Being a CEO would be great. You'd get to lord over people, order ostentatiously expensive advisory services from McKinsey, and then receive a lavish exit package after screwing up. I could do that.

And if you want to hit those heights yourself, look at batteries and LEDs, says Shawn Oglesbee of recruiting firm On Search. Three of the top five jobs they've looked at are in LEDs and batteries. The company has placed six greentech CEOs to date this year. The firm interviewed 71 companies in compiling this list.

VC funds have been pouring into energy storage and several have received grants from the Department of Energy. Many lighting investments were made in 2008. But more imporant for the lighting industry is the fact that several countries – Australia, Canada, the EU, the U.S. – have imposed laws that will lead to the demise of the incandescent bulb. LEDs are primed to take that spot.