James Bell of National Grid talks to NECC students about careers in the energy field.

There are careers in the energy industry.

That is the message that representatives from National Grid brought with them when they spoke to more than a dozen Northern Essex Community College engineering students and their professors this week.

“The workforce in the energy field is aging,” said James Bell, a mechanical engineer who works in the new products and energy services group at National Grid, “We need young bright, innovative, individuals to fill these spots.”

Bell, along with three other National Grid employees, is taking the “there are careers in energy” message to colleges campuses. Each shared his or her own career path within the energy industry. While Bell studied engineering in college, Eliza Davis was a political science major, Mona Chandra, was an architect, and May Moy was an industrial engineer. Each had a circuitous route to a career in the energy field, but each noted that they found a field in which they developed a deep interest.       

They encouraged the students to visit the National Grid website and research the internship opportunities. A solid GPA as well as special certifications like LEED certification will help boost their chances of securing an internship they said.

The presentation included an overview of National Grid which is an international company that employs 28,000 people. It has 3.4 million electric customers and 3.6 natural gas customers throughout New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. The company delivers natural gas and electricity, promotes energy conservation, as well as promotes innovative solutions to reduce energy usage through new technologies and energy efficiency programs.

Branscombe Dubina, 20, of Groveland, was one civil engineering student interested in what they had to say. “I thought it was a really good presentation,” he said. “It sounds like there might be some good opportunities for internships. I will definitely be following up.”

“I didn’t know National Grid was all about energy efficiency,” said Dipal Patel, 19, of Salisbury, an electrical engineering student. “They are more than just about power,”

Northern Essex offers an Associate of Science Degrees in Electronic Technology,

Electronic Technology: Computer Systems, and Engineering Science as well as certificates Computer Aided Drafting and Electronic Equipment Technology.