Value of my education by Tony Green

I read a Smart Money magazine article detailing a study on value of Ivy League schools. The writer surveyed working professionals to determine the average salaries for its graduates 15 years after graduation. Afterward the typical costs of tuition and other fees for four years of study were tallied.

The ratio of these numbers determined the “value” of the university. In short, the number is a measure how well the graduates doing money-wise compared with how much they paid to receive their education.

This led me to recall my undergraduate decisions after high school. I was privileged enough to be admitted to the engineering programs of six high caliber universities. Two of these happened to be Ivy League schools.

I pondered the options and after considering my brother would attending college within a year and the huge financial burden to my family I decided to attend the school where received a full scholarship.

20 years after the fact I wonder how my life would turned out if I had attended an Ivy League institution.

I reviewed the list of universities and noticed my university was listed in the top ten schools in terms of value. I never doubted I received a fine education but would I have received a better one with a more expense school? I did not think so then and I do not think so now. Without a doubt the worth of an education is not based solely on the income accumulated after years in the work force but it is a start.

I must confess being gratified seeing my decision being re-affirmed after all of these years.

Yes to R.E.S. by Tony Green

A few weeks ago I attended AWEA 2009 convention and exposition in Chicago and during the morning session the C.E.O. of the AWEA Denise Bode passionately asked all of the attendees to repeat after her when she said, “Yes to R.E.S.”

It was quite early after an exciting night on the town in Chicago and I was in a daze as to why this woman was trying to make the morning session interactive.
As a result I was puzzled but upon further thought a few things became clear once I woke up and began to think about the topic.

I have been in the wind business trying to market and sell materials used in the manufacture of the wind turbine blades for less than a year. My experience during my brief in wind has made me realize that the future for the industry is bright and would be a strong field to enter.

A Renewable Energy Standard (R.E.S.) specifies a certain portion of new power generation capacity be committed to renewable sources. Currently, many states employ their own RES standards. What is needed is a national standard to drive the infrastructure needed to realize the full potential of wind.

To ensure the success of the industry there needs to be a method on ensuring strong demand for wind in the long term.

This is where R.E.S. comes into play. Other ways an R.E.S. might prove beneficial included versifying our power supply which would allow reducing the amount fuel consumed. Another way this would help is reducing greenhouse gasses by lowering amount carbon burned in our atmosphere. Moreover, sustained wind would drive the return of American manufacturing due since business conditions are favorable to having a local supply and production within the United States.

In short national renewable Energy Standard make be the key to ensuring a bright future not only for me but for my fellow Americans.