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Wind Turbine Technician

Reaching new heights in an innovative clean energy industry

Wind farming is growing in popularity as well as a demand for skilled technicians to scale the large windmills. WorkingNation has an insider's look into this well-paying job direct from a Wind Turbine Technician himself.
As wind farming grows in popularity, so too is the demand for skilled technicians to maintain the wind turbines. Excellent communication skills are essential as wind turbine technicians must operate near dangerous blades in close quarters high in the sky, where weather conditions can be more extreme than on the ground.

If you have a healthy respect for heights and want to work in renewable energy, becoming a Wind Turbine Technician can be your entry into this growth industry.

The star of our video, James Van Dyken, obtained his degree to become a Wind Turbine Technician from NW Renewable Energy Institute (NWREI) in Vancouver, WA. The degree worked because it landed him a job at Avangrid Renewables shortly after graduation!

Due to the high demand for Wind Turbine Technicians, many schools across the country now offer programs catered specifically towards providing the skills necessary for their graduates to land jobs on wind farms. Programs can range from 10 weeks to two years. Scholarships and financial aid are available for many of the programs.

Below are five programs that Avangrid Renewables have hired graduates from to work at their farms across the country.
Iowa Lakes Community College

Program: Wind & Energy Turbine Technology
Location: Estherville, Iowa
Tuition Cost: Around $10,000
Duration: 3 Semesters – 48 Credits
Degree: Diploma Program
Link: https://www.iowalakes.edu/academic-programs/programs-of-study/industrial-technology/wind-energy-turbine-technology/

Lake Region State College

Program: Wind Energy Technician
Location: Devil’s Lake, North Dakota
Tuition Cost: Around $9,000
Duration: 4 Semesters – 61 Credits
Degree: Wind Energy Technician, Associate in Applied Science
Linkhttps://www.lrsc.edu/academics/programs/cte-programs/wind-energy-technology

Kalamazoo Valley Community College

Program: Wind Turbine Technician Academy
Location: Kalamazoo, MI
Tuition Cost: $14,000
Duration: 24 Weeks – Monday-Friday – 8 hours a day
Degree: Certificate
Link: https://www.kvcc.edu/academics/wind/

Columbia Gorge Community College

Program: Electro-Mechanical Technology
Location: The Dalles, Oregon
Tuition Cost: Around $13,000
Duration: 2 Years – 106 Credits
Degree: Associate of Applied Science
Linkhttps://www.cgcc.edu/sites/default/files/catalog/2017-18_CGCC_Catalog.pdf#page=104

Program: Electro-Mechanical Technology
Location: The Dalles, Oregon
Tuition Cost: Around $7,000
Duration: 1 Year – 54 Credits
Degree: Career & Technical Education Certificate
Link: https://www.cgcc.edu/sites/default/files/catalog/2017-18_CGCC_Catalog.pdf#page=104

NW Renewable Energy Institute (NWREI)

Program: Wind Turbine Technician Training Program
Location: Vancouver, WA
Tuition Cost: $13,500
Duration: 6 Months
Degree: Certificate
Link: https://www.nw-rei.com/

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