Avangrid welcomes first class to newly built training center
As owners and operators of over 75 wind and solar projects around the country, training is key to making sure our technicians are working safely and keeping clean energy flowing onto the grid. Earlier this year, we celebrated the grand opening of Avangrid’s National Training Center in Sherman County, Oregon, and we are proud to have recently welcomed the first class of new hires to the facility.
Ten newly hired Avangrid technicians from five different states made up the first group of students to go through two-and-a-half weeks of safety and technical training.
“We are thrilled to officially welcome the first students to our National Training Center,” said Pedro Azagra, Avangrid CEO. “This is an excellent example of our commitment to the health and safety of the hundreds of women and men working at our renewable energy projects. They are at the forefront of America’s clean energy transition, and a big reason why Avangrid is leading the way.”
The facility will help Avangrid bring new wind and solar technicians up to speed quickly and efficiently, while empowering hundreds of current technicians to become experts in their field.
Students will receive unrivaled access to industry-leading training. For example, they will practice on Avangrid’s 30-foot-tall fall protection tower to learn how to handle emergencies while working at heights, empowering trainees to master proper safety protocols in a safe place before working on a turbine. They will get hands-on training on a variety of components pertaining to a wind farm, solar plant, or high voltage installation, including access to a completely intact nacelle (top of a wind turbine) for practicing maintenance and troubleshooting in a real-world environment.
“I was born and raised working on motors, mechanic stuff,” said Karsen Coats, a new wind technician at Avangrid’s Barton Chapel wind farm in Texas. “Looking to my future, I wanted something that would be a good career path. I saw a lot of opportunities moving into wind and I feel like I was capable of moving up.”
Clean energy jobs grew at double the rate of the rest of the U.S. economy in 2023, according to a recent report from the U.S. Department of Energy. With the NTC, Avangrid is well-positioned to address this growing demand for highly skilled renewable energy jobs and expects to train over 100 wind and solar technicians annually.
Avangrid’s training program was developed in accordance with guidelines from the American Clean Power Association. Additionally, Avangrid is seeking certification from the Global Wind Organisation (GWO) to ensure technicians are meeting global industry safety standards.
The NTC is located near many of Avangrid’s 14 existing wind and solar facilities, with a combined operating capacity of about 1.6 GW, and represents additional investment in the region.
