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Sustainable Living E5 | Energy: The Dirty Truth

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Sustainable Living E5 | Energy: The Dirty Truth

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Sustainable Living E5 | Energy: The Dirty Truth

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Fossil fuels, including coal, oil and natural gas, are currently the world's primary energy source. Formed from organic material over the course of millions of years, fossil fuels have fueled U.S. and global economic development over the past century. Yet fossil fuels are finite resources and they can also irreparably harm the environment.

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NPR

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Pennsylvania is kind of a big deal when it comes to energy. From fracking to coal to renewables to nuclear, the Keystone State has it all. And increasingly, Pennsylvania is at the center of national debates over energy and the environment.

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Get it on iTunes

This week, Justin Wu (BloombergNEF) and Lachlan Carey (CSIS) take a tour of all things climate and energy related across Asia. They start with the outlook for U.S.-China relations on climate under the Biden Administration, consider the recent carbon neutral targets announced by Japan and Korea, move to the Covid recovery efforts and clean energy agenda in Vietnam, Indonesia, and India, and finally take a look at Australia and its technology-forward climate policy.

Ken Koyama (IEEJ) and Jane Nakano (CSIS Energy) look at recent energy and climate announcements from Japan. In October, Japan announced a plan to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. The climate pledge was followed by the launch of the Green Growth Strategy for Carbon Neutrality by 2050, in December. Ken and Jane look at what it will take to reach that target and its implications for Japan's energy sector.

For more, read Japan Seeks Carbon Neutrality by 2050

Sarah Ladislaw (CSIS) and Kevin Book (ClearView Energy Partners) look at the U.S. climate and energy agenda. Kevin and Sarah reflect on the outcome of the U.S. elections and the recent Senate race in Georgia, the divided nature of U.S. politics, the riots at the U.S. Capital, and how it all may affect the Administration's energy and climate agenda.

This week's Energy 360 is part of our Energy Futures Forum. This annual project looks at trends and their impacts on the energy sector over the next ten years. This year's overarching theme was Covid-19 and how it has had immediate impacts on the energy sector and what we might see unfold in near and medium term. Sarah Ladislaw (CSIS) talks with the three EFF discussion moderators to get their key takeaways and insights: Nikos Tsafos (CSIS) on the transportation sector, Ethan Zindler (BloombergNEF) on the electric power sector, and Taiya Smith (Garnet Strategies) on China.

This week Energy 360 highlights our project on Energy Transition Strategies, which examines how emerging economies are balancing economic growth while reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. We looked at three different places: Vietnam, Ethiopia, and the Indian state of Gujarat. In each of these 3 podcasts, Nikos Tsafos and Lachlan Carey talk with an expert about that state's development and low-carbon transition pathways within the major sectors of electricity generation and access, transport, and industry.

In this final episode of the mini-series, we look at Ethiopia's pathway. Our guest is Easwaran Narassimhan, a research fellow at the Climate Policy Lab at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University.

For more, read Energy Transition Strategies: Ethiopia's Low-Carbon Development Pathway

This week Energy 360 highlights our project on Energy Transition Strategies, which examines how emerging economies are balancing economic growth while reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. We looked at three different places: Vietnam, Ethiopia, and the Indian state of Gujarat. In each of these 3 podcasts, Nikos Tsafos and Lachlan Carey talk with an expert about that state's development and low-carbon transition pathways within the major sectors of electricity generation and access, transport, and industry.

In this episode we turn to Gujarat. Joining the show is Sarang Shidore, Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin and a senior fellow with the Council on Strategic Risks.

For more, read Energy Transition Strategies: Gujarat's Low-Carbon Development Pathway

This week Energy 360 highlights our project on Energy Transition Strategies, which examines how emerging economies are balancing economic growth while reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. We looked at 3 different places: Vietnam, Ethiopia, and the Indian state of Gujarat. In each of these episodes, Nikos Tsafos and Lachlan Carey (CSIS Energy) talk with an expert about that state's development and low-carbon transition pathways within the major sectors of electricity generation and access, transport, and industry.

Our first episode looks at Vietnam. Joining the show is David Dapice - David is a senior economist with the Ash Center at the Harvard Kennedy School and a leading expert on the economic development of Southeast Asia.

