Prairie State Generating Company is pleased to welcome Jake Dyson as a Coal Combustion Residuals intern for the summer of 2018.
Dyson is from Coulterville, Illinois. He recently finished his second year of the Master’s program in geology at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale (SIU-C). During his undergraduate studies, he was a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) and Sigma Pi. Dyson has presented his thesis research at AAPG conferences across the country.
He has spent past summer breaks as a teaching assistant for the SIU-C Geology Field Camp. Prairie State appealed to Dyson for many reasons, one being the proximity to his hometown. He is interested in the idea of a mine mouth power plant, which he believes is a more sustainable way to produce electricity. “I took a class in graduate school on global resource economics, and we learned about cutting down CO2 emissions without sacrificing efficiency. I appreciate that Prairie State is taking steps in that direction.”
This summer, Dyson will be working alongside those involved in drilling an underground injection well, along with other combustion residuals projects. He anticipates learning a lot about the processes involved in developing the well. “I am excited about being a part of the well drilling, and I like that I can understand the geological background behind it.” Dyson also plans on finishing his thesis this summer and earning his Master’s degree.
Following this internship, Dyson is eager to begin his career in a geology-related field. He will continue to attend conferences and seminars to further his knowledge. His ultimate goal is to work in the oil and gas industry.