Green Career Central Blog

Green Career Trends: Texas Sets Wind Power Record, IBM, Stanford Create New Process of Recycling Plastic, Aurica Wants CA NUMI Plant for Their Own Electric Cars

Wind power in the state of Texas has set a new record for delivering power to the grid.  On the morning of March 5 nearly 19% of the energy supplied to the state's largest grid came from wind turbines.  Part of the reason for this record happened in 2008.   A  $4.93 billion wind turbine transmission project to get the energy from the panhandle to the large population areas in the southern part of the state was approved by state regulators. 

IBM and Stanford University together have created a new way to recycle plastic.  This new way of breaking down plastic during the recycling process allows it to be recycled many more times than is currently possible.  A larger pilot study will be conducted in Saudi Arabia. 

Aurica, an unknown electric vehicle manufacturer, wants to move into the NUMI auto manufacturing plant in California. Toyota is leaving the plant at the end of this month.  Aurica wants to retrain the workforce to build electric cars.  Aurica has not released any details on how they would finance the transition.

Utilities Often Have Openings for Job Seekers That Are Not High Tech Engineers

While a lot of attention is being given to the Clean/Green Tech area of energy, do not overlook one established industry that is becoming greener, Utilities. 

Utilities in your area may be a good match for the skills you posses, even if your skills are non-technical in nature.  Washington Gas Energy Services, located in Herdon, VA, currently has two openings for sales and marketing channel support specialists. 

Check out the Green Utility companies in your area to see if they have an opening that fits your skills, and experience.

Follow the Green Money: DOE Announces $100 Million for Energy Efficiency, $72 Million to Sage Electrochromics, Konarka Receives $20 Million Investment

The Department of Energy announced a new program entitled ARPA-E that will distribute $100 million to companies that are researching and developing building energy efficiency products and smart grid improvements.

The Department of Energy has also made a conditional loan guarantee of $72 million to Sage Electrochromics, based in Faribault, MN, to construct a second factory to produce an energy saving "tintable" window for use in commercial buildings. The DOE has also offered a conditional guarantee of $117 million for a 30Mw wind energy project in Hawaii.

Konarka, a multinational company with a US office in Lowell, MA, has received a $20 million investment from Konica Minolta, to continue its production of photo-reactive polymer that allows low power solar cells to be placed on a wide variety of consumer items as well as provide de-centralized power to portions of developing nations.

Follow the Green Money: Intel Initiative to Invest $3.5 Billion, CFX Battery Secures $14.2 Million, Enerkem Receives $51.5 Million Investment

Computer chip maker Intel has announced an initiative to invest $3.5 billion in start-up tech companies and a collaborative plan with 17 companies to hire more new college graduates.  While the funds will be invested in a wide variety of tech companies, green and clean tech companies are expected to be at the top of the list. 

CFX Battery, based in Azusa, CA, has secured $14.2 million in venture capital funding to continue development and production of its lithium-ion batteries.  To accomplish their goal of shipping products by year's end, they will need to increase their hiring of employees.

Waste Management, an operator of landfills and a municipal waste collector among other services, has invested $51.5 million in Enerkem a company that turns cellulosic waste into ethanol.  In addition to two plants in Canada, Enerkem is developing a plant in Mississippi using funding from the Department of Energy.

Green Career Trends: Bloom Energy Recognized, NY and CA Approve Net Metering, AZ Considers Solar Roll-Back, IBM and Johnson Controls Create Partnership

In case you missed it, Bloom Energy, a fuel cell maker based in the Silicon Valley city of Sunnyvale, CA, had their "Bloom Box" profiled by CBS 60 Minutes Sunday.  The spotlight has expanded the attention to other fuel cell makers.  Oorja Protonics, also based in Silicon Valley, has been producing fuel cells for forklifts, but is looking to produce them for alternative fuel vehicles including long haul trucks as well. By 2020 there are expected to be 2.8 million fuel cell powered cars and trucks on the road.

Roof top solar companies in New York and California have been given a boost by their state legislatures when they each passed net metering.  Net metering allows home owners with small solar and wind installations to receive credit for the power they generate. 

The state legislature in Arizona, on the other hand, is considering making a change to its definition of renewable energy to include nuclear power.  Because AZ has a nuclear power plant that already produces 25% of the state's power, other sources of renewable energy, such as solar, wind and geothermal, would no longer be needed to meet the renewable energy standard in that state. If this measure passes, solar companies based in Arizona could decide to leave the state and take their jobs with them. (If you live in AZ, now would be a good time to make your voice heard about this issue!).

Two large corporations have partnered to work on reducing energy and water usage in buildings. IBM and Johnson Controls will combine their expertise in technology and building efficiency to offer services to building owners.  IBM estimates the IT portion of green building efficiency in 2010 at $3 billion with expectations that it will rise to $6 billion by 2015.

Follow the Green Money: Fallbrook Tech. Files for $50 Million IPO, SoloPower Raises $45 Million, Louisiana Wants V-Vehicle to Locate There

Fallbrook Technologies, based in San Diego, CA, has filed for a $50 million initial public offering (IPO).  Fallbrook has developed an innovative transmission device for bicycles that can be scaled up for use in cars and wind turbines.  Here is a video that explains how the device works.

