Nebraska Electrical Industry Leaders Open New Windmill Training Facility
Gov. Heineman to Participate in Ribbon-Cutting, Oct. 15
The federal stimulus legislation will send millions of dollars to Nebraska specifically for “green jobs training,” but the Nebraska Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and Locals 22, 265, 231 and 1525 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) aren’t waiting for those funds. The organizations will officially open a new wind power training structure in a special event at the Electrical Training Facility in Omaha, on Thursday, October 15, at 9:30 a.m. Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman will attend the event and offer remarks prior to the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“This new training facility demonstrates the economic potential that clean power from renewable sources represents for Nebraska,” Gov. Heineman said. The Governor was instrumental in helping the center secure $100,000 in grants to build the facility.
“There’s a critical need for a renewable energy infrastructure in our state and region, and we’re extremely pleased to provide the best place to train the workforce necessary to meet that need,” said Brian Sullivan, Executive Director, Nebraska Chapter, NECA. NECA and the IBEW are partners in the Electrical Training Facility where the windmill is located.
The new facility will include a custom replica of a power-generating windmill tower that measures 12 feet wide and 55 feet tall. “Basically, we want to make this training facility as close to the real thing as possible,” said Gary Kelly, Business Manager, Local 22. “To do this work successfully, electricians need to be trained inside of the actual windmill structure.”
Hundreds of wind generation fields are going up across the Midwest, Sullivan said, and safe transmission and distribution of the electric power they generate is essential. “Any time you think about renewable energy, you need to remember that you’re dealing with electric power, not just a cool new structure or solar panels on your roof,” he said.
“We want the electrical workers thoroughly trained, so from the first day they arrive on a jobsite, they are safe and productive,” said John F. Bourne, International Representative of the I.B.E.W. 11th District.
“NECA and the IBEW in Nebraska are showing how revolutionizing our energy industry strengthens our national economy. NECA contractors and IBEW electrical workers have the technology, training, management and safety skills to make it happen,” said R. Drew Gibson, Executive Director, Midwestern Region, NECA.
The training will include proper attire, learning to free-fall to safety, and a comprehensive core curriculum on the electrical technology used in power-generating windmills. Electricians will learn how to work in confined space, climbing and rescue, high-voltage splicing, first aid, Code of Excellence, applicable OSHA regulations and specialized equipment. Workers who successfully complete the training will master a timed qualification test as well.
Nebraska’s electrical training facility participates in the National Joint Apprenticeship Training Center’s (NJATC) “Green Jobs” curriculum that was recently recognized by several members of Congress as a leading example of green jobs training essential to creating a new energy economy in the U.S. Mike Callanan, NJATC Executive Director, estimates that 34,000 IBEW electricians across the country have had some green training, putting NECA contractors well ahead of the competition in meeting the demand for renewable energy.
On a recent visit to a NECA/IBEW training facility to see the “Green Jobs” curriculum in action, Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) said, “This system that [NECA and the IBEW] have put into place is what we’ve got to do across the nation – no ifs, ands, or buts. It’s very simple. It’s good for national security, it’s good for jobs, and it’s good for the climate.”
"Green Technology is not just a buzz word," said Gary Kelly, IBEW Business Manager of Local 22 in Omaha. "We all live and work on this planet, and it is the unique partnership we share with NECA that is going to allow us to flourish in this market.”
Construction on the windmill facility is has been completed, and training will start immediately this fall. Once the facility is up and running, Sullivan and Kelly are confident that electricians who complete the training will be ready to go to work on windmill projects immediately.
“This new facility is just another way NECA and the IBEW are meeting our most important responsibility – giving our customers a skilled and trained workforce,” Sullivan said. “We know that green energy is the future, and we also know that NECA and the IBEW are the best team to make this future a reality in Nebraska.”
To learn more about Nebraska’s electrician apprenticeship training program, contact Mr. Ed Karnish, Local 22 JATC Training Director at 402-331-3103. To schedule a tour of the windmill training facility, contact Brian Sullivan, NECA Nebraska Chapter Executive Director, 402-397-5105, bsullivan@neneca.com
