South Dakota Colleges Collaborate with Clean Energy Sector to Address Rising Workforce Needs
SOUTH DAKOTA — Matthew Pearson stumbled into a lucrative career in the wind energy industry after a serendipitous discovery during his search for a trade-focused education. Now, as the only wind energy program instructor at Mitchell Tech, he's returning to his roots to teach the next generation of renewable energy workers.
Pearson, 28, graduated from high school in Vermillion and knew he didn't want to pursue a traditional four-year degree. As he perused the offerings at Mitchell Tech, one stood out: wind energy. At the time, he had no idea he was entering one of the most rapidly-growing, high-paying trade fields in the state and the nation.
Amid a wave of workforce shortages, companies across South Dakota are eager for skilled workers to build, operate, and maintain renewable energy facilities, including wind farms. The state's technical colleges, employers, and the Build Dakota Scholarship program have forged a pathway to quickly and effectively address the need for energy workers.
Pearson secured a Build Dakota Scholarship, covering tuition for his two-year wind technology degree. Afterward, he spent around $15,000 on another two-year electrical construction major. His initial salary wiring wind towers at locations across the country was approximately $80,000 a year, and after six years he was making $127,000 plus a $140 daily living fee.
Now, with a fiancee and two children, Pearson is leaving the field work behind and focusing on sharing his expertise as an instructor. He'll not only teach the requisite skills but also promote the promising job prospects in the field.
"There's been a steady uptick in the need for workforce," Pearson said. "When I would get to a jobsite, there would be three or four companies there, and they'd always come over and ask, 'Hey, you want to come work for us instead?'"
Clean energy is creating a wealth of opportunities in rural America, as seen in South Dakota, one of the top three states in the U.S. for the percentage of energy generated from renewable sources. Seventy-seven percent of the state's power comes from non-fossil-fuel sources, primarily water and wind, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Since the mid-1950s, South Dakota has produced a significant amount of energy through its hydroelectric power plants on the Missouri River. Over the past 15 years, the state has experienced a tenfold increase in wind energy production. In 2009, it had 190 turbines capable of producing roughly 350 megawatts (MW) of electricity. By the end of 2024, there were 1,417 turbines generating about 3,600 MW of energy, with a 68-turbine project of 260 MW and a $621 million price tag scheduled near Clear Lake.
However, the expected slowdown in growth is due to a lack of transmission lines capable of transporting more power. Most power originating in the state heads east. Despite this challenge, renewable energy is expected to continue thriving, as two nonprofit energy consortiums have plans to invest around $37 billion in expanding transmission capacity over approximately the next decade.
At Lake Area Technical College in Watertown, students can choose from two energy-focused degree tracks: energy technology, which covers development and maintenance of energy systems, and energy operations, aimed at managing an energy facility. Students in these programs, which have around two dozen students combined, boast a 100% employment rate within six months of graduation, with average salaries of $65,000 a year in the technology major and $69,000 a year in operations.
One soon-to-be graduate, Nathaniel Bekaert, will join these ranks after completing his degree at Lake Area Tech. Growing up on a farm and spending six years in the U.S. Army, Bekaert found his calling after touring the Gavins Point Dam hydroelectric plant and interning at the Big Stone Power Plant. When energy companies recruited him aggressively following his tour, he jumped at the opportunity, landing a job as a wind technician at the Crowned Ridge wind farm.
South Dakota's technical school system fosters close working relationships with the energy industry, ensuring students receive relevant training and enabling employers to tap into a pool of well-prepared workers. According to Clayton Deuter, vice president for enrollment services at Mitchell Tech, the college's wind energy program is an easy sell to students and their parents due to its affordability compared to a four-year college and the availability of Build Dakota scholarships for students committing to work in South Dakota for three years after graduation.
- Matthew Pearson's lucrative career in the wind energy industry stemmed from his search for a trade-focused education, which led him to an unexpectedly promising field with high salary potential.
- Companies across South Dakota are eagerly seeking skilled workers to build, operate, and maintain renewable energy facilities, including wind farms, creating numerous job opportunities in personal finance.
- The growing wind energy industry in South Dakota, one of the top three states for renewable energy generation, offers promising employment prospects in education and self-development, as students in energy programs boast high employment rates and competitive salaries.
