The power industry will look to education to fill its ranks as it faces a shrinking work force in the next decade.

Half the power industry's linemen, boilermakers and senior managers are within 10 years of retirement, said Robert Peltier, editor-in-chief of POWERmagazine and keynote speaker at Basin Electric's 2005 annual meeting.

"They have been there five years or 30 years and not a lot in between," Peltier said.

The loss of midexperienced workers was because of oil embargoes causing layoffs and deregulation and the rise of computer technology luring away power industry workers, Peltier said.

The problem is most apparent at coal-powered plants. Coal produces half the electricity in the country, followed by 20 percent nuclear-generated and about 5 percent could be hydroelectric, depending on water availability and the remainder is from other sources, he said.

Peltier visited Bismarck State College, where there are five energy programs.

"It's grown so much in the last year," Peltier said.

His magazine wrote about the BSC programs in June 2004. BSC offers power plant technology, process plant technology, nuclear power technology, electrical transmission systems technology and electric power technology programs. A person could earn a certificate or associate degree in these areas. The programs are available on-line, with the option to take power plant technology and process plant technology on campus.

"Online has advantages. Folks working the night shift at the gasification plant can take classes and get upgraded," he said.

But the ideal setup is for on-campus programs in energy to expand, he said. BSC is setting itself up to do this with its marketing for its energy programs, he said. It is creating a curriculum that could be used at other community colleges through partnerships, he said.

BSC is awaiting final approval of its Center of Excellence that would focus on energy education. This would provide more space for the energy programs, provide a location for work force training and a higher education center.

At this point, the college offers associate degrees in those programs, but it could seek a four-year degree in one of the programs in the the next two to three years, according to BSC officials.

People preparing for a career in the power industry need more advanced skills, Peltier said.

"You go into a 30-year-old power plant, and it had hydraulic or pneumatic controls. … It was extremely manual. In the newest coal plants, startup is extremely automatic," Peltier said.

Employees need a set of skills not needed 20 to 30 years ago. A bachelor's degree would provide an opportunity to learn these skills before they get on the job. It can be more difficult to learn more skills once on the job, he said.

Peltier will give his keynote speech today. He will speak about issues facing the industry, including the aging workforce, resurgence of nuclear power, gasification as a fuel source, regulation issues and more.

He has spoken to two similar groups in the last five to six weeks, he said. He is a former professor at Arizona State University, worked as an energy and engineering consultant, was a captain in the U.S. Navy and was an adjunct professor at different institutions.

(Reach reporter Sara Kincaid at 250-8251 or sara.kincaid@;bismarcktribune.com.)