Abundant, renewable bioenergy can contribute to a more secure, sustainable, and economically-sound future by providing domestic clean energy sources, reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil, generate U.S. jobs, and revitalize rural America.
Feedstocks
- Farmers
- Seasonal workers
- Mechanical engineers
- Harvesting equipment mechanics
- Equipment production workers
- Chemical engineers
- Chemical application specialists
- Chemical production workers
- Biochemists
- Aquaculture technicians
- Agricultural engineers
- Genetic engineers and scientists
- Storage facility operators
Conversion
- Microbiologists
- Clean room technicians
- Industrial engineers
- Chemical & mechanical engineers
- Plant operators
End Use
- Station workers
- Construction workers
- Codes & standards developers
- Regulation compliance workers
- Consultants
Transport of Feedstocks & Biofuels
- Truck drivers
- Truck filling station workers
- Pipeline operators
- Barge operators
- Railcar operators
- Train station operators
Where can I find bioenergy Education & Workforce resources?
The Bioenergy Technologies Office Education and Workforce Development Program offers valuable resources on its website:
Workforce and Economic Need
Successfully growing the U.S. bioeconomy will require new systems and networks to efficiently produce, harvest, and transport large quantities of diverse feedstocks. Biofuels will need to be produced from new biomass sources, such as switchgrass, fast-growing trees, crop residues, algae, and municipal wastes.
The availability of skilled workers at all levels will be critical to successfully growing the U.S. bioeconomy. Scientists and engineers are at work developing new feedstocks, conversion technologies, and advanced biofuels, while construction workers are building the infrastructure needed to transport, store, and deliver the biomass and biofuels
New and expanded infrastructure and technologies will offer an economical approach to convert biomass into a range of advanced biofuels.
Future Outlook
A robust bioeconomy will create domestic high-paying jobs while reducing U.S. dependence on foreign oil and revitalizing rural America. One industry report estimates that production, construction, agriculture, and research in the ethanol industry supported more than 357,400 jobs (about 86,000 direct, 141,500 indirect, and the remainder induced) across the economy in 2015. As the industry expands beyond ethanol to include a wide range of advanced biofuels and bioproducts, additional jobs will be created. Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), for example, in opening up bio-based fuel to the airline industry. Some analysis suggests that by 2030, there will be enough biomass to displace approximately 25% of all transportation fuels in the U.S., generating over a million direct jobs.
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