The growing industry of energy efficient businesses. Where is it headed & would you consider a career here?

2016-03-10T23:42:15-05:00

With the current landscape of rising energy bills, oil price fluctuations, and so much innovation happening in electric vehicles, battery technology, and solar capabilites... do you see this industry as a sustainable career path for your post military life?

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Mar 10 at 2016 11:45 PM

2016-03-10T23:45:27-05:00

Capt Brandon Charters I have had notions on it, thinks for providing insight on this very informative thread.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Mar 11 at 2016 12:14 AM

2016-03-11T00:14:00-05:00

Capt Brandon Charters The renewable energy business will grow, the rate of growth is dependent upon tax breaks and how strong government regulation remains.

Senator Cruz's negative stance on the proliferation of methanol production in Iowa; is an indication of the vagaries of an industry supported by a myriad of government regulations and requirements

Response by SSgt Obom Bowen made Mar 11 at 2016 12:22 AM

2016-03-11T00:22:25-05:00

Not me but I have about a dozen great friends I'll share this with

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 11 at 2016 12:36 AM

2016-03-11T00:36:41-05:00

Capt Brandon Charters I read an article about the coming reduction of solar installation published by BloombergBuisness not long ago. To summarize the article; In what should be an expanding field it is projected that installations will decrease by 70% in the year 2017. The reason for this is that tax credits and subsides for solar installation and other projects are slated to stop at the end of 2016. The loss of the credits and subsidies are estimated to cost the industry 100,000 jobs and remove 25 billion dollars from the economy that would have been spent in the alternative energy industry. Add to this that even with the subsidies solar energy is more expensive than fossil fuel energy. Without the subsidies the estimated cost of solar energy is expected to be somewhere between 30 and 40% higher. I'm all for solar energy development and use however given these factors I would think very hard about pursuing a career in this field for the near term.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Mar 11 at 2016 5:44 AM

2016-03-11T05:44:34-05:00

Hell Yeah, Wave of the Future. Sustainable is the Only thing that makes sense in the Long Run.

Response by MSgt James Mullis made Mar 11 at 2016 10:39 AM

2016-03-11T10:39:50-05:00

Not really. The only growing Solar power companies left in America are "installation contractors" and Corporate Management companies. The Obama Admin put the US Solar Panel Industry out of business and/or moved their production facilities overseas. However, GE does still make some windmills/turbines in the US and there are a fair number of corn to ethanol plants in the midwest.