May 15, 2015
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers President Edwin D. Hill issued the following statement regarding the 21st Century Energy Workforce Act introduced by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.):
“The 21st Century Energy Workforce Act is a major step forward in helping our nation meet the skilled worker shortage looming over the energy industry.
“For more than a half of a century joint union/employer apprenticeship programs have been the largest and most effective trainers of skilled utility and energy-sector workers in the United States.
“By giving these programs the same standing as community colleges and other educational institutions when it comes to qualifying for federal job-training grants, Congress is finally recognizing what energy industry leaders have known for years: that our graduates are the best-trained and most qualified workers in the entire industry.
“The energy industry will require more than a million new skilled workers over the next 15 years, and the IBEW, along with our utility partners, are ready to work with federal officials in meeting this challenge.