For more, read the Vietnam report
To learn more about the project, visit the project site

This week our guest is Angus Taylor, the Australian Minister for Energy and Emissions. Joined by CSIS colleagues Sarah Ladislaw and Lachlan Carey, Minister Angus discusses the new technology-led climate approach that Australia is embarking on. They look at the priorities, mechanisms, and stakeholder engagement needed to ensure this is successful and sustained policy. They also look at possible areas of international collaboration on energy and climate issues, especially with a new Biden Administration and multilateral institutions like the G20.

Read Australia's Technology Investment Roadmap

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Energy 360° examines the energy landscape from the intersection of policy, markets, technologies, and geopolitics. With commentary from leading energy and CSIS experts, we provide context and perspective on the most critical issues shaping energy today. Hosted by the CSIS Energy Security and Climate Change Program.

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Podcast series energy and climate change

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In these podcasts, I share my thoughts on the challenges of developing alternatives to fossil fuels and finding zero-carbon energy sources.

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How did we get here - and how do we get out?

Our shared home, planet Earth, is changing. The climate crisis demands our urgent action, but how bad is it actually? That is the question we dive into in this introductory episode of our series, where we talk with one of the leading climate scientists to take stock of the climate. We also visit one of the strategists behind Ørsted's green transformation to learn what prompted their turn from black to green energy.

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Listen to our 'Climate Action Now' Podcast | Ørsted

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Our shared home, planet Earth, is changing. The climate crisis demands our urgent action, but how bad is it actually? That is the question we dive into in this introductory episode of our series, where we talk with one of the leading climate scientists to take stock of the climate.

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NRDC’s Climate & Clean Energy program

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Climate change is the major environmental challenge of our time. Working in the United States and key countries around the world, NRDC is advocating for deep cuts to carbon pollution by ending our dependence on dangerous, climate-warming fossil fuels that pollute the air and water and harm public health and communities. We're working for clean energy solutions that will lower consumer energy bills, create jobs, and build our economy. The good news is that we know how to meet U.S. carbon reduction goals using proven and innovative technologies, primarily by accelerating the use of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and electric vehicles and by getting carbon out of our buildings and factories. Through these strategies, we can ensure that clean energy is affordable and accessible to all while making communities and ecosystems more resilient to the unavoidable effects of climate change. We are thought leaders and advocates for using a broad range of effective legal, policy, and technology tools to combat all forms of climate change pollution. By partnering with a diverse array of stakeholders-including consumer advocates, environmental justice groups, labor, utilities, the business community, and military voices-we aim to build broad support for climate and clean energy solutions.

REPORT

The Big Solutions

We focus on the global initiatives and transformative strategies needed to advance rapidly scalable clean energy solutions, such as smarter energy use, renewable technologies, and the electrification of transportation and buildings. To achieve our goals, we use an array of policy tools ranging from standards for efficiency and clean energy to carbon pollution limits to market-transformation initiatives-such as our successful advocacy to move the lighting market from inefficient light bulbs to superefficient LEDs. With a team that includes lawyers, scientists, economists, engineers, and advocates, we seek solutions at all levels: state, local, federal, and international.

Pushing for U.S. Climate Leadership

At the federal level, NRDC's lawyers are at the forefront of the fight to stop President Trump from rolling back key climate, clean air, and clean energy policies. We are working to preserve groundbreaking U.S. climate policies like the Clean Power Plan, which placed the first-ever federal carbon limits on power plants, as well as the successful national clean car standards, which have cut carbon pollution from tailpipes and saved Americans money at the pump. NRDC is also defending energy efficiency standards that cut pollution and lower consumer energy bills. We are leading the opposition to dangerous Trump administration proposals to force consumers to subsidize dirty and risky coal plants, and we're taking on high-carbon bioenergy, which only undercuts climate progress. We are also fighting efforts to roll back key protections to reduce climate " super pollutants " such as methane pollution from the oil and gas industry and hydrofluorocarbons, which are chemicals used for cooling and refrigeration that both speed up climate change and harm the ozone layer in our atmosphere.

We have worked for decades to ensure enforcement of the Clean Air Act, the landmark law enacted in 1970 to protect our health and our environment from dangerous air pollution. Under that law, NRDC has won huge battles to cut lung-destroying smog in our cities; clean up our power plants, cars, and factories; stop acid rain; and save the ozone layer.

