North Dakota Energy Spotlight – Education/Workforce/Training

• Job Service North Dakota data shows that in June 2011, an estimated 21,667 workers were in direct or support positions for the  industries of oil and gas extraction, coal mining, utilities and pipeline transportation, with an estimated annual wage of $90,597.  These statistics do not reflect employment or wages in ancillary businesses or industries working in the energy field, such as  trucking, construction, engineering, manufacturing and repair services.

• Bismarck State College hosts the National Energy Center of Excellence (NECE), home to many nationally-recognized energy  industry degree and training programs.

• NECE enrollments make up roughly one-fourth of the Bismarck State College student body, and students can complete  programs on campus or online using the center’s world-class lab equipment, online simulations, animations and real-time lab  sessions.

• The NECE works with regional and national energy industries to offer training options in maintaining certification/training  requirements, educating new hires and to supplement existing training programs.

• Bismarck State College’s bachelor’s degree of Applied Science in Energy Management was ranked the seventh most affordable  online management degree in the nation by GedEducated.com, a consumer group that publishes online college rankings and  online university ratings.

• In 2011, 383 students graduated from nine programs offered through the NECE (listed below). Of those graduates that  responded to the Bismarck State College Career Services survey, 97 percent of the graduates were employed and earning a salary  typically ranging from $20-40 per hour.

National Energy Center of Excellence

Those programs are:
Electric Power
Electrical Transmission Systems
Bachelor of Applied Science in Energy Management
Instrumentation & Control
Lineworker
Mechanical Maintenance
Nuclear Power
Power Plant
Process Plant

New programs:
Renewable Generation (began Fall 2010)
Petroleum Production (began Fall 2011)
Water & Wastewater Technician (begins Fall 2012)

• Other North Dakota colleges and universities offering energy courses and related training programs are Lake Region State  College, Minot State University, North Dakota State College of Science, North Dakota State University, University of North  Dakota and Williston State College.

• The Energy & Environmental Research Center in Grand Forks was established is a nonprofit branch of the University of North  Dakota that conducts research, development, demonstration and commercialization activities. Their team consists of more than  320 scientists, engineers and support personnel.

Read the full report of Great Plains Energy Corridor Spotlight on North Dakota Energy and request a hard copy here.

You may be interested in:
Bismarck State College National Energy Center of Excellence
Job Service North Dakota
University of North Dakota Energy & Environmental Research Center