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How a wind energy development manager can use AI, task by task

O*NET 11-9199.10: Wind Energy Development ManagersMedian pay $141,900/year (BLS, May 2025)15 tasksJob Zone 4: Considerable preparation

Lead or manage the development and evaluation of potential wind energy business opportunities, including environmental studies, permitting, and proposals. May also manage construction of projects.

Your job title Type your own title and every prompt on this page updates to match. Also called: Business Development Director, Business Development Manager, Development Director, Development Manager, Project Development Leader, Renewable Project Management and Construction Director.

Where AI fits in this job

AI-ready 16%AI-assist 61%Stays human 23%

Share of the job's tasks, weighted by how important and how frequent each task is (O*NET ratings). 3 AI-ready, 9 AI-assist and 3 human-led tasks out of 15. This measures where AI can help, not whether the job will disappear.

Information & paperwork

Thinking & planning

People & communication

Leading & teaching

Hands-on & physical

Shape of the job: importance of each kind of work activity (O*NET, 1 to 5).

🗓 Start here on Monday

The most frequent, most important tasks where AI can help right away.

Manage wind project costs to stay within budget limits.Crunch the numbers · Weekly
Create wind energy project plans, including project scope, goals, tasks, resources, schedules, costs, contingencies, or other project information.Plan & schedule · Weekly
Provide verbal or written project status reports to project teams, management, subcontractors, customers, or owners.Explain it clearly · Weekly

💪 Lean into these

Core tasks that stay human. These skills get more valuable as the routine work gets automated.

Supervise the work of subcontractors or consultants to ensure quality and conformance to specifications or budgets.Lead people · Weekly
Coordinate or direct development, energy assessment, engineering, or construction activities to ensure that wind project needs and objectives are met.Lead people · Weekly
Manage site assessments or environmental studies for wind fields.Lead people · Monthly

Skills to build & where you could move ↓

AI can draft these 3

AI produces a usable first pass. You review it, fix it and own it.

Prepare wind project documentation, including diagrams or layouts.

Monthly

AI writes the first draft from your notes; you check every fact.

Show prompt & steps

Give AI your rough notes, numbers or last version and it will turn them into a clean, well-structured first draft. You check every fact and figure before it goes anywhere.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a wind energy development manager. Part of my job is to prepare wind project documentation, including diagrams or layouts.

Context: We use Microsoft Word.
Procedure: [describe]
Changes: [paste]

Draft the updated SOP. Use plain language and headings where they help, and mark anything you had to guess with [CHECK].

10-minute exercise: SOP update

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you prepare wind project documentation.

Step 2Fill in [Procedure] and [Changes] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Check every fact, name and number against your source before it goes anywhere.

AI will happily make up numbers, names and dates. Every fact in the draft needs checking against your source.

Importance 3.5/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Document organizational or operational procedures..

Prepare or assist in the preparation of applications for environmental, building, or other required permits.

Monthly

AI writes the first draft from your notes; you check every fact.

📊 Real AI use (Anthropic Economic Index, Apr 2026 to May 2026): AI completed the task directly in 57% of those conversations; the rest were back-and-forth with the person.

Show prompt & steps

Give AI your rough notes, numbers or last version and it will turn them into a clean, well-structured first draft. You check every fact and figure before it goes anywhere.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a wind energy development manager. Part of my job is to prepare or assist in the preparation of applications for environmental, building, or other required permits.

Context: We use Microsoft Word.
Form: [purchase order, permit form]
Details: [items, quantities, justification]

Fill the form fields and a short justification. Use plain language and headings where they help, and mark anything you had to guess with [CHECK].

10-minute exercise: Form or requisition

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you prepare or assist in the preparation of applications.

Step 2Fill in [Form] and [Details] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Check every fact, name and number against your source before it goes anywhere. Confirm the rules against the current official source.

AI will happily make up numbers, names and dates. Every fact in the draft needs checking against your source.

Rules and regulations vary by place and change often. Confirm against the official source before relying on anything.

Importance 3.6/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Prepare forms or applications..

