Ethanol is grain alcohol and is the same substance as is found in alcoholic beverages. When used as automotive fuel it is denatured, usually by adding 5% gasoline, to make it undrinkable. Most current ethanol production is corn-based but ethanol can also be made from other grains, sugar, and starchy vegetables such as potatoes.
A relatively new industry, biodiesel has seen rapid growth, especially in Texas, in the past few years. As the industry grows and competes with the petroleum and chemical processing industries, it will likely create new jobs in the field that will include construction, feedstock production, industrial chemicals, maintenance and repair, and business services.
CHP is a form of “energy recycling” and is considered a category of alternative energy methods and techniques likely to advance significantly over the next 3-5 years.
By 2015, Texas is expected to create only 361 PV installation jobs, which is relatively high nationally, but well below California’s anticipated 3,578 PV installation jobs. The estimated wages for solar technicians is $15 to $20 per hour and $20 to $25 per hour for solar technician foreman.
According to NEI industry surveys conducted in 2004 and 2005, the nuclear industry is facing a critical shortage of workers over the next five years. The survey found that nuclear energy companies may lose an estimated 23,000 workers over the next five years, representing 40 percent of all jobs in the sector. Nearly half of industry employees were found to be over 47 years old and only 8 percent were younger than 32.
The number of LNG technicians required in Texas within the next three to five years appears to be relatively low. While the number of regasification facilities and LNG imports is projected to increase in the coming years, the actual number of LNG technicians required for these facilities is anticipated to be low due to the high degree of process automation typically involved in offloading and regasification.
Wind energy production will grow sharply over the next 10 years and the demand for skilled wind turbine technicians will also increase.
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