National Grid Celebrates Careers in Energy Week: Events to Empower New Workforce

Massachusetts Open Houses Showcase Exciting Energy Careers to Students, Veterans and Public

WALTHAM, Mass. – As part of National Grid’s commitment to working with local communities and to encourage and empower the next generation of the energy workforce, the company is celebrating Careers in Energy Week by hosting local events for students, veterans and the public.

In support of this year’s efforts, Governor Charlie Baker has named the week of October 10th Careers in Energy Week across the Commonwealth in an official proclamation.

“We are thrilled to do our part to inspire the next generation to pursue career opportunities in the energy field,” said Marcy Reed, president of National Grid in Massachusetts. “Careers in Energy Week helps us empower the next generation of workers by educating them about the ample and diverse careers this exciting industry offers.” She added, “We’re going to need their help as we build energy networks to meet the needs of our 21st century digital economy.”

“We are proud to continue our work with National Grid to encourage students across the Commonwealth to consider a career in the energy industry, where Massachusetts continues to create thousands of high-skilled, well-paying jobs,” said Secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton. “The comprehensive energy diversification legislation recently signed by Governor Baker reiterates this Administration’s commitment to growing our energy economy as we work collaboratively to deliver cleaner, more reliable energy to the Commonwealth.”

Representative Thomas A. Golden, Jr. (D-Lowell), Chairman of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy will participate in the program with students from Lowell High School and Blackstone Technical Vocational School. “It is so important to meeting the Commonwealth’s environmental goals and increasing economic development that we have a solid energy infrastructure and programs that expand our leading clean energy efforts,” Golden said. “To do that we need a skilled and trained workforce, and Careers in Energy plays an essential role in expanding awareness of the opportunities in both the traditional and emerging energy field.”

Careers in Energy Week is a national effort launched in 2010 by the Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD) to increase the public’s awareness about energy careers. National Grid will host open houses, information sessions, and school visits through October 14. Below is a schedule of events to be held at National Grid’s Training Center located at 1 Latti Farm Rd in Millbury, MA.

• Wednesday, October 12 – Blackstone Valley Tech and Lowell High School students visit featuring Representative Golden as the guest speaker
• Thursday, October 13 – Assabet Regional Technical High School and Lexington’s Minuteman Tech students visit
• Friday, October 14 – Worcester Technical High School students visit

Additionally, National Grid employees will be visiting and presenting at Whittier Regional Technical Vocational High School on Thursday, October 13th. National Grid will also participate in Residential Construction Career Day on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Cape Cod Fairgrounds.

To assure availability of senior managers for student engagement and to allow schools and students to plan well in advance and set aside time for enrichment programs, National Grid annually schedules Career in Energy events during the Columbus holiday week.

The Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD) began Careers in Energy Week as part of a concerted national effort. It is a non-profit consortium of electric, natural gas, and nuclear utilities; their associations — the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), American Gas Association (AGA), Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), and National Rural Electric Cooperatives Association (NRECA) — and the unions who serve these industries: the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the Utility Workers Union of American, AFL-CIO (UWUA).