Prepare requests for proposals (RFPs) for wind project construction or equipment acquisition.

A few times a year

AI writes the first draft from your notes; you check every fact.

Show prompt & steps

Give AI your rough notes, numbers or last version and it will turn them into a clean, well-structured first draft. You check every fact and figure before it goes anywhere.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a wind energy development manager. Part of my job is to prepare requests for proposals (RFPs) for wind project construction or equipment acquisition.

Context: We use Microsoft Word.
Form: [purchase order, permit form]
Details: [items, quantities, justification]

Fill the form fields and a short justification. Use plain language and headings where they help, and mark anything you had to guess with [CHECK].

10-minute exercise: Form or requisition

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you prepare requests.

Step 2Fill in [Form] and [Details] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Check every fact, name and number against your source before it goes anywhere.

AI will happily make up numbers, names and dates. Every fact in the draft needs checking against your source.

Importance 3.3/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Prepare forms or applications..

AI can help you prep these 9

AI speeds up the prep, drafting or thinking. The core of the task is still yours.

Manage wind project costs to stay within budget limits.

Weekly

AI does the arithmetic and suggests what to look at; the conclusions are yours.

Show prompt & steps

AI can do the arithmetic, build the spreadsheet formula and suggest what to look at. Deciding what the numbers mean for your situation is still you.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a wind energy development manager. Part of my job is to manage wind project costs to stay within budget limits.

Context: We use Microsoft Excel; the work draws on building and construction, engineering and technology and economics and accounting.
Budget: [program, campaign]
Actuals: [paste]

Show variances and cost per result with formulas. Show your working step by step and give spreadsheet formulas so I can reproduce the numbers.

10-minute exercise: Budget tracking

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you manage wind project costs (this week).

Step 2Fill in [Budget] and [Actuals] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Recompute the most important number yourself before you trust the rest. Recompute every total yourself.

AI makes arithmetic mistakes. Recompute anything that matters with a spreadsheet formula.

Double-check every number. AI can make arithmetic and rounding mistakes.

Importance 4.1/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Manage organizational or project budgets..

Create wind energy project plans, including project scope, goals, tasks, resources, schedules, costs, contingencies, or other project information.

Weekly

AI lays out options and timelines to react to.

Show prompt & steps

AI can lay out options, timelines and checklists to react to. Fitting it to your people, budget and situation is your call.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a wind energy development manager. Part of my job is to create wind energy project plans, including project scope, goals, tasks, resources, schedules, costs, contingencies, or other project information.

Context: We use Microsoft Project and Oracle Primavera Systems; the work draws on building and construction, engineering and technology and economics and accounting.
Operation: [geothermal, biofuel research]
Goals: [output, efficiency]

Draft operating plans and schedules. Lay it out as a table with steps, owner, timing and what could go wrong, then list the decisions I still need to make.

10-minute exercise: Green operations plan

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you create wind energy project plans (this week).

Step 2Fill in [Operation] and [Goals] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Cross out anything that won't work on the ground and ask AI to revise with your corrections. Recompute every total yourself.

AI doesn't know your people, your site or your history. Treat its plan as a starting point to react to.

Double-check every number. AI can make arithmetic and rounding mistakes.

Importance 4.0/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Develop operating strategies, plans, or procedures for green or sustainable operations..

Provide verbal or written project status reports to project teams, management, subcontractors, customers, or owners.

Weekly

AI helps you prepare clearer wording and likely questions.

Show prompt & steps

Use AI to prepare: simpler wording, analogies, likely questions and a one-page handout. The conversation itself is yours.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a wind energy development manager. Part of my job is to provide verbal or written project status reports to project teams, management, subcontractors, customers, or owners.

Context: The work draws on building and construction, engineering and technology and economics and accounting.
Conditions: [output, issues]
Audience: [employees, supervisors]

Draft a clear update. Use plain language, one everyday analogy, and the questions people are most likely to ask with short answers.

10-minute exercise: Plant conditions update

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you provide verbal or written project status reports (this week). Leave out names and identifying details.

Step 2Fill in [Conditions] and [Audience] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Check every answer is right for your workplace before you share it.

