LANSING, Mich.

Brandon Knight entered the alternative energy engineering program at Lansing Community College in 2006 with an eye toward owning a business dedicated to developing solar panels, wind turbines and perhaps even other energy sources that people haven't heard of yet.

He believes alternative energy holds the future for him and the state.

``It is quite clear to our generation how things are moving in the world. Alternative energy really provides benefits,'' Knight said. ``The big draw to me is the balance between the environment and the economy, and this improves both.''

Knight, 25, is among a number of students toward whom the state's educational institutions are tailoring programs in alternative energy. With demand spiking worldwide for more eco-friendly options, and the days of guaranteed jobs in the auto industry becoming a thing of the past, some educators agree overall interest in the alternative energy field is increasing.

All 15 of the state's public universities are offering courses devoted to alternative energy. The state has also identified 88 universities, colleges and educational centers for a worker retraining program with a focus on green jobs.

``The single most important step to address the global energy needs is education,'' said Margaret Wooldridge, a mechanical engineering professor at the University of Michigan.

``You essentially want to let the students go eyes open.''

Wooldridge has taught an ``Advanced Energy Systems'' class that has grown from 41 students to 60 in three years, with a waiting list.

At Michigan State University, the introductory class of ``Earth Environment and Energy'' has 170 students this semester, compared with 30 when it was introduced six years ago.

Experts say green energy jobs are coming to Michigan.

``There aren't 20,000 jobs in the solar manufacturing world right now,'' said Mark Beyer, spokesman for Detroit-based alternative energy advocate NextEnergy.