Smart grid professionals in short supply, survey says

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It's a lot like that old line "Suppose they gave a party and nobody came." At least that's what the results of a survey of energy professionals say about the green collar jobs market, according to the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE), the non-profit professional group that conducted the survey. "The jobs are there – the skilled professionals to fulfill them may not be," was the blunt assessment from Albert Thumann, AEE executive direct

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or. The survey, based on 1,500 qualified responses from energy professionals now in the field, says 67% of them believe there is a shortage of energy management professionals now working in the field and that 37% of those working professionals expect to retire in the next 10 years. Thumann said there is a "dire need" for programs and policies to beef up effective energy efficiency training.

Quick Take: We've beaten this drum before (more than once): While green collar job training programs are there and money is being spent to support them, the energy professionals seem to be telling us it's not enough.

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