Green Career Trends: Lockheed Martin to Seek Clean Tech, Smart Grid Projects, Panasonic Invests in Smart Grid, Southwest Windpower Poised for Growth

Defense department contractor Lockheed Martin is now looking at using its size to get into smart grid and clean tech projects.  Lockheed will bring its project management skills to a wide variety of alternative energy projects including solar thermal, wind, wave and tidal.  They may also enter into satellite and carbon monitoring systems as well as smart grid solutions. Here is more information about Lockheed careers.

Consumer electronics manufacturer, Panasonic, will be investing up to $1billion by 2012 in solar power, home energy management systems and energy efficiency devices.  Part of the investment will be used in developing products with the recently purchased Sanyo Electric.

With an infusion of capital from GE, Southwest Windpower, a manufacturer of small wind turbines is poised for growth.  Southwest builds turbines for use in rural backyards, next to small businesses, and in parking lots that require lights to be on all night among others.  Depending upon government subsides and the strength of wind at the site of the turbine, initial investment can be returned within five to ten years.  GE is also working with Southwest on a new coating for the blades.