Receive hands-on training in one of the fastest-growing industries in the world. The increased need for qualified plant operators makes this program attractive. As many as 60 percent of today’s experienced utility workers qualify for retirement by 2011. According to the Electric Power Research Institute-Carnegie Mellon study, more than 1,000 new plant operators will be needed each year during the next decade.
Location Offered: Milford only
Overview
Welcome to SCC’s Energy Generation Operations program. Students will acquire skills needed to become power plant operators, ethanol production operators, wind farm technicians and operators, and operators of other types of energy production facilities. The focus areas are designed to accommodate the various types of resources used in the generation of energy for public consumption. Internships will be conducted at various energy generating locations in SCC’s 15-county service area, including various Nebraska Public Power District locations, Lincoln Electric System sites and wind farms in the future. The program is six quarters (18 months) long. The program is designed to provide five quarters of common core curriculum for several types of energy generation systems operations. Energy generation operators must understand and oversee all aspects of a power-generating facility, whether that facility is generating electricity or liquid fuels. Students will study a wide range of necessary topics to gain this broad understanding of plant operations and maintenance. In the sixth quarter, specific types of fuel operations will be covered in detail to prepare students for careers in the type of energy generating plant of their choosing.
Mission
The mission of the Energy Generation Operations program is to prepare individuals for high-quality entry-level positions in various energy generation fields, including nuclear, coal, natural gas, biofuels, and wind.
Job Outlook
This occupation provides a good earning potential for graduates as evidenced by wages reported nationally and in Nebraska. According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual earnings for operators in power-generating plants was $58,340 as of May 2008. In Nebraska, the Nebraska Department of Labor reported the statewide average annual salary for power plant operators was $51,435 as of June 2009.