be impacting their investment decisions), and increased efficiency in the ways we cultivate and produce our energy. Tensions are high when it comes to jobs in energy industries, but this tension is creating an energy of its own—an economic energy that is fueling a burning desire to expand the alternative energy sector and the demand for jobs in alternative energy.
Students who are strong in science and math are going to be top prospects in the energy revolution that is forming in the 21st century. The amount of scientific research being done in fields and laboratories in relation to alternative energy is staggering, and the demand for those who can do research and development is going to increase throughout the coming years.
"The search for a suitable semiconductor material to use as a catalyst in [the process of producing hydrogen fuel using sunlight and water] has been a main goal of materials-science research. In addition to being a plentiful, versatile, and safe material, the catalyst should also be stable when in contact with water and able to absorb visible light. The material we chose fits these requirements," says Xinchen Wang, a chemist affiliated with the Max-Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces in Potsdam, Germany.
The science is clearly moving forward in the alternative energy jobs industry, but there will also be a great demand for those people who can passionately and articulately communicate about alternative energy to a wider audience in the years ahead. Those people with degrees and/or skills and experience in communications and marketing, and people with sales ability who are interested in jobs in alternative energy, are going to also have plenty of opportunity in the coming years as private industry's great competitiveness in this lucrative marketplace increases. There's already an emerging tension between governments trying to be the major forces in the role of purveyors of jobs in energy and environmental matters on the one hand, and the power of the free market on the other to put the money to the best, most efficient uses in coming up with the best, most efficient ways of fueling our future.
"Now they're talking about some large amount of money — what, $100 billion? And spending it on windmills, job training, whatever. But where do you get the $100 billion in the first place? Are you going to take $100 billion from some other part of the economy, are you going to tax some people to pay for it? Are you just going to print it or borrow it? The money has to come from somewhere," says David Kreutzer, who studies energy economics and climate change at the Heritage Foundation, in response to the announced energy policy and government stimulus and subsidies programs planned by the Democratic Obama Administration.
And New Mexico Democrat and head of the Congressional Energy and Natural Resources Committee Senator Jeff Bingaman says of those plans, "Just buying smart meters for everybody doesn't really move the ball very far. Realistically speaking, getting money properly spent in a short period of time requires some degree of competence in the government agency doing it. The best plan is to start with existing programs that work, like weatherization, and build on those."
There is clearly concern about available money in the near future of the alternative energy industry. But that financial concern is over where and how the big money gets spent. What's important for the job seeker or student to understand is that there is heavy emphasis and sharp focus by society on alternative energy now. As a result of this, the energy sector is given a huge opportunity for those who want and will want good jobs that bring personal fulfillment as well as paychecks that can fill a personal bank account. Clearly, as has been mentioned, those with aptitude, experience, and/or education in science and math will be prime candidates to take these jobs. But there will be the need, too, for those who are willing to promote alternative energy to the public on behalf of private energy industry businesses who will want to prove they can do things better than big government or get the big government tax breaks and other financial stimuli—or both.
The average annual pay for those with alternative energy jobs in the U.S. presently is $82,000 — 30% higher than the average pay for all industries combined.