Our federal team also works to reduce the environmental, public health, and proliferation risks of nuclear power and advocates for smarter federal regulation of electricity markets and the electricity grid.

Looking to the future, we are using our scientific, economic, and legal expertise to prepare for the next Congress and presidential administration so that we can present climate and clean energy leaders with a clear path forward to help avert the worst effects of climate change.

State and Local Progress

Working in states across the country is crucial to making progress toward our climate and clean energy goals, especially given the rollbacks being pursued at the federal level. To reduce carbon pollution and clean up the electricity grid, we work with legislatures and utility commissions in key states for strong clean energy and climate policies. To accelerate the transition to clean energy, we advocate for states to adopt smarter regulation of utilities and the power grid and policies to make sure that workers and communities benefit from the transition. In addition to continued progress on the East and West coasts, recent coalition wins include Colorado's adoption of clean car standards and clean energy advances in the Midwest.

NRDC is working to build regional and state carbon markets and carbon reduction policies. We played a key role in developing and strengthening the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, the combined effort of nine Northeast states to limit carbon pollution from the power sector, and we're advocating for other states to join. Our team is now working with a coalition of Northeast and mid-Atlantic states on a plan to cut carbon pollution from the transportation sector. In the West, we led the advocacy for California's landmark economy-wide program to limit carbon pollution from the power, transportation, and industrial sectors. We also work at the state level to phase out greenhouse gas super-pollutants.

Recognizing that many mayors are climate champions and that cities are important drivers of clean energy, we work to accelerate the clean energy transition at the local level and leverage that work with our state and federal advocacy.

NRDC's Climate & Clean Energy program has the history, expertise, and vision needed to tackle the biggest challenge of our lifetime-climate change.

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NRDC is working to end America's dependence on dangerous, climate-warming fossil fuels that pollute the air and water and harm public health and communities. We're working for clean energy solutions that will lower consumer energy bills, create jobs, and build...

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EPA

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On This Page:

Overview

Changes in temperature, precipitation, sea level, and the frequency and severity of extreme events will affect how much energy is produced, delivered, and consumed in the United States.

Energy plays an important role in many aspects of our lives. For example, we use electricity for lighting and cooling. We use fuel for transportation, heating, and cooking. Our energy production and use is interconnected with many other aspects of modern life, such as water consumption, use of goods and services, transportation, economic growth, land use, and population growth. Our production and use of energy (most of which comes from fossil fuels) also contributes to climate change, accounting for more than 84% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

Temperature, Energy Demand, and Energy Supply

Increases in temperature will likely increase our energy demand, as well as change our ability to produce electricity and deliver it reliably.

In a warmer climate, Americans will use more electricity for air conditioning and less natural gas, oil, and wood for heating. If the nation's climate warms by 1.8°F, the demand for energy used for cooling is expected to increase by about 5-20%, while the demand for energy used for heating is expected to decrease by about 3-15%. Net expenditure in annual heating and cooling could increase by 10% ($26 billion in 1990 dollars) with a 4.5°F warming by the end of the century, and by 22% ($57 billion in 1990 dollars) with a warming of 9.0°F. Heating demand would decrease the most in the northern United States, and cooling demand would increase the most in the southern United States. Since demand for electricity for cooling is expected to increase as a result of temperature increase and extreme heat events, the balance in energy delivery is likely to shift from natural gas and fuel oil used for heating to electricity used for air conditioning. Changes in energy demand will likely affect greenhouse gas emissions, but the net effect depends on which energy sources, including alternative energy, are used for electricity and heating.

Warming is likely to increase summer peak electricity demand in most regions of the United States. Meeting increases in this peak demand could require investments in new energy generation and distribution infrastructure, and new mechanisms will need to manage system reliability and peak demand, which can be more expensive than average demand levels. For example, based on a 6.3 to 9°F temperature increase, climate change could increase the need for additional electric generating capacity by roughly 10-20% by 2050. This would require hundreds of billions of dollars in additional investment.

A warmer climate may reduce the efficiency of power production for many existing fossil fuel and nuclear power plants because these plants use water for cooling. The colder the water, the more efficient the generator. Thus, higher air and water temperatures could reduce the efficiency with which these plants convert fuel into electricity.

