Politics & Environment

Political Issues
The energy industry is always at the center of economic and political concerns – now more than ever, with high prices at the gas pump, instability in the Middle East, and increasing awareness of environmental concerns. Price will always be a concern, and sadly the instability in the Middle East that affects it is not new nor likely to cease any time soon.

Environmental concerns, somewhat dismissed a few decades previously by the industry and by political power brokers, have become much more of a force to be reckoned with. A good illustration of this is the current state of refineries: The last oil refinery built in the U.S. was completed in 1976, and though just a few more could lower gas prices significantly, the risks and controversy surrounding their construction have prevented any plans from moving forward.

Clean Energy
The clean energy sector offers some enticing career possibilities. Wind energy is becoming more commercially viable and its use has risen dramatically over the past 10 years. The production of ethanol, already booming, is expected to double by 2010 to over 10 billion gallons of production per year. As more production facilities are built, the job outlook for biofuels is expected to expand. Solar power also has a lot to offer job hunters at this time – especially in the traditionally high-tech communities where improvements in fuel cells and computer chips are underway.