Jul 13 - Idaho Business Review, The


Two new course offerings this fall at Idaho State University are geared toward turning out graduates qualified to work with energy systems.

Both two-year Associate of Applied Sciences programs, the Energy Systems Mechanical Engineering Technology degree trains technicians to work on turbines, pumps, piping and valves in fossil, nuclear, hydroelectric and other renewable power plants. The Energy Systems Wind Engineering Technology degree focuses on the installation, maintenance and service of wind turbines.

Offered through the Energy Systems Technology and Education Center (ESTEC) - a partnership between ISU, the Idaho National Laboratory and Partners for Prosperity - the degree programs were set up to help meet demand for energy technicians estimated by industry watchers to rise into the tens-of-thousands over the next few decades.

In addition to being in high demand, workers in the energy industry are well paid. Figures released by the Idaho Department of Labor in May said those employed in Idaho's energy sector took home an average salary of $53,000 a year, compared with just under $34,000 for all other jobs.

The energy field accounted for 7.5 percent of Idaho's total employment in 2008 and paid out more than $2.6 billion in wages, or about 12 percent of the state's total payroll.

More information on ISU's energy systems programs is available at ESTEC's Web site: www.isu.edu/estec.

Credit: IBR Staff

(Copyright 2009 Dolan Media Newswires)

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