Wind Energy Technicians and Mechanics

Overview
With the recent surge in oil prices and concerns about the country’s energy security, embracing renewable energy sources like wind is becoming increasingly critical to our future.(^1) Minnesota currently ranks 4th in the entire United States for installed wind power capacity, and the vast majority of that activity is happening in the Southwest Minnesota region. The growth of the industry has prompted demand for skilled workers in the wind energy industry.

The typical tasks for Wind Energy Technicians include everything from installation to repair to troubleshooting of wind energy towers. A Wind Energy Technician must be capable of working closely with other people, and must have an understanding of environmental issues and politics, written technical skills, and data interpretation.

Wind Energy Technicians will need in-depth knowledge of wind turbines and electrical equipment and electronics; and many applicants complete 1 to 2 years at vocational schools and community colleges, although some less skilled repairers may have only a high school diploma. Job opportunities will be best for applicants with a thorough knowledge of electrical and electronic equipment as well as repair experience.

Job Tasks and Work Activities(^2)

• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment — Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
• install or replace meters, regulators, or related measuring or control devices
• install/connect electrical equipment to power circuit
• maintain electrician's tools or equipment
• test electrical/electronic wiring, equipment, systems or fixtures and replace electronic components
• repair or replace electrical wiring, circuits, fixtures, or equipment
• analyze operation of malfunctioning electrical or electronic equipment
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• read blueprints, schematics, and technical drawings
• Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• fabricate, assemble, or disassemble manufactured products by hand
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Controlling Machines and Processes — Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• use two-way radio or mobile phone
• solder electrical or electronic connections or components
• use electrical or electronic test devices or equipment
• use hand or power tools
• use measuring devices in construction or extraction work
• use voltmeter, ammeter, or ohmmeter; or use high voltage apparatus
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment — Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
• repair or adjust measuring or control devices
• maintain or repair industrial or related equipment/machinery
• maintain or repair work tools or equipment
• clean equipment or machinery

Top 5 Abilities(^2)

• Deductive Reasoning — The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Wrist-Finger Speed — The ability to make fast, simple, repeated movements of the fingers, hands, and wrists.
• Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Information Ordering — The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
• Manual Dexterity — The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

Wages and Jobs
The starting salary for Wind Energy Technicians varies by the company and also what type of experience the applicant has, but roughly, the starting pay is between $13.00 and $17.00 per hour ($27,040 to $35,360 annual wages). An experienced, higher-level technician that is not in a lead position earns around $25.00 to $30.00 per hour ($52,000 to $62,400 annual wages), depending on the company.

In Southwest Minnesota, there are approximately 125 Wind Energy Technicians, which are all relatively new positions. Based on the industry growth and the increasing demand for renewable energy sources, it is entirely possible that the number of Wind Energy Technicians in the region would at least double, if not triple, over the next ten years. In other words, there will likely be 125 to 250 additional job openings for Wind Energy Technicians in Southwest Minnesota through 2017 - a demand of at least 12 to 15 new technicians per year.

Preparation
Fortunately for students in Southwest Minnesota, Minnesota West Community & Technical College is a recognized leader in training for the wind energy industry, as well as the renewable energy industry. Minnesota West has programs designed to train people to be Wind Energy Technicians and Windsmiths.

Because of the industry's growing popularity, there is a tremendous amount of information available on the internet for interested workers to explore before pursuing a career in the industry:

• Renewable Energy Marketplace - http://www.renewableenergymarketplace.org/
• Windustry - http://www.windustry.org/
• Fresh Energy - http://www.fresh-energy.org/
• Minnesota's Wind Energy Industry Fact Sheet - http://www.deed.state.mn.us/facts/PDFs/windenergy.pdf
• Minnesota Dept. of Commerce - Wind Energy Studies
• American Wind Energy Association - http://www.awea.org/
• Power of Wind - http://www.powerofwind.com/
• Wind Energy Works! - http://www.windenergyworks.org/