The movie "Space Cowboys" showcases Clint Eastwood, James Garner, Donald Sutherland and Tommy Lee Jones as aging engineers, technicians and former spacemen who are called upon to rescue a falling Russian satellite. Unfortunately, the movie's premise is closer to the mark than most people realize. "The average age of the aerospace production employee now exceeds 50 years; the same number for engineers rises to 54," said John Douglas, CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association of America. Unfortunately, the situation is as bad, if not worse, in the utility industry. According to Bureau of Labor statistics, the number of electrical engineers, mechanical engineers and industrial engineers is dwindling. That shows in the raw numbers - 550,000 employed by the electric power industry in 1990 and 420,000 today. Uncertainty over deregulation and a decade of downsizing have left utilities threadbare across the boards. Linemen, power plant workers and engineers - there are far fewer of all of them. And most of those we depend upon to supply the nation with power will soon retire.
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