Water Availability and Energy

Energy and water systems are connected. Energy is needed to pump, transport, and treat drinking water and wastewater. Cooling water is needed to run many of today's power plants. Hydroelectricity (electricity produced by running water) is itself an important source of power in parts of the United States.

Changes in precipitation, increased risk of drought, reduced snowpack, and changes in the timing of snowmelt in spring will influence our patterns of energy and water use. For example:

Power plants can require large amounts of water for cooling. On average, a kilowatt-hour of electricity (enough power to run 400 typical compact-fluorescent light bulbs for an hour) requires 25 gallons of water to be withdrawn from rivers or lakes. Parts of the Southeast and Southwest face increased competition for water to meet the demands of population and economic growth while also protecting natural ecosystems. Many local governments in these regions have slowed or stopped plans for new power plants that require large withdrawals of water due to concerns about adequate availability of cooling water.

More frequent and severe heat waves will likely increase the demand for electricity in the Southeast and Southwest. At the same time, these areas are likely to experience reduced water supplies due to increased temperature and evaporation, as well as possible decreased rainfall. Since water is necessary for electricity production, these combined effects could stress water resources. For more information about climate change impacts in the Southeast and Southwest, please visit the Southeast Impacts and Southwest Impacts pages.

Hydroelectric power plants are sensitive to the volume and timing of stream flows. In some regions, especially during times of increased rainfall, dam operators may have to allow some water to bypass the electric turbines to prevent downstream flooding. Maintaining stream flow for hydroelectric dams could present conflicts with other activities, such as salmon habitat restoration in the Pacific Northwest.

Growing crops for biomass and biofuel energy could stress water resources in certain regions, depending on the type of crop, where it is grown, agricultural production in the region, and current water and nutrient management practices. Given the many factors involved, more research is needed to understand how climate change may affect these resources.

Rising temperatures, increased evaporation, and drought may increase the need for energy-intensive methods of providing drinking and irrigation water. For example, desalinization plants can convert salt water into freshwater, but consume a lot of energy. Climate change may also require irrigation water to be pumped over longer distances, particularly in dry regions across the western United States.

For more information about the impacts of climate change on water resources, please visit the Water Impacts page.

Sea Level Rise, Storm Surge, and Extreme Events

A large portion of U.S. energy infrastructure is located in coastal areas and therefore sensitive to sea level rise and storm surge. For example, fuel ports and the generation and transmission lines that bring electricity to major urban coastal centers are at risk. Changes in the frequency and severity of storms and other extreme events may also damage energy infrastructure, resulting in energy shortages that harm the economy and disrupt peoples' daily lives.

A substantial portion of U.S. energy facilities are located on the Gulf Coast or offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. Several coastal power plants in the United States are less than three feet above sea level, and facilities that import or export coal, gas, and oil are also located in coastal regions. Sea level rise and more intense storms and hurricanes in coastal areas could increase the risk of energy supply disruptions.

Several thousand oil drilling platforms offshore of the Gulf Coast are vulnerable to extreme weather events. For example, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita damaged more than 100 platforms and damaged 558 pipelines in 2005, impacting markets as far away as New York and New England.

Flooding and intense storms can damage power lines and electricity distribution equipment. These events may also delay repair and maintenance work. Electricity outages can have serious impacts on other energy systems as well. For example, oil and gas pipeline disruptions following extreme weather events are often caused by power outages rather than physical damage to the infrastructure.

Railways and marine transportation that move large amounts of oil and coal in the United States are also vulnerable to climate change. More intense rainfall and storms can threaten railways by washing out railway beds. Changes in precipitation could affect marine transportation by reducing the navigability of rivers.

For more information about the impacts of climate change on coastal areas, please visit the Coastal Impacts page.

Renewable Biofuels

Wind Speed, Cloud Cover, and Renewable Energy

The impacts of climate change on wind and solar power is still a developing area of research due to the challenges involved in modeling wind and cloud cover changes at the necessary spatial scales.