Rules, prices and policies change. Make sure AI is working from your current official version.

Importance 3.8/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Communicate green energy production information..

Update schedules, estimates, forecasts, or budgets for wind projects.

Monthly

AI does the arithmetic and suggests what to look at; the conclusions are yours.

Show prompt & steps

AI can do the arithmetic, build the spreadsheet formula and suggest what to look at. Deciding what the numbers mean for your situation is still you.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a wind energy development manager. Part of my job is to update schedules, estimates, forecasts, or budgets for wind projects.

Context: We use Microsoft Excel; the work draws on building and construction, engineering and technology and economics and accounting.
Project: [describe]
Cost items: [paste]

Estimate costs, savings and payback with formulas. Show your working step by step and give spreadsheet formulas so I can reproduce the numbers.

10-minute exercise: Green project costing

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you update schedules, estimates and forecasts.

Step 2Fill in [Project] and [Cost items] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Recompute the most important number yourself before you trust the rest. Recompute every total yourself.

AI makes arithmetic mistakes. Recompute anything that matters with a spreadsheet formula.

Double-check every number. AI can make arithmetic and rounding mistakes.

Importance 3.8/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Estimate green project costs..

Develop scope of work for wind project functions, such as design, site assessment, environmental studies, surveying, or field support services.

Monthly

AI lays out options and timelines to react to.

Show prompt & steps

AI can lay out options, timelines and checklists to react to. Fitting it to your people, budget and situation is your call.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a wind energy development manager. Part of my job is to develop scope of work for wind project functions, such as design, site assessment, environmental studies, surveying, or field support services.

Context: We use Microsoft Project and Oracle Primavera Systems; the work draws on building and construction, engineering and technology and economics and accounting.
Operation: [geothermal, biofuel research]
Goals: [output, efficiency]

Draft operating plans and schedules. Lay it out as a table with steps, owner, timing and what could go wrong, then list the decisions I still need to make.

10-minute exercise: Green operations plan

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you develop scope of work.

Step 2Fill in [Operation] and [Goals] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Cross out anything that won't work on the ground and ask AI to revise with your corrections.

AI doesn't know your people, your site or your history. Treat its plan as a starting point to react to.

Importance 3.8/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Develop operating strategies, plans, or procedures for green or sustainable operations..

Lead or support negotiations involving tax agreements or abatements, power purchase agreements, land use, or interconnection agreements.

Monthly

AI preps talking points and practice; the relationship is yours.

Show prompt & steps

AI preps you: talking points, objection handling, tailored outreach and negotiation scenarios. The relationship and reading the room are yours.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a wind energy development manager. Part of my job is to lead or support negotiations involving tax agreements or abatements, power purchase agreements, land use, or interconnection agreements.

Context: The work draws on building and construction, engineering and technology and economics and accounting.
Agreement: [interconnection, water rights]
Goals: [terms]

Prepare positions and role-play. Keep claims honest, list likely objections with responses, and role-play the other side so I can practice.

10-minute exercise: Green contract negotiation

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you lead or support negotiations involving tax agreements or abatements, power purchase.

Step 2Fill in [Agreement] and [Goals] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Ask for feedback on your answers and write down your best line for the real conversation. Confirm the rules against the current official source.

Make sure every claim AI writes about your product is true and allowed. Over-promising is on you.

Rules and regulations vary by place and change often. Confirm against the official source before relying on anything.

Importance 4.0/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Negotiate contracts for environmental remediation, green energy, or renewable resources..

Review or evaluate proposals or bids to make recommendations regarding awarding of contracts.

Monthly

AI pre-checks against the rules; the sign-off stays with you.

Show prompt & steps

Use AI as a first-pass checker against a list of rules or standards. The final judgment and sign-off stay with you.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a wind energy development manager. Part of my job is to review or evaluate proposals or bids to make recommendations regarding awarding of contracts.

Context: The work draws on building and construction, engineering and technology and economics and accounting.
Project: [describe]
Criteria: [cost, impact, risk]

Evaluate against criteria. Make a table: requirement, met / not met / unclear, and the exact evidence.

