The Power for America Training Trust Fund (P4A) and Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA)-AFL-CIO have announced a new union apprenticeship program that will provide skills training and a path to employment for jobs in the renewable energy sector.
According to the partners, the Department of Labor (DOL)-certified program provides individuals with specialized skills to remain at the forefront of the offshore and onshore wind, solar generation, and battery storage fields.
“These are the jobs of the future, and if we’re going to remain on the cutting edge of the energy industry, the skills we teach must reflect those of the ever-changing energy industry,” says Jon Harmon, P4A executive director.
The “earn while you learn” program provides on-the-job experience, the partners explain.
“The members who successfully move through this important program are a triple threat within the renewable energy industry,” notes James Slevin, UWUA president. “Armed with the know-how to move seamlessly between wind, solar and battery storage facilities, their skillsets will continue to be in demand for a long time to come.”
When individuals complete the three-phase, 2.5-year program, they will earn a job with Michigan-based Consumers Energy. P4A hopes to form similar partnerships with other companies across the country in the coming years.
“We continue to be impressed by those P4A-trained individuals, specifically with their preparedness to maintain and operate these facilities and the depth of their expertise once they enter the workforce,” says Brian Zatloukal, renewables operations and maintenance manager for Consumers Energy. “We look forward to this continued partnership.”
