Energy workers are a part of the huge network of people that make our country as great as it is today. Even Jeff Landry himself a member of congress said “ the most valuable resource in the gulf of Mexico is not the oil and gas under the waters; it is the men and women willing to risk their lives to extract America’s energy . Almost every single person in the world depends on these great people. They make possible the spectacular wonders of things like; communication, long distance travel, commuting large amounts of freight, and numerous other advances that most of us couldn’t live without.
They are without a doubt the most important part of highly electricity reliant society we live in today The first use of electricity by the human race was recorded back to 600 BC when Thales of Miletus wrote about the charging of amber on rubbing it, that is what we know as static electricity. But the most important contribution to electricity was from Nikola Tesla, a mechanical and electrical engineer and inventor he developed commercial electricity. Think of the countless luxuries that are afforded to us by energy workers that we take for granted.
Imagine if they were all gone we would all be forced to resort to old methods of getting things done, and stop doing some things all together. Almost all Americans use electricity, and if we did not have it we would be anywhere close to where we are today. Not just America either, economies around the world are completely reliant on electricity. Every day people use electricity. We use it to power our phone, and televisions. We use electricity to get ourselves to where we need to be, but people don’t just use electricity to power the vain things in life. Some people can’t even see or hear without it.
To some having electricity is the difference between life and death. Without electricity we wouldn’t have nearly as many medical advances as we do today all the people that rely on electric devices at hospitals would probably be dead. That’s not to mention televisions and computers, although many people only use them for their own personal leisure and satisfaction, others use them to share vital information with the public. Just think of all the wars and deaths that have been avoided by taking advantage of the long distance communication that have been gifted to us by these modern advances.
You might not realize it but many of the things you know you know from television or the internet. For such an important job you can assume that the average power plant worker makes a whole lot of money right? Wrong, the average power plant Operator salaries for job postings nationwide are 21% lower than average salaries for all job postings nationwide. Despite their relatively low income a power plant operator must usually; adjust controls to generate specified electrical power, or to regulate the flow of power between generating stations and substations.
Control and maintain auxiliary equipment, such as pumps, fans, compressors, condensers, feed water heaters, filters, and chlorinators, to supply water, fuel, lubricants, air, and auxiliary power. Control generator output to match the phase, frequency, and voltage of electricity supplied to panels. Make adjustments or minor repairs, such as tightening leaking gland and pipe joints; report any needs for major repairs. Monitor and inspect power plant equipment and indicators to detect evidence of operating problems. Open and close valves and switches in sequence upon signals from other workers, in order to start or shut down auxiliary units.
Operate or control power generating equipment, including boilers, turbines, generators, and reactors, using control boards or semi-automatic equipment. Place standby emergency electrical generators on line in emergencies and monitor the temperature, output, and lubrication of the system. Regulate equipment operations and conditions such as water levels, based on data from recording and indicating instruments or from computers. Replenish electrolytes in batteries and oil in voltage transformers, and reset tripped electric relays.
Start or stop generators, auxiliary pumping equipment, turbines, and other power plant equipment, and connect or disconnect equipment from circuits. Take readings from charts, meters and gauges at established intervals, and take corrective steps as necessary. Clean, lubricate, and maintain equipment such as generators, turbines, pumps, and compressors in order to prevent equipment failure or deterioration. Collect oil, water, and electrolyte samples for laboratory analysis. Communicate with systems operators to regulate and coordinate transmission loads and frequencies, and line voltages.
Examine and test electrical power distribution machinery and equipment, using testing devices. Inspect records and log book entries, and communicate with other plant personnel, in order to assess equipment operating status. Receive outage calls and call in necessary personnel during power outages and emergencies. Power plant workers are very important and without them the world would be much different. We most likely would still have electricity, but no power plants . everyone would have to make their own electricity if they wanted it.
It would be one of those things that only the rich could afford, and we would have terrible air quality because of all the generators running. Or we would still the power plants but they would have frequent meltdowns. According to an article from the website Tech News Daily researchers are looking into a new technology that can cause nuclear fusion in a way that is efficient enough to use to power societies. If this research is successful power plant workers will be overseeing these types of machines instead of the usual coal and natural gas and nuclear fission power plants.