References
[1] EPA (2015). Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2013. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). [2] CCSP (2008). Effects of Climate Change on Energy Production and Use in the United States. A Report by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program and the subcommittee on Global change Research. Wilbanks, T.J., V. Bhatt, D.E. Bilello, S.R. Bull, J.Ekmann, W.C. Horak, Y.J. Huang, M.D. Levine, M.J. Sale, D.K. Schmalzer, and M.J. Scott. Department of Energy, Office of Biological & Environmental Research, Washington, DC, USA. [3] USGCRP (2014). Dell, J., S. Tierney, G. Franco, R. G. Newell, R. Richels, J. Weyant, and T. J. Wilbanks, 2014: Ch. 4: Energy Supply and Use. Climate Change Impacts in the United States: The Third National Climate Assessment, J. M. Melillo, Terese (T.C.) Richmond, and G. W. Yohe, Eds., U.S. Global Change Research Program, 113-129. doi:10.7930/J0BG2KWD. [4] IPCC (2014). Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel. Field, C.B., V.R. Barros, D.J. Dokken, K.J. Mach, M.D. Mastrandrea, T.E. Bilir, M. Chatterjee, K.L. Ebi, Y.O. Estrada, R.C. Genova, B. Girma, E.S. Kissel, A.N. Levy, S. MacCracken, P.R. Mastrandrea, and L.L.White (eds.) Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA. [5] NRC (2008). Water Implications of Biofuels Production in the United States. Committee on Water Implications of Biofuels Production in the United States, National Research Council. The National Academies Press, Washington, D.C. [6] USGCRP (2009). Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States. "Climate Change Impacts by Sectors: Energy Supply and Use." Karl, T.R., J.M. Melillo, and T.C. Peterson (eds.). United States Global Change Research Program. Cambridge University Press, New York, NY, USA.

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Changes in temperature, precipitation, sea level, and the frequency and severity of extreme events will affect how much energy is produced, delivered, and consumed in the United States. Energy plays an important role in many aspects of our lives. For example, we use electricity for lighting and cooling.

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The energy sector is central to efforts to combat climate change

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The energy sector is central to efforts to combat climate change

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Explore analysis, reports, news and events about Climate change

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US Department Of Energy

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The Energy Department is fighting climate change through science, clean energy research, and energy efficiency in our homes, businesses and vehicles.

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Dane Bliss Design | 2015

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Renewable Energy Explained in 2 1/2 Minutes

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The fight to rethink (and reinvent) nuclear power

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The fight to rethink (and reinvent) nuclear power

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The fight to rethink (and reinvent) nuclear power

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Ted-Ed | 2014

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You are here

Home " TED-Ed Video: A Guide to the Energy of the Earth

Energy is neither created nor destroyed - and yet the global demand for it continues to increase. But where does energy come from, and where does it go? Joshua M. Sneideman examines the many ways in which energy cycles through our planet, from the sun to our food chain to electricity and beyond.

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TED-Ed Video: A Guide to the Energy of the Earth

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Energy is neither created nor destroyed - and yet the global demand for it continues to increase. But where does energy come from, and where does it go? Joshua M. Sneideman examines the many ways in which energy cycles through our planet, from the sun to our food chain to electricity and beyond.

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Calling all recruits! This is Director V speaking here.
Are you looking for an exciting career that uses creativity and innovation? Inspires leadership? Solves real-world problems? And impacts the world? Then our data streams say a career in energy may be the right fit for you!
Not sure? Well try to imagine a world without electricity ... There would be no lights, no air conditioning, no refrigerators, no showers, no phones ... almost everything we need to survive! So it's no joke that electric power is one of the most important innovations of all time. And it miraculously always seems to be there, just ready to do work for us. So here is a puzzle for you to solve: How many careers do you think it takes to deliver electricity to the 300 million people in the U.S.?

The truth is that there are tons of jobs that make up the energy industry and power up our daily lives! And these careers not only offer exciting challenges and good pay, but also chances for you to put your STEM skills to the test. STEM is a term we use to describe education and careers that relate to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. And with a job in energy, you can become a whiz in STEM fields to power up communities and improve peoples' lives. Now doesn't that sound fulfilling?And because clean energy is growing, these STEM careers in energy will be in high-demand.
Are you curious to know more about those careers? Are you ready to put your detective skills to work? Then snoop on the investigative report below! Construction Management Engineer
Madison Gas & Electric
Job Duties:

