I have been looking into the idea of going to school to work on windmills.
Just wondering if any of you work in alternative energy, and if so where did you get your start? I am currently a tree climber, and want out. I have no electrical exp. But find working with windmills to be kinda interesting, and it seems like a career that would be stable.
Ive found MIAT's site, and it looks like it could be an ok program, just wondering what some of you thought.
I was in mcbain when they put the blades/hub on the second windmill there, it was an incredible sight. I think that we need to use more of these. not only would it create jobs but green electricity.
I went to MIAT when it was MIOA to be an aircraft mech. Personally, I loved it. It was actually fun and exciting to go to school every day, and you learned a lot. The mornings would typically be spent in a classroom, and the rest of the day in the shop working on projects.
But there were a lot of people there who hated it too. Though, I think it was just the set of people who really had no interest. They were just at school to be at school.
IDK if they still offer it, but there were a multitude of scholarships you can get. They even give you $1000 for doing well on the entrance exam if youre in the top percentile. I ended up going there for 18 months for just about nothing.
i am looking at a very similar deal at hobart. the cost of the schooling, starting wages and the time it takes to complete are almost identical. but i am young and single, so its much more viable for me. compare it to the cost of a bachelors, time needed to earn it and the starting salary, its not that bad of a deal.
Most of the windmills (about 90%) presently being built or planned in America are in a wind band that extends through the plains from North and South Dakota, Iowa, SW Minnesota, Kansas and Nebraska. These are the most consistent wind areas we have other than small pockets in some states. In Michigan, the best feasible areas are along the NW portion of the state and some pockets in the thumb. Some have and will be built here but not on the scale of the plains states.
I have been involved with nearly all the wind farms constructed in Michigan and a good portion in Iowa. Most have been assembled by union workers form Operating Engineer loacals and electrical (IBEW) unions. Most non-union work on these have been in the engineering and management portions of the constructions. Some of the manufacturers like Siemans and John Deere have field technicians that are not union based and are well paid. Drawbacks to the field technicians is that you don't see home too often, but probably the best job in this field because there are thousands that will be built over the next ten years and they will all need to be maintained over a 20-30 year average life span. Just some thought.
Oh by the way. No one that works for me or that is contracted by me went to MIAT (or at least that I know of). Most have engineering degrees or came through apprentice programs.
Oh by the way. No one that works for me or that is contracted by me went to MIAT (or at least that I know of). Most have engineering degrees or came through apprentice programs.
I dont think theyve been doing their energy program for very long. Id say no more than 2 years or so. And I dont personally know anyone that took their energy program, only the A&P program.
And they dont just do windmills in that program, they also do steam turbines IIRC.
Just read a story on windpower that they did in europe, where they have been using it alot longer than we have. Bottom line....it's not working out.
Cost to maintain is too high.
Well, it certainly is the center of my world. :thumb:
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