Decentralizing Energy Distribution In a Green-Technology Era

Opportunities for green IT jobs should rise as the use of alternative energy sources decentralize the way electricity is distributed. Here's what Merrill Lynch cleantech analyst Steven Milunovich said this past week about the green economy:

Energy markets today are mostly centralized. While solar and wind farms may continue this trend ... decentralized energy generation and monitoring through solar panels, distributed intelligence and microgrids may prove the wave of the future. Cleantech therefore may evolve toward a horizontal, distributed industry.

Obviously, IT savvy will be needed to add intelligence to these microgrids and horizontal distribution systems.