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. There were about 181,310 industrial production managers, including biomass power plant managers, employed in the United States in May 2018, according to the Department of Labor.

Starting Out

Some biomass power plant managers may get their start by first working as power plant technicians. Those with a bachelor's 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, among others. Another way to find out about job and internship openings is through your school's career services office.

Biomass power plant managers with 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 for a master's in industrial production management or another area related to business management or renewable energy production. Other forms of advancement may come in 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 Magazine's Web site: http://biomassmagazine.com/plants/listplants/biomass/US/.

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 service's office for help with your search; also find helpful career information at https://www.energy.gov/eere/education/explore-bioenergy-careers.