We have heard there will be hundreds of thousands of jobs created from initiatives contained in the economic stimulus plan. But let us be concerned with the job creation within the green or cleantech sector of business and industry.

Obama laid out plans to rebuild our energy grid and has a focus on increasing U.S. dependence on renewable energy (RE) sources for our energy use over the next few years.

This means that there will be an increase in jobs within the RE sector. Jobs in RE are fast becoming a focus of interest for jobseekers. Many who have no previous experience in energy want to be a part of the RE fields and they want it bad!

Main areas of RE job creation are currently coming from:

Solar

Solar is one the broadest of the RE categories in terms of career specialties.

• Photovoltaic (PV) Engineers design PV cells that convert sunlight to electricity. PVs are a well-established system but there is constant work in redesign for better efficiency, so PV Engineers are in high demand. Most companies looking for PV Engineers want at least five years of design experience and an engineering degree.
• There are thin film scientists who research and develop solar cells. This is a highly technical and scientific position that usually requires and advanced science or physics degree.
• PV or solar panel installers – There is a broad range of experience levels wanted for this position. Some job descriptions read that candidates must only be willing to learn PV installation. Others request one or two years of experience, while yet others want certification with many years of experience.
• Sales – obviously the easiest category to get into for someone who has no experience in the field.

Wind

Wind energy is fast growing and there are many opportunities to be had in this sector of RE.

• Research – there are numerous areas of research within wind energy to include: analysis of wind patterns, turbine research, wind and weather meteorological forecasting, integration of wind energy into the utility grid, storing the wind energy to use as electricity.
• Sales
• Manufacturing
• Environmental Consulting – typically requires an environmental degree and experience.

Biofuels

This is heavily science-based and includes research in not only corn-based ethanol, which is a highly contested form of energy extraction, but also in photosynthesis-types of energy creation by studying algae and other microbes.

This is an exciting and innovative arena and research mostly comes from small research firms focusing on biofuels or university research. There is high-need for microbiologists in these fields.

Other areas of RE include geothermal energy and ocean energy (tapping the energy from waves which is pretty cool), but currently not creating a lot jobs but definitely worth watching.

Interestingly, big oil companies like Exxon have the capacity for tapping geothermal sources for energy and they will probably be the ones taking advantage of big growth in this industry.

While geology degrees are especially useful, most jobs in geothermal are for project engineers who may or may not need experience in geothermal energy.

Another big area for job creation is in clean IT. Cleantech IT is a darling for VC funding and these jobs are basically the same as any IT position one would find in any high tech company.

For those seeking to move into a green career, the key is focus and research. Focus on the career track you want to take, and research the best avenues to get there. This may mean taking entry-level positions for mid-level individuals.

Taking an internship or getting certification within a specific field. Or, you may even need to go back to school for an advanced degree or for that degree you never got around to getting in the first place.

The jobs will be coming, so let’s get prepared for them.