MNN - Mother Nature Network

Last week, Fast Company released its top 10 list for green jobs for the next decade.  The magazine looked beyond the next few years and is taking a long-term look at which green careers are going to be hot.  An interesting job tops the list – farmer. 

“America has only two million farmers, and their average age is 55. Since sustainable agriculture requires small-scale, local, organic methods rather than petroleum-based machines and fertilizers, there is a huge need for more farmers — up to tens of millions of them, according to food guru Michael Pollan.” Source: Fast Company

The other eco-friendly career paths that made the list are forester, solar power installer, energy efficiency builder, wind turbine fabricator, conservation biologist, green MBA and entrepreneur, recycler, sustainability systems developer and urban planner.

 

The wind turbine fabricator’s position on this list is timely considering recent layoffs in the wind industry.  Several companies that are involved in wind energy technology have had to downsize due to economic concerns in the past few months. 

 

However, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) is reporting that part of the economic plans being discussed in Congress include incentives for the industry, namely a continuation of the production tax credit (PTC).

“Under the proposed legislation, those who qualify for the PTC would have the option of converting the production tax credit to a 30 percent investment tax credit (ITC). This ITC could be used on a tax return or converted to a DOE grant of the same amount. “ Source: SustainableBusiness.com

Obviously, 2009 is going to be a turbulent year for the wind industry, but with this legislation as well as a strong focus on renewable energy sources, it is likely that those in the wind business will see a huge turnaround in coming years.  If this turnaround is seen, then a wind turbine fabricator will definitely be one of the hottest green jobs of the future.