Based in San Jose, CA, SoloPower, a solar cell and panel maker, has raised $45 million in debt financing to continue to develop its flexible CIGS module.  There are openings for engineers here.

The state of Louisiana's Bond Commission has approved $11.5 million in bonds for Ouachita Parish to provide an incentive for V-Vehicle to locate there.  V-Vehicle is also awaiting an answer to its request for a $320 million loan from the Department of Energy's Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing.  Details about the vehicle are not well known other than it is expected to be more fuel efficient than current models.

Follow the Green Money: $130 Million for Green Building, Solar Companies Making Purchases, Ze-Gen Raises $17.6 Million

Together the Department of Energy and six other government agencies have announced a $130 million fund aimed at improving building efficiency. A portion of the fund will be used to create a research center to develop building efficiency technologies and implement them with local partners in area buildings.

In solar news, Areva has purchased solar thermal start-up Ausra,  SunPower has agreed to purchase SunRay for $277 million (SunPower is hiring.) and Calisolar has purchased 6N Silicon.  

Ze-Gen based in Boston, MA, has raised $17.6 million of a planned $25.6 million to continue to develop synthesis gas fuel from wood debris and other solid waste that could then be used to make electricity.  Propel Fuels, based in Sacramento, CA has secured $20 million in funding to expand its network of alternative fueling stations in California and Washington.

Green Career Trends: Non-Technical Green Careers Growing: 1 Block Off the Grid Receives $5 Million, Climate Legislation Increasing Green Lobbying, Solar Companies Need Marketing

For those seeking a green career in a non-technical area, consider companies like the San Francisco, CA based 1 Block off the Grid also called 1BOG.  By collecting groups of neighborhood homeowners that are committed to installing roof top solar power and then connecting them to solar installation companies, 1BOG earns referral fees for itself and volume discounts for the homeowners. The company has shown enough promise to investors that they have received $5 million to expand beyond the twelve areas in the US they currently serve.  And yes, they are hiring.

If your non-technical green career industry is advocacy, you may be interested in the debate in Washington about energy and climate legislation.  Many large non-profit organizations are working behind the scenes to get environmental legislation passed.  Groups such as the Climate Registry, the Climate Protection Action Fund, the Blue Green Alliance, and the Alliance to Save Energy are all working toward a solution.  Even though the Blue Green Alliance spent more than $1 million on lobbying last year, environmental groups had a difficult time keeping up with the spending by oil and coal companies.  In 2009 oil and coal companies spent a total of $154 million on lobbying Congress.

If after doing your research you have chosen green marketing as the industry you would like to be employed in, consider the possibilities of companies in the solar power industry.  The demand for solar power is continuing to grow, so are the number of companies supplying that power.  As the number of companies supplying that power increases, their need to "niche" and differentiate from each other grows.  Depending upon their business strategy, solar power companies and their suppliers (like solar panel inverters) may do their marketing in-house or they may hire a firm, either way green jobs are created.  Artichoke Creative, based in San Diego, CA, is an example of a specialized marketing agency.

If you'd like to learn more about non-technical green careers, sign up for our free teleclass, So...Where Are the Non-Technical Green Careers,  on February 18th.

Follow the Green Money: 1366 Tech. Gets $5.15 Million, Coulomb Tech. Secures $14 Million, Vulcan Power Receives $108 Million

Based in Lexington, MA, solar start-up 1366 Technologies has secured $5.15 million in venture capital funding.  1366 Technologies was also the recipient of $4 million in funding from the the Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects.  Here are their career openings.  Semprius, a maker of concentrator solar photovoltaics, based in Durham, NC, has received $8.16 million in funding.

Coulomb Technologies, based in the Silicon Valley area of CA, has secured $14 million in venture capital funding to continue developing its business of charging stations for electric vehicles.  Coulomb has sales offices in Europe and Australia as well as throughout the US.

Vulcan Power, a geothermal energy developer based in Bend, OR, has received $108 million in equity from an affiliate of Denham Capital.  Vulcan already has purchase power agreements in place with SoCal Edison and Nevada Power Company.

Green Career Trends: Top 100 Smart Grid Players, Musicians Going Green, How to Pay for a Green MBA

Being aware of the companies and the leaders who manage them is always helpful when researching an industry.  Green Tech Media has compiled a list of the top 100 people in Smart Grid and the companies that employ them.  If your research has lead you to examine utility scale solar as your industry of choice, you may want to know who the top PV solar companies in utility scale installations are.

Perhaps you are wondering if there are green careers for non-technical, highly qualified people.  Maybe you would like a career in the music business as well as being green.  The newly formed Green Music Group was organized to reduce the environmental impact of the music industry.  Key players include: Dave Matthews Band, Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow among others.

Achieving a green MBA can be a daunting undertaking.  Paying for it can also be a challenge.  In this article from the Green Economy Post, you can learn about scholarships, fellowships, assitantships, grants and other types of assistance that make paying for a green MBA easier.