Green Leaf Report

We’re surrounded by big and small wind companies at the WindPower 2008 show, but many of the exhibitors at the show are also from the non-profit, educational and government realms.  This huge cross-section of the industry really inspires hope that a lot of very intelligent people together will help break some of the dependencies on fossil fuels. The national is combining with the local to make large investments: NREL, the DOE and the University of Houston announced the opening of a Blade Research and Test Facility on the Gulf Coast today.  U 0f H will lead the private sector consortium, and hopefully will continue to create local jobs.

Many states have sent representation to pitch their availability as a great location for wind turbines- it’s a great strategy for continuing to attract jobs from a growing industry.  At the “Texas Wind” booth, we spoke with a gentleman from Texas A&M who also explained the University’s credit program for wind, and gradual entrance to the market.  While he pitched their current engineering programs as good bases for wind careers, he did believe that a degree curriculum specifically in Wind and Renewable Energy might be coming, just as Petroleum Engineering was a popular degree path in the past.  I’d like to see this conversion happen.