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Anybody work in Power?

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20nickels:
I'll be taking a college course in Power generation Operations, think Homer Simpson's job, which may involve me uprooting the family.  Cooper Station tops the list but I'm open to suggestions.  My questions are;
Where would you go and why.
Any places to avoid?  Is Ft. Calhoun still a flood risk?
I plan on continuing education.  Possible Bachelor's in nuclear engineering.  Is this a good route?  Should I consider something else?
Is coal dust inhalation a problem for coal plant workers?

Tks ahead for any replies.  Just trying to maximize my efforts and minimize my regrets.  PM me if you want.  Clinton.

greg58:
Hi Clinton, I have a friend who is a member here, although he doesn't post much.
He has recently retired from OPPD, starting out as a Machinist, finishing up as a maintenance supervisor at the North Omaha coal plant.
He worked at NE. City, Ft. Calhoun, North Omaha, and others. Always in power generation.
If you want I could get you in touch with him, he really knows the in and out of that business, and he enjoys helping people!!
I could have him PM you, or call you. Let me know, Greg

SemperFiGuy:

--- Quote ---Possible Bachelor's in nuclear engineering......
--- End quote ---

As a plain-vanilla chalk-on-the-butt everyday engineering professor, my recommendation to you would be to enroll in an engineering program of study that's not so narrow and specialized as nuclear engineering.   Nothing wrong with working in that field; it's a good field.   However, the name of the degree could be a problem in the future.

Case in Point:
Someday you may wish to change career fields entirely, and a whole lotta HR folks will look at your resume and say, "We don't run a nuclear power plant".   Result:  Your application gets deep-sixed in the file cabinet and you never hear back from anyone.

Instead, You could readily go for a broader degree in mechanical or electrical engineering, meanwhile taking all your general and technical electives in nuclear engineering specialty courses.   This approach would work out the same.   You'd cover about the same amount of nuclear engineering course material and knowledge that way as you would in the specialty degree.

After your BS degree, you could go for a PE license in your basic area (EE, ME...whatever) and also for a PE license in Nuclear Engineering.   An associate of mine has done it that way (EE and Nuclear PEs).   [Professionally, I've also been licensed in Nebraska in two separate engineering fields; however, that's another whole story.]

Many BS-engineering grads I've met with highly specialized bachelor's degrees (aerospace, nuclear, petroleum, etc.) have had problems switching fields when their career area dried up and/or when they wanted to move to a different location.   

So those are my thoughts for your consideration.

FWIW,

sfg

SemperFiGuy:
One Other Item on the BS-Engineering Degree:

If you are going to work full-time, then you'll most likely have to pursue your BS-Engineering degree on a part-time basis.

Which means that you have to go somewhere--like a Big City--with a local university that offers BS degrees in the evening.

So---Nebraska is not an option.  There are no evening-accessible BS-engineering degrees available in this state.   At one time, we were considering creating a program for the AEC nuclear plants where a BS degree would be available at the powerplants for powerplant employees.   But we didn't.   Maybe some other university system did so.   You can check with your HR Training Department.

In that case, you might have to take whatever engineering degree you can access.   Still would work.  Not aware of any online BS-engineering degrees, but may be such somewhere.   You can do a websearch to find out if interested.

sfg

zofoman:
I'll give you my .02 on this...having worked on building & upgrading multiple coal fire units and two nuke stations back in my construction days (Ironworkers Local #21/Omaha) and siding in on what SemperFiGuy said (smart feller, that guy is) on being career flexible.  Just know that coal is going to the wayside, it is dirty and expensive to burn it clean (precipitators/fly ash containment/etc.)...the railroads know this and are making adjustments now so as not to be so reliant on the coal train cash cow which will peter out in about 20 years.  Nuclear is political, high maintenance and again dirty...where do you go with the waste?  If one is seriously setting sites on energy/power sourcing...I'd look to align with NPPD.  Click on this --> http://www.nbcneb.com/home/headlines/Nebraska-Public-Power-District-to-Build-Hydrogen-Power-Plant-in-Hallam-300284581.html     Not many experienced folks out there with knowledge of how to set up one of these...let alone know how to run one.   One of  my business professors used to say, "The definition of opportunity is to be where the others ain't."        Good luck on whatever you decide.
 

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