The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

State News

Discussion

July 23, 2008

Oklahoma: Technicians needed for wind power jobs

The Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma educators should be creating programs to train people to become turbine technicians as more wind power opportunities come to the state, a Texas energy official says.

The more than 12,000 megawatts of potential wind power and thousands of turbines needed to generate could lead to manufacturing jobs, such as the construction of poles, turbines and blades, but officials see a need for technicians to work on those wind turbines.

Ned Ross, director of regulatory affairs in the state for FPL Energy in Texas, said his company has struggled to find such workers.

Ross predicted the problem would become more acute as another 11,000 megawatts of wind power comes on line soon, joining the state’s existing 6,000 megawatts.

“It’s a relatively new business, and what we have been doing to meet our need is to retrain oil and natural gas professionals who have been looking for career changes,” Ross said.

The utility also has worked with Texas’ two-year college system to put together turbine technician programs, Ross said, adding that Oklahoma should develop similar training programs.

The programs could offer the possibility of jobs in rural areas and the work is steadier than what the oil and gas industry offers, Ross noted.

“They’ve gladly accepted these positions,” he said. “The jobs give them a way to live and stay in their small towns and make a good living.”

State officials say the National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates the development of wind power will support 141,400 construction jobs and 395,800 operations, maintenance and manufacturing jobs as part of a $48 billion economy in the Southwest Power Pool an eight-state region including Oklahoma between 2007 and 2030.

Department of Commerce officials recognize it and are planning strategies to capture Oklahoma’s share, they said.

Part of the agency’s work involves Oklahoma’s CareerTech system, and colleges and universities, to create programs to train industry-certified wind energy technicians and research and development workers.

“Probably, training is going to be one of the big issues. We need to train technicians certified to work on these towers, and then Oklahoma needs to give them incentives to keep them in Oklahoma,” said LaVern Phillips, director of Woodward’s industrial foundation.

Phillips said Northwestern Oklahoma State University and a local career tech also are busy developing programs.

Text Only
State News
  • Lions climb into share of MIAA men's basketball lead

    Without taking the floor, Missouri Southern has climbed into a first-place tie in the MIAA men’s basketball race.

    February 22, 2012

  • 2.6 magnitude earthquake recorded in Oklahoma

    The U.S. Geological Survey has recorded a 2.6 magnitude earthquake near Wellston in central Oklahoma.
    No injuries or damage is reported.

    January 19, 2011

  • Audit: $108,000 taken from Missouri Veterans Commission JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — A former employee of the state auditor’s office embezzled nearly $108,000 while working as an accountant for the Missouri Veterans Commission, the state auditor alleged Monday.

    Stacy Griffin-Lowery was fired by the Veterans Commission in March 2008 and pleaded guilty three months later to a misdemeanor theft charge. She repaid the state $17,665, the auditor’s office said.

    But Missouri Auditor Susan Montee on Monday accused Griffin-Lowery of swiping an additional $90,192 by getting reimbursed for cash advances and purchases made on her personal credit card.

    April 12, 2010

  • Race in Kansas’ 2nd District could heat up for GOP incumbent TOPEKA, Kan. — A conservative Kansas legislator said Monday he will announce in a few weeks whether he will challenge freshman U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins in the Republican primary.

    State Sen. Dennis Pyle’s actions in recent months suggest the Hiawatha farmer, who’s served in the Legislature since 2001, is running against Jenkins in the Aug. 2 primary. He set up a campaign organization in November and has a Web site featuring a brief video of him on his farm, asking viewers for support.

    April 12, 2010

  • Oklahoma tea party leaders, lawmakers envision militia OKLAHOMA CITY — Frustrated by recent political setbacks, tea party leaders and some conservative members of the Oklahoma Legislature say they would like to create a new volunteer militia to help defend against what they believe are improper federal infringements on state sovereignty.

    Tea party movement leaders say they’ve discussed the idea with several supportive lawmakers and hope to get legislation next year to recognize a new volunteer force

    April 12, 2010

  • Missouri: Senate panel cuts $500 million from proposed budget JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — A Senate committee declared Thursday that it has sliced more than $500 million from Missouri’s proposed budget for next year — meeting a target set by Gov. Jay Nixon to bring it in balance.

    April 8, 2010

  • Kansas: Wichita-area casino in doubt after governor’s decision TOPEKA, Kan. — A proposed casino south of Wichita was in doubt Thursday after Gov. Mark Parkinson refused to grant its developers a regulatory reprieve. Partners in the $225 million Chisholm Creek project wanted to delay a state board’s decision on their plans.

    April 8, 2010

  • Oklahoma: Groups oppose education spending initiative OKLAHOMA CITY — A coalition of business and labor groups said Thursday it will work to defeat a ballot initiative to dramatically increase spending on public education that coalition members said would devastate the budgets of many other state services and possibly force tax increases.

    April 8, 2010

  • Missouri: Gov. Nixon affirms support for tuition freeze COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has no plans to sit idly while lawmakers consider whether to preserve a tuition freeze deal he assembled before the state’s dire financial status was fully known.

    April 7, 2010

  • Kansas: Agency uses YouTube to illustrate road woes TOPEKA, Kan. — It’s one thing to hear about potholes and state budgets. It’s another to see how the two are connected. That’s part of the thinking behind a new video presentation on YouTube this week from the Kansas Department of Transportation.

    April 7, 2010