Manage the construction work of power generators, such as solar panels, wind turbines, and natural gas
Education Needed:
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering, also opportunities for bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management or Associate Degree in Energy Technology.
Favorite parts of the job: "I like working in the utility industry because there is a lot of equipment and ways of producing electricity. We have the solar panels, the boilers, the wind turbines ... and it's equipment that comes from all over the world!" Impacts on the world: "Electricity is an integral part of everyday from your alarm clock to your lights to your cellphones. You are constantly relying on electricity throughout the day. And myself and the industry get to be a part of that and provide an important service to the community." Lead Mechanical Technician
Kaukauna Utilities
Job Duties:

Works on and maintains Hydro Operation's for Kaukauna Utilities at their seven Hydro Facilities, servicing nineteen unites.
Education Needed:
Technical Degree as Maintenance Mechanic or Electro/Mechanical Technician
Favorite parts of the job: "I like the variety of work, troubleshooting problems, making repairs, and doing overhauls." Impacts on the World: "I am very proud of myself and the guys and girls I work with when the Badger Plant stays running 24/7. That means I am doing my job right and making good clean energy for people to use at home. [And] I get to go home every day and turn on electricity and watch my favorite TV show or make dinner or turn on the backyard lights, knowing that I did something today that is very productive and everyone gets to use it. Including myself." Transmission Line Superintendent
MJ Electric
Job Duties:

Manage and direct construction work of transmission lines
Education Needed:
High school diploma and 4-year apprenticeship with on the job training to start in the position of journeyman line worker. Annual on-the-job training thereafter ranges from CPR and first aid to helicopter work on energized lines. Strong math and mechanical engineering skills are a plus. Strong work ethic and ability to work through unknown challenges make for a great start in this career.
Favorite Part of Job: "It's challenging, it keeps me outdoors, and the people I get to meet and work with are some of the best people I have met in the world. [Also], technology has changed so much in just my short career of building power lines. And the need for power has increased immensely. I enjoy being on the leading edge of new technology and new ways of doing things. I think that is a great way to spend your career." Impacts on the World: "Weather and storms create havoc on the electrical system. Our maintenance and upgrades are able to combat that by building stronger structures and lines that are less likely to go down in significant weather." Manager of Reliability Planning
American Transmission Company
Job Duties:

Plan for pathways and technology to deliver reliable electricity to people cost-effectively

Evaluate and design future needs of the electrical transmission system to connect our customers to a sustainable energy future

Education Needed:
Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering
Favorite Part of Job: "I love my job because we are doing something here for the benefit of the public. Everybody knows how frustrating it is when their power goes out. [But] we've got a great team of professionals that work together well, and there's no problem we can't solve." Impacts on the World: "We have a more reliable and more cost-effective way to serve customers' needs then we did 5-15 years ago. And the fact that we have a reliable system that can serve customers with renewable energy when they need it makes me feel proud of the impacts we've had and the job we have done." Substation Engineer
American Transmission Company
Job Duties:

To lead project teams in the design and construction of new substations or the modification of existing substations (Substations are electric facilities that lower and distribute electric power to a safer and more usable level to those who need it).
Education Needed:
Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering
Favorite Part of Job: "If you think about it, everything needs electricity: where you work, the industry, your homes. We make sure that that power gets to your homes every day, 24 hours, 7 days a week reliably. And what's great about my job is I solve problems to make sure that happens day in and day out." Impacts on the World: "What I am most proud about with my job at ATC is I can be a good influence to younger engineers and to youth so they also can contribute to society. Being a substation engineer allows me to utilize the gifts that I have and be an example to our next generation." System Control Operator
American Transmission Company
Job Duties:

Monitor and manage the electrical grid from a set of computer consoles in a control center

Reconnect power to communities when electric power is interrupted

When equipment breaks down, they create a safe zone for maintenance workers to work

Maintain the safety and reliability of the power grid

Operate the power grid in compliance with required standards, procedures, and guidelines

Education Needed:

A two-year technical degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering Technology or a related field

Favorite Part of Job: "I love doing my job because it's different every day, and it poses a lot of mental challenges to figure out that happen without warning. Millions of people rely on our power [and] it's really important to keep power going to each and every family and each and every household. We know you guys rely on it a lot every day to do what you do at home and at work." Impacts on the World: "I take pride in my job because I get to help people. Whether they know it or not, we are always here. All holidays, all weekends, all nights. Here to protect the grid and to keep the lights on for you guys so that when you wake up in the morning to your alarm clock and your phone's all charged, you are ready to go to work. You're ready to go to school. And to be a part of society, just like us." Team Leader of Transmission Line Maintenance
American Transmission Company
Job Duties:

