Avangrid Trains Approximately 150 Students in First Year of National Training Center
Avangrid, Inc., a leading energy company and member of the Iberdrola Group, announced that it trained approximately 150 students during the first year of operations at its National Training Center (NTC) in Oregon. The company welcomed its first class to the center one year ago and continues to provide state-of-the-art training to new and existing technicians at the facility located near many of Avangrid’s operating energy projects. The NTC is representative of Avangrid’s efforts to develop America’s energy workforce with an emphasis on safety, supporting its continued investment in U.S. energy production.
“One year ago, we welcomed the first group of students to our National Training Center with a vision to empower our technicians with world-class training and hands-on experience. Today, that vision is thriving. With over 150 current and existing employees trained so far, the NTC has become a cornerstone of our commitment to safety, operational excellence, and workforce development,” said Avangrid CEO Jose Antonio Miranda. “We look forward to expanding the NTC’s capabilities to ensure our teams are prepared to safely and expertly produce power for American homes and businesses.”
“I recently visited the NTC to see firsthand how we are preparing our technicians with the tools and training they need to thrive at Avangrid. I was impressed by the level of expertise, innovation, and dedication in our training program, which is ensuring our people have access to the highest levels of safety and technical training,” said Sy Oytan, CEO of Avangrid Power. “The NTC has become foundational to the success of our technicians who are helping Avangrid meeting surging energy demand across the country.”
The NTC helps newly hired technicians get up to speed quickly and efficiently, while empowering hundreds of existing technicians to become experts in their field. Because Avangrid operates and maintains its nationwide fleet of energy projects, it is critical that technicians are fully equipped with all the knowledge and tools to complete high-quality work.
“I was part of the first class to attend the NTC last year. Going through training there laid the groundwork for me as I started my career at Avangrid,” said Colin Pope, a technician at Avangrid’s La Joya energy project in New Mexico. “The hands-on training helped me become comfortable with my equipment, my harness, and our safety procedures, enabling me to focus on my job and to work safely each day. I welcome the opportunity to go back and expand my skillset in the future.”
“When we started operation of the NTC one year ago, we were imagining what it could be. I think we’ve come further than our imagination,” said Lora Chante, Vice President of Operations & Maintenance at Avangrid. “We have already enriched and enlarged the training center with new equipment and more tools. In a short period of time, the NTC has become a vital asset to Avangrid by equipping our technicians with everything they need.”
Students 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 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 for practicing maintenance and troubleshooting in a real-world environment. Students also have access to fully immersive training using virtual and mixed reality, helping them become familiar with a variety of machines and experience working through challenges in a simulated environment.
Avangrid’s training program at the NTC is certified by the Global Wind Organisation, ensuring technicians meet global industry safety standards. The company expects to train at least 100 new and existing technicians at the facility each year.
Avangrid | http://www.avangrid.com
