Fort Dodge Messenger, IA
06-01-07
Ethanol jobs likely to grow — in short term
Between 25 and 30 more plants expected in Iowa in next three years
By MICHAEL NEARY, Messenger staff writer
About 570 to 580 new ethanol jobs may be created in Iowa for people with associate’s degrees in programs such as biofuels or biotechnology in the next three years, but the state may reach a saturation point at that time.
That’s the evaluation of David Swenson, an associate scientist in economics at Iowa State University. Swenson said about 25 to 30 plants would likely come online in Iowa in the next three years, bringing the total number to more than 50, and employing about 55 to 60 people each.
Of those jobs, Swenson said, about a third would be well-suited to people with associate’s degrees in biotechnology.
Another third, he said, would require at least a four-year degree in engineering or related fields, and another third would likely require experience — such as grain handling or truck driving — but not a particular degree.
Swenson cautioned against hoping or planning for a long-term period of growth in the industry. He said the state doesn’t have enough corn to accommodate more than a total of about 60 plants. And he contended that alternative methods of producing ethanol — from cellulose, for instance — are still in an early, uncertain phase.
‘‘How can you plan ... for a technology that has not been deployed?’’ he asked.
Donald Heck, coordinator of the biotechnology and biofuels technology programs at Iowa Central Community College, agreed that the growth could reach a plateau in a few years.
“It would be realistic to expect it to level off,” he said.
Heck contended that even with a plateau a few years down the road, job turnover would still yield a significant number of openings. He said training at the college might also be desirable for employees who need to keep up with changing technology.
“We might take that existing work force (and offer) continuing education,” he said.
Heck said about 15 students are in the biofuels program right now, along with “five or six” in the biotechnology program. He said the biofuels program is particularly relevant to working in ethanol plants.
The issue has become particularly relevant in the region as officials at Iowa Central Community College hope to expand their programs in biofuels and biotechnology.
Iowa Central’s bond referendum, to go before voters on June 12, would earmark about $8 million of an $18 million bond for the construction of a new Bio-Science and Health Science Center. That would allow the school to expand the biofuels and biotechnology programs — programs that supply training for growing industries such as ethanol.
College President Bob Paxton has also announced a plan to create a ‘‘renewable fuels quality testing laboratory.’’
Jill Euken, an industrial specialist at ISU Extension, agreed that people with two-year degrees are currently in a strong employment position.
‘‘These people are at a real premium right now because we’ve had such an expansion of jobs for people with those degrees,’’ said Euken, who works in rural southwest Iowa.
In Webster County, about 100 employees will probably work for the new Tate & Lyle ethanol plant, scheduled to be fully operational in March 2009, according to Chris Olsen, director of community and government relations for the company. It will join two other ethanol facilities in the county.
Olsen said about half of those would be ideal for people with two-year degrees.
‘‘We’ll be looking for approximately 50 or so process or instrument technicians,’’ he said. ‘‘It would be very desirable to have a two-year degree to go into them.’’
Olsen called these employees ‘‘front-line operators’’ who would need math, computer, analytical and communication skills. He made a special note of computer skills.
‘‘The biggest change we’re seeing is in the upgrade of technology and computer applications,’’ he said.