Energy & Environmental Technologies
"In the 21st century college education is the single most important determinant of future quality of life."
Rusty Schmit,
Founder and CEO,
Advent Solar
Are You Interested in a Career in Oil and Gas or Alternative Energy?
There are several career paths in energy and environmental industries:
- Government Relations
- Product Engineering
- Machining, Instrument and Electrical
- Process Engineering
- Health, Safety and Environmental Regulation
- Maintenance Operations
- Environmental Systems
New Mexico has among the most productive and diverse energy activities in its economy of any state. It has abundant energy resources, including coal, oil, gas, wind, solar and biomass, and its universities, as well as Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory, are world leaders in advanced energy science and research.
In 2005, businesses pumped 60 million barrels of crude oil and 1.6 million cubic feet of natural gas from the state. These natural resources translate into a significant number of jobs in the states economy. The New Mexico Oil and Gas Association estimates that 23,000 New Mexicans are employed in their industry. There are 225 registered producing mines in New Mexico. Minerals mined range from coal to potash and copper. The New Mexico Mining Association estimates their industry employs about 6,000.
The New Mexico Department of Labor projects the mining sector alone will create 1,190 new jobs over the next 6 years.
New Mexico's combination of abundant natural resources and research and development capacity positions it to be a leader in the field of renewable energy. Nationally, clean energy accounted for $13 billion in revenues in 2003. In the next 10 years, that figure is expected to rise to $92 billion.
Most notably, New Mexico is poised to take a national leadership role in research, development, manufacturing, and integration of hydrogen energy technology products and systems. The fuel cell is one such technology that holds great promise for meeting the world's future energy needs. For more than 25 years, New Mexico has led the world in hydrogen and fuel cell research and development. Research in renewable energy is thriving here. In 2004, New Mexico received $40.4 million from the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy for a variety of state and federal programs relating to renewable energy development.
Professionals in this field support the manufacturing and delivery of products and services to power our homes, businesses and transportation.