Transcript Help Wanted: The Power Engineering Pipeline and its Role

Help Wanted:
The Power Engineering Pipeline and
its Role in the American Nuclear Industry
Presented by Brooke Buikema
Outline
• Introduction to power engineering
• Current arguments for nuclear power
and political attention
• Issues facing expansion of nuclear
industry and proposed solutions
• Recommendations
• Conclusions
Power Engineering
• Generation, transmission, and
distribution of electric power
•
Employed in industrial facilities,
residential or commerical
buildings, and power plants
• Involvement of all engineering
concentrations
Power Engineers in the Nuclear Industry
Known Advantages of Nuclear Power
• Cost-effective
• Best large-scale source with low
carbon dioxide emissions
• Creates secure job opportunities
and economic benefits for local
communities
U.S. Electricity Production Costs
1995-2007, In 2007 cents per kilowatt-hour
12.0
10.0
8.0
2007
Coal - 2.47
Gas - 6.78
Nuclear - 1.76
Petroleum - 10.26
6.0
4.0
2.0
0.0
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Production Costs = Operations and Maintenance Costs + Fuel Costs
Source: Global Energy Decisions
Updated: 5/08
Carbon Impact of Nuclear Energy
Comparable to Renewables
(tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per gigawatt-hour)
Source: University of Wisconsin
Creating Secure Jobs & Economic Benefits
for Local Communities
• Construction = 1,400–1,800 workers per reactor
• Daily Operation = 12,400–21,700 full-time employees
(plus additional contractor employment for outages)
• Skilled workers earn $65,000-$85,000 per year
• Salaries of nuclear engineers are among highest of all
engineering disciplines
Source: Nuclear Energy Institute
Creating Secure Jobs & Economic Benefits
for Local Communities
• 2004 study of four counties surrounding
Indian Point Nuclear Plant (NY)
• 30 years of operation
• $760+ million
economic impact
Source: Nuclear Energy Institute
Recent Attention from Policymakers
Wisconsin Representative Frank Lasee
Electronic newsletter
May 13th, 2008
“The Chinese are building one nuclear plant a year in each
of the next 20 years. They understand that to grow their
economy, their country needs to grow energy supplies as
well. The lower the cost, the better for the economy. The
better for the majority of their citizens.”
Recent Attention from Policymakers
Michigan Representative Fred Upton
Testimony on Capitol Hill
January 30th, 2008
“It defies common sense to ignore nuclear power
as a reliable solution to addressing climate change,
as it already plays a commanding role in the
cutting of greenhouse gases.”
Recent Attention from Policymakers
Arizona Senator John McCain,
Republican Presidential Nominee
Speech given on June 19th, 2008
“If I am elected president, I will set this nation on a
course to building 45 new reactors by the year 2030,
with the ultimate goal of 100 new plants to power the
homes and factories and cities of America.”
Issues Facing the American
Nuclear Power Industry
1. An aging workforce
2. An aging infrastructure and a grid
nearing its capacity
3. A weakened student pipeline
An Aging Workforce
• 46% of power engineers could retire by 2012
• Nearly half of nuclear industry employees
are age 47 or older
• Mentorship opportunities
are decreasing
An Aging Infrastructure
• Restore and innovate
existing technologies
• Increase capacity to transport electricity from
renewable, remotely located sources
• Development and integration of high performance
transmission technologies
A Weakened Student Pipeline
• Recent decline in faculty with power engineering background
Carnegie Mellon University
University of Missouri-Columbia
1975
8
8
2007
1
0
Less faculty members
=
Less power engineering electives offered
=
Less knowledge, interest, and career awareness
What’s Being Done?
K-12 Involvement and Recruitment
•
•
•
•
Future for Kids Partnership
Boys and Girls Clubs
Career compatibility tests
Mentors and job shadow
opportunities
• Recruitment and scholarships
for high school students
What’s Being Done?
Community Colleges & Universities
• Two-year nuclear plant maintenance degree
– Curriculum development
– Scholarship at local community college
– Co-op position within plant
• Efforts being made to retain
and reinvigorate power
engineering programs and
electives
Recommendations for…
the Government
1.
Amendment to the America Competes Act
2. Increased grants for power
engineering students and
faculty members
3. Tax incentives for companies
with active workforce
development programs
Recommendations for…
Colleges & Universities
1.
Hire engineering faculty with backgrounds
in power
2. Offer power engineering
electives to students of
all concentrations
3. Explore, encourage,
and facilitate the
retention of faculty
Recommendations for…
the Industry
1.
Seek partnerships from local community
–
–
–
–
Community programs for K-12 kids
Scholarships for high school students
Two-year specialty trade degrees
Internships and co-op employment
Conclusions
• Innovation in electric
technologies
• Impact local economies
• Increase American
competitiveness