Wind Energy Training Programs and Wind Energy Education Schools

Industry Demand is High
_{To view the list of top wind energy schools please continue to the section found below.}
Since 2001, wind energy has undeniably been the fastest growing renewable energy sector in the United States. The following page will list several schools that provide the training required for entry-level employment in the wind industry. Please continue reading below to find a wind energy education program that can prepare you to enter this fast growing industry where employment opportunities abound.

Having discontinued their 5 week Wind Tech Boot Camp due to internal administrative issues, Cerro Cosso now offers an Industrial Technology Wind Technician Certificate. Located approximately 60 miles from Death Valley in California, students participating in Cerro Cosso's program are required to complete 18 units of part-time coursework spread out over 1 year of classes. Prerequisites for their wind technician certificate program include the following courses; Beginning Word/Excel, Reading Technical Drawings, Basic Hand Tools, Technical Math, and Technical Communication. Centered near Tehachapi Pass, Cerro Cosso is regarded as a great starting point for community residents seeking employment in one of the world famous wind farms located in Southern California. Click here to view Cerro Cosso’s program which is tailored to meet industry demand by supplying the workforce for the future.

Designed for homeowners and small businesses alike, Everblue’s wind energy education programs focus on the skills needed to install and maintain small residential wind turbines rated below 100 kW. Hosted in select cities nationwide, their 5 day training courses are custom built for grid connected and off the grid wind energy systems that have the option of integrating battery storage devices. While participating in their course, trainees learn about various topics ranging from wind energy site assessment to methods of installation and maintenance. In addition to the topics described above, workshop participants will learn how residential wind turbine incentives now make small wind energy systems a great investment. Everblue is truly leading the way when it comes to hands on wind energy training for the homeowner and entrepreneur so for more information please click here.

Offering a certificate of completion in Clean Energy Technology, Fond du Lac provides a 22 credit comprehensive program that emphasizes photovoltaic and wind energy education. Although geared more toward community residents in Cloquet, Minnesota, Font du Lac Tribal Community College is open to any prospective student who wants to gain a deeper understanding of clean energy technologies. This being so, their curriculum focuses on developing the skills needed to design small wind or solar systems for use in today’s energy conscious communities. For more information about how to make your home or small business more sustainable, click on the link here and find out how Fond du Lac can help you achieve your goals through their one year renewable energy education program.

Located in Ohio, Lorain County Community College has developed an Associate’s degree in Alternative Energy Technology that emphasizes wind turbine education. As a part of this degree, students study topics that are designed to prepare them for jobs in wind turbine installation or maintenance, working with both residential and utility-scale wind turbines. Topics covered within their program include general degree prerequisites during the first year of classes, with specialized training in wind turbine mechanics, electronics, and controls in the second year of study. Interested applicants should have a strong determination to enter the alternative energy industry and those who are admitted into the program are expected to commit to completing course requirements. Admission is competitive so please contact administrative staff regarding enrollment procedures here.

The scope of renewable energy education at North Carolina State University has recently expanded to include hands on training in home wind energy systems. Offered in comprehensive week-long workshops, their small wind energy courses cover the full range of topics that are necessary for learning how to install and maintain a residential scale wind turbine. Topics covered within their intensive one week courses include; zoning, grid connection, economics, incentives, and overall small wind turbine technology. After completing the coursework as outlined above, NCSU’s wind energy training programs conclude with the group task of erecting a 1 Kilowatt wind turbine on campus, thus demonstrating the successful application of learned concepts. For more information, please click here.

Providing college students with the opportunity to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Renewable Energy Engineering, OIT takes pride in its rigorous undergraduate curriculum. Starting with courses in physics, chemistry, and advanced mathematics, students steadily work their way into upper division classes focusing on wind power, solar power, and renewable energy management. After completing OIT’s comprehensive upper division coursework, graduates of the major are prepared to work in a variety of industries implementing renewable energy systems as wind energy engineers, energy efficiency auditors, and off the grid system designers. In truth, the Oregon Institute of Technology sets the standard when it comes to solar and wind energy education at the college or university level. Please take some time and visit OIT online here to learn more about how they can prepare you for the ever-growing renewable energy industry.

Recognizing the need for a workforce educated in wind energy systems, Sauk Valley Community College in Dixon, Illinois has developed a 2 semester wind energy certificate program that is geared toward wind technician training. With a maximum capacity of 16 persons, program applicants must be able to meet basic math and language prerequisites before submitting their application for enrollment. These prerequisites include; completing MATH 074 or higher, and passing the reading section of the American College Test (ACT). Students accepted into Sauk Valley’s wind energy certificate program study 31 hours of coursework starting with electrical theory and applied mathematics in the first semester, followed by wind turbine mechanics and safety certifications in the second semester. To learn more about how to apply, visit Sauk Valley Community College online here.

