Co-ops help launch Veterans Utility Industry Workforce Initiative

IMG_3368_crThe National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) joined with the U.S. Department of Energy, other federal ­agencies and ­utility trade organizations in ­launching the Utility Industry Workforce Initiative. The focus of the initiative is to recruit and train ­service ­members, veterans and military spouses to qualify for high-skilled jobs in the utility industry.

“Line crews depend on teamwork, courage and total trust – just like the military. And operations centers are familiar to anyone who has spent time in uniform. With more than 14,000 jobs to fill in the next five years, electric ­cooperatives offer a perfect oppor­tunity for the nearly 160,000 active duty U.S. service members tran­sitioning out of the military every year. The training, ­experience and ­knowledge of these brave women and men ties in perfectly with our ­cooperative principles and values. We look ­forward to ­convincing these talented veterans that the diversity of opportunity at electric co-ops is a great fit for them and their ­communities,” NRECA CEO Jo Ann Emerson said.

The initiative is a public-private partnership among the Departments of Energy, Defense, Labor, and Veterans Affairs, the Edison Electric Institute, the Center for Energy Workforce Development, the Nuclear Energy Institute, NRECA and the American Gas Association.