10-minute exercise: Sustainability project evaluation

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you review or evaluate proposals or bids.

Step 2Fill in [Project] and [Criteria] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Do your usual review too, and note what AI caught and what it missed. Confirm the rules against the current official source.

AI can miss things and sound sure about it. Use it to catch extra problems, not as the final check.

Rules and regulations vary by place and change often. Confirm against the official source before relying on anything.

Importance 3.6/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Evaluate environmental or sustainability projects..

Review civil design, engineering, or construction technical documentation to ensure compliance with applicable government or industrial codes, standards, requirements, or regulations.

Monthly

AI pre-checks against the rules; the sign-off stays with you.

📊 Real AI use (Anthropic Economic Index, Apr 2026 to May 2026): AI completed the task directly in 47% of those conversations; the rest were back-and-forth with the person.

Show prompt & steps

Use AI as a first-pass checker against a list of rules or standards. The final judgment and sign-off stay with you.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a wind energy development manager. Part of my job is to review civil design, engineering, or construction technical documentation to ensure compliance with applicable government or industrial codes, standards, requirements, or regulations.

Context: The work draws on building and construction, engineering and technology and economics and accounting.
Documents: [paste or describe]
Requirements: [regulatory, policy]

Check completeness, accuracy and timelines. Make a table: requirement, met / not met / unclear, and the exact evidence.

10-minute exercise: Submission review

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you review civil design.

Step 2Fill in [Documents] and [Requirements] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Do your usual review too, and note what AI caught and what it missed. Confirm the rules against the current official source.

AI can miss things and sound sure about it. Use it to catch extra problems, not as the final check.

Rules and regulations vary by place and change often. Confirm against the official source before relying on anything.

Importance 3.4/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Review documents or materials for compliance with policies or regulations..

Provide technical support for the design, construction, or commissioning of wind farm projects.

Monthly

AI helps you prepare clearer wording and likely questions.

Show prompt & steps

Use AI to prepare: simpler wording, analogies, likely questions and a one-page handout. The conversation itself is yours.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a wind energy development manager. Part of my job is to provide technical support for the design, construction, or commissioning of wind farm projects.

Context: The work draws on building and construction, engineering and technology and economics and accounting.
Technology: [hydro, water resources]
Audience: [communities, crews]

Explain technical guidance clearly. Use plain language, one everyday analogy, and the questions people are most likely to ask with short answers.

10-minute exercise: Green tech advice

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you provide technical support.

Step 2Fill in [Technology] and [Audience] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Check every answer is right for your workplace before you share it.

Rules, prices and policies change. Make sure AI is working from your current official version.

Importance 3.2/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Advise others on green energy or related technologies..

These stay human 3

They need your hands, your presence or your accountable judgment. Lean into them: they get more valuable as routine work is automated.

📏 Measured in this job (O*NET work context): Face-to-face discussions: once a week or more but not every day · Contact with others: contact with others most of the time · Impact of decisions: important results · Dealing with the public: very important

Supervise the work of subcontractors or consultants to ensure quality and conformance to specifications or budgets.

Weekly

Leading people runs on trust. AI can prep the paperwork around it.

Show prep prompt & steps

Where AI still helps: AI can prep the paperwork around leading: meeting agendas, feedback drafts, rotas, briefings and difficult-conversation rehearsals.

Prep prompt

I work as a wind energy development manager. Part of my job is to supervise the work of subcontractors or consultants to ensure quality and conformance to specifications or budgets.

Context: The work draws on building and construction, engineering and technology and economics and accounting.
Team: [employees, volunteers]
Project: [describe]

Help me prepare: the key message in 2 sentences, what good looks like, how people might react and how I'll respond, and one thing I'll check next week.

10-minute exercise: Leading sustainability staff

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you supervise the work of subcontractors or consultants (this week).

Step 2Fill in [Team] and [Project] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Afterward, note one thing people responded to and one thing you'd change.

Importance 4.0/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Supervise workers performing environmentally sustainable activities..