As the wind industry’s workforce continues to grow, employment opportunities in upper-level management have never been better. To help fill this niche, the University of Iowa has developed a Master’s Degree in Wind Power Management to prepare graduates for administrative positions out in the field. Those interested in enrolling into their competitive and comprehensive Master’s degree program should possess an undergraduate degree in engineering, information technology, or other core science. Further, each prospective student is expected to have, at minimum, a basic knowledge of calculus and statistics with a firm understanding of data analysis. After completing UOI’s Wind Power Management program, graduates are primed for employment in wind energy companies that can offer a range of services including, but not limited to; staffing, manufacturing, operations, and maintenance. Wind power management jobs truly have great potential for future growth, so please click the link here to learn more about the University of Iowa’s wind energy education program.

Of the schools offering wind energy training programs, the University of Massachusetts in Amherst is the oldest. Founded in 1972, UMASS’s Wind Energy Center (WEC) is without an equal when it comes to providing cutting-edge technical instruction at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Previously known as the Renewable Energy Research Lab, UMASS’s WEC has an excellent reputation for delivering quality instruction and advancing the wind industry at large. Those interested in learning more about UMASS’s prestigious wind energy degree programs should contact the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering here for additional information regarding degree requirements and enrollment procedures. In addition to studying next to the leading researchers in the field, those enrolled have the privilege of joining a program which known for conducting top quality government sponsored research for the rapidly expanding wind energy sector.

In New York’s Wayne County, high school seniors have the opportunity to participate in the openly progressive New Vision Renewable Energy education program. Known for providing quality technical instruction, New Vision allows students to study renewable energy systems through their in-depth course curriculum that is modeled after the more established wind energy training programs. Developed to educate students on the methods of designing and installing wind power systems, New Vision also introduces youth to other clean energy systems including solar, geothermal, and alternative fuels. High school seniors that option to participate in the New Vision Renewable Energy education program will also have the chance to gain a better perspective on how these systems are effecting global geopolitical dynamics. To learn more, click here.

Sensing a bright future for renewable energy in the United States, the Appalachian State University Energy Center (ASUEC) is committed to providing the most comprehensive wind and solar energy workshops in the region. Located in Boone, North Carolina, the ASUEC is a beacon for the local community, attracting a diverse group of residents who share a common passion for sustainable living. Residents who choose to enroll in ASUEC’s workshops will find themselves engaged in skill building exercises that are designed to educate them on how to install basic home wind and solar energy systems. To learn more about their top quality hands on workshops, feel free to reference Appalachian State’s course schedule here.

As the wind industry continues to set new records, schools offering wind energy education in California, New York, Oregon and Iowa are all able to prepare students for immediate employment opportunities in the field. Looking to the future, it becomes clear that current trends are setting the stage for continued growth in the wind industry with larger wind farm developments planned well into the next decade. Take advantage of this opportunity now and get trained by one of the wind energy schools listed above for the entry-level career that is waiting for you.

• It is projected that Alta 1 wind farm jobs will really take off as the project nears completion in Southern California. This being so, opportunities for wind technicians are expected to increase significantly as demand for this skilled occupation is felt across the country. Please scroll up to find one of the wind technician training programs that can prepare its graduates for the Alta I wind park jobs that are being created outside of Mohave, California.

• Wind farm jobs in Colorado are really set to soar. With Vestas central manufacturing facility due to create over 2,200 jobs through 2012, the industry is clearly committed to expanding operations within the "Centennial State." Not only is Colorado preparing to become a major hub for wind turbine production, but plans are also in place for major wind farm expansions statewide. Projects like Cedar Creek, Peetz, Kit Carson, and Green Wind, are all scheduled to install a growing number of wind turbines which means more wind farm jobs for local residents. For more information about how to get wind farm jobs in the western plains, please contact one of the wind energy schools listed above.

• With wind farm jobs in Illinois set to double between 2010 and 2015, this “Prairie State” is due to become a major nexus for wind energy investment in the Midwest. Of the projects planned in Illinois, the two wind farms that are scheduled to offer the most job opportunities include Big Sky and Top Crop II which are located in the northern part of the state. As the expansions to these wind farms are completed, Illinois will increase its rank to 5th in the nation for total installed wind power capacity becoming a true leader in the new renewable energy economy. To prepare yourself for the upcoming wind farm jobs in Illinois, please refer to one of the wind energy schools listed above.