Employers

The materials that comprise biomass, such as wood and paper sludge, are expensive to transport because they are bulky and heavy. As a result, biomass power plants are usually located near where the crops for biomass are grown, such as in rural areas of the United States. Ethanol production, for example, occurs in the Midwest. Approximately 222,100 industrial production managers (including biomass power plant managers) are employed in the United States.

Starting Out

Some biomass power plant managers may get their start by first working as power plant technicians. Those with a bachelors degree and several years of work experience receive training while on the job for supervisor and management roles. Job listings are found through industry associations and employment Web sites such as Indeed.com, SimplyHired.com, and LinkedIn.com, among others. Other ways to find out about job and internship openings include accessing job-search resources from your schools career services office and attending career fairs.

Biomass power plant managers who have several years of experience in successfully overseeing a power plant and improving production processes and output may advance to become senior managers. They may go back to school to earn a masters degree in industrial production management or another area related to business management or renewable energy production. Other forms of advancement may come in the form of teaching, writing, and speaking at industry-related conferences and workshops.

Read trade magazines such as Biomass Magazine (http://biomassmagazine.com) and Bioenergy Insight (https://www.bioenergy-news.com) to keep up with news and trends.

Learn more about the different types of biomass power companies and where they are located by checking out this page on Biomass Magazines Web site: http://biomassmagazine.com.

Get a part-time job or an internship in a biomass power plant or a renewable energy company to gain firsthand experience and meet others working in the field. Ask your career services office for help with your search; also find helpful career information at https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/explore-bioenergy-careers.