Coordinate or direct development, energy assessment, engineering, or construction activities to ensure that wind project needs and objectives are met.

Weekly

Leading people runs on trust. AI can prep the paperwork around it.

Show prep prompt & steps

Where AI still helps: AI can prep the paperwork around leading: meeting agendas, feedback drafts, rotas, briefings and difficult-conversation rehearsals.

Prep prompt

I work as a wind energy development manager. Part of my job is to coordinate or direct development, energy assessment, engineering, or construction activities to ensure that wind project needs and objectives are met.

Context: The work draws on building and construction, engineering and technology and economics and accounting.
Program: [sites, buildings]
Issues: [describe]

Plan oversight and reporting. Give me the key message in 2 sentences, how people might react, and how to respond to each.

10-minute exercise: Managing construction activities

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you coordinate or direct development and energy assessment (this week).

Step 2Fill in [Program] and [Issues] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Afterward, note one thing people responded to and one thing you'd change.

Importance 4.1/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Manage construction activities.. Also involves: Manage environmental sustainability projects..

Manage site assessments or environmental studies for wind fields.

Monthly

Leading people runs on trust. AI can prep the paperwork around it.

Show prep prompt & steps

Where AI still helps: AI can prep the paperwork around leading: meeting agendas, feedback drafts, rotas, briefings and difficult-conversation rehearsals.

Prep prompt

I work as a wind energy development manager. Part of my job is to manage site assessments or environmental studies for wind fields.

Context: The work draws on building and construction, engineering and technology and economics and accounting.
Project: [describe]
Team: [describe]

Help me prepare: the key message in 2 sentences, what good looks like, how people might react and how I'll respond, and one thing I'll check next week.

10-minute exercise: Managing sustainability projects

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you manage site assessments or environmental studies.

Step 2Fill in [Project] and [Team] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Afterward, note one thing people responded to and one thing you'd change.

Importance 3.5/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Manage environmental sustainability projects..

Get the full prompt pack for Wind Energy Development Managers

Every task, prompt and 10-minute exercise on this page in one PDF, formatted to print or keep on your desktop. Free.

Your next moves

Skills to build

From O*NET's ratings of how important each skill is in this job, matched to which part of the work it supports.

Stays human Deepen these

They power the human-led work, which is the part of the job AI can't take over.

Coordinationimportance 3.6/5
Used in: Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates
Monitoringimportance 3.5/5
Used in: Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates
Social Perceptivenessimportance 3.5/5
Used in: Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates
Active Learningimportance 3.4/5
Used in: Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates

With AI Use these to work with AI

When AI does the first draft, these are the skills you use to brief it and check what comes back.

Critical Thinkingimportance 4.0/5
Used in: Thinking Creatively
Writingimportance 3.9/5
Used in: Documenting/Recording Information
Speakingimportance 3.9/5
Used in: Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates
Active Listeningimportance 3.8/5
Used in: Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates

Where you could move

Related jobs from O*NET with the closest skill profile, favouring ones where more of the work stays human. No step down in preparation.

Architectural and Engineering Managers36% human-led · Needs more preparation · $171,270/yr · usually bachelor's degree
Skills to build: Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Mathematics
Chief Sustainability Officers20% human-led · Needs more preparation · $213,990/yr · usually master's degree
Skills to build: Systems Analysis, Complex Problem Solving, Learning Strategies
Civil Engineers28% human-led · Same preparation · $100,840/yr · usually bachelor's degree
Skills to build: Operations Analysis, Science, Mathematics
Sustainability Specialists0% human-led · Same preparation · $83,050/yr · usually bachelor's degree
Your skills already line up

Getting into this job

Bachelor's degree is most common (67% of workers)

Associate's 18%
Bachelor's 69%
Graduate degree 12%

On-the-job training: 3–6 months
Related experience: 4–6 years

What workers in this job report, from O*NET surveys (typical values).

Software in this job

In-demand tools from O*NET. Many now have AI built in, so check what yours can do before adding a new tool.

Autodesk AutoCADESRI ArcGIS softwareMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft ProjectMicrosoft VisioMicrosoft WordSAP software