GILLETTE - Alec Laub was working in coal-bed methane and trying to figure out how to get involved in the electrical trades with no experience. He'd always been fascinated by this power force that's unseen yet upon which so much relies.

While working in the field, Laub would hang around with electricians and pepper them with question after question about how all things electrical work. He found a mentor in Don Wilson of Tucker Electric.

"He answered endless questions about motor control and everything," said Laub, 30.

As activity declined in coal-bed methane, Laub got on at Foundation Coal West's Belle Ayr mine, driving haul trucks. Given the general deficit of electricians in the industry, mines are continually looking for employees willing to train in electronics. Laub took advantage of the company's offer to pay for training at Northern Wyoming Community College District's Gillette Campus.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor projects that the growth in the number of jobs for electricians will outpace all other occupations at least until 2012. And while both the coal and coal-bed methane industries have made significant cutbacks during the past year in northeast Wyoming, electricians are still in demand.

"For the last five years here in Gillette, they've had (help wanted) ads for electricians in all aspects, whether it's residential, commercial or industrial," Laub said.

While class enrollment remains strong for courses in electronics at Gillette Campus, Laub said it's a wonder more people don't go into the vocation.

"The problem is people are scared of electricity, so nobody wants to take that step to learn about it," Laub said. "My philosophy is, 'As long as you respect it, you'll be fine.'"

As for job security, Laub said it doesn't matter if the source of electricity is green or traditional fossil fuels. Technologies are quickly advancing for all energy resources because energy will always be in demand.

"Electricians, maintenance personnel, mechanics, or engineers. They're the ones who are going to stick around for a very long time," Laub said.

Energy reporter Dustin Bleizeffer can be reached at (307) 577-6069 or dustin.bleizeffer@trib.com. Check out Dustin's blog at tribtown.trib.com/DustinBleizeffer.