Wind “Turbine Cowboys” Can Lasso Them Big Blades Well

In the age of reality television, it was only a matter of time before someone discovered the exciting side of clean energy. No, we don’t mean the fact that it can reduce emissions and save the world from our depleting energy resources. The Weather Channel Companies (TWCC) are going straight for the extreme element – with a docu-drama series on “Turbine Cowboys.”

The show focuses on the adrenaline-pumping green jobs of the people who make sure our wind turbines keep on turning while being “pushed to the limit both physically and emotionally as they brave extreme heights and every conceivable weather condition to work on wind turbines.”

image via Weather Channel

While the pitch seems a bit melodramatic, the lesser-publicized side of wind power seems to be anything but dull. With wind power installations looking strong through 2012, training programs for wind turbine technicians are also on the rise, many concluding with boot camp training. Wind turbines average 200-300 feet in height, and while much of the assembly and maintenance is mechanized, workers regularly scale the turbine to maintain and repair any problems.

The show follows two teams from boot camp through their first year in the field, along with the veterans who have seen it all. As ratings are critical to any show’s success, we expect ample attention will be given to the dramatic side of the job, but we hope some wind energy education will be mixed in as well. Airing on the Weather Channel, we expect to see some extreme weather scenes as they travel from wind farms in Baja, California on up to Alaska.

We’re not sure if the danger factor will inspire or deter people from pursuing a career in wind energy, but either way, it will give green energy some unique street cred’.

Turbine Cowboys will air in April 2012 as just one part of the “Braving the Elements” anthology series. The other two miniseries feature power crews that are responsible for keeping the power running through wind, rain, and snow, and the ironworkers working at extreme heights in New York City. You can see some photos related to the Turbine Cowboys segment via the slideshow below.

[source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Earthtechling/~3/l7ei1n75WHw/]