Monitor, maintain, and repair 10,000 miles of transmission lines
Education Needed:
Bachelor's Degree in Engineering
Favorite Part about the Job: "I Impacts to the World: "I take pride in knowing my awesome team and I have the responsibility for the maintenance of the 10,000 miles of transmission line that deliver power to our communities. I feel good at the end of the day being behind the scenes, making a difference, and ensuring the safe and reliable transmission of electric power." Cybersecurity Engineer really enjoy the variety of my job. One day I may be in a helicopter flying down the power line. The next day, I may be in the field with somebody going up in a bucket truck to look closely at facilities way up in the air. I also spend time in the office, reviewing data and engineering solutions to problems. So there is a wide variety of things I get to do throughout the week." Job Duties:
American Transmission Company
Education Needed:

Protect ATC and the electrical grid from cyber attacks

Prevent and detect malicious malware or viruses that could disrupt the electrical grid

Favorite Parts of the Job: "The best part of my job is investigating and ripping apart the malware and malicious documents used by attackers to try and trick people! It's true! I get paid to do that and it is so fun!" Impacts to the World: "My job is important because I help to protect the electrical system of the United States. This allows everyone to be able to charge their phones, to be able to turn on lights, to turn on dishwashers, to live at home, to turn on computers, and more. Since everyone relies on electricity, what I do truly matters. A lot of people in this state depend on me to protect the electrical grid." Regulatory Compliance Manager
Computer Science degree
Job Duties:
American Transmission Company
Education Needed:

Make sure employees know and follow Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and North American Electric Reliability Corp. rules that ensure electrical grid reliability.
Favorite Parts of the Job: "The thing I love most about my job is I rarely do the same thing two days in a row. I could be spending time in the office performing research and reading documents one day, and then I am traveling another day, drafting grid reliability rules with regulators." Impacts on the World: "My job as a utility compliance professional gives me a great sense of satisfaction mainly because I am here to help people. I know that some of the things that I bring to the table help this company keep the lights on for everybody, keep hospitals up and running, keep 911 going. And anytime there is an emergency, people have the power that they need." Manager of Vegetation Management
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with emphasis in engineering, accounting, physics, information technology or other business-related curriculum.
Job Duties:
American Transmission Company
Education Needed:

Manage vegetation under and surrounding transmission lines to ensure vegetation does not interfere with the reliable transmission of electricity

Work with environmental managers to avoid and minimize impacts to the ecosystems and wildlife near transmission lines

Favorite Parts of the Job: "I love my job here because it allows me to take the passion I have for providing safe, reliable electric power to people so they can do the things they love to do. They can be healthy, they can have electronics, they can have food. But I am doing in a responsible way that also protects the environment and allows habitat to be developed for things like pollinators in our rights-of-way." Impacts on the World: "It allows me to have a bigger impact on the environment and the community. So aside from providing reliable electric power, I have the opportunity to help promote a right-of-way that is sustainable and protects pollinators and promotes pollinator species, which then has a much larger effect on other species, humans, and what we need to flourish and survive."

Undergraduate or graduate degree in a technical (e.g. natural sciences, forestry) or business discipline. Or on the job experience in utility rights-of-way management.

Don't these jobs look neat? In fact, if any of these careers peak your interest, it may be worth job shadowing a person in the field. Just contact a utility near you for help!

Not sure if you will have the time? Then check out the video above! You will go undercover with our secret agents as career trainees and discover the real scoop on electricity! Or visit any of the webpages below. You and your class will experiment different career roles and invent energy systems for your community!

Our educational partner, American Transmission Company (ATC), supported the video content above. To learn more about their role in electric reliability, check out the link below.

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Electrifying Careers in Energy - TV Show - Into The Outdoors

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Calling all recruits! This is Director V speaking here. Are you looking for an exciting career that uses creativity and innovation? Inspires leadership? Solves real-world problems? And impacts the world? Then our data streams say a career in energy may be the right fit for you! Not sure?