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.
