Nearly 90 electric lineworkers representing approximately 40 public power utilities came together recently over three days in Grand Island, Neb., to receive hands-on training while building a training facility for future public power lineworkers.
The inaugural Heartland Municipal Lineworkers Training Conference was held Sept. 29-Oct. 1 and provided lineworkers and utility professionals valuable training, skill development, equipment demonstrations and peer networking.
The conference marked an important milestone in the development of a Regional Public Power Workforce Training Facility in Grand Island, a collaborative initiative designed to strengthen workforce development for Nebraska’s public power utilities.
The Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska (MEAN) along with Grand Island Utilities joined several other municipal utilities from across the region to coordinate and support the effort.
“By all accounts the initial training conference was a success, even with the rainy weather," Ryan Schmitz, P.E., Utilities Director for Grand Island Utilities.
"Nearly 40 different public power entities from multiple states were represented at this years conference. With the retirement of the baby boomer generation comes an urgent need to provide training for the next wave of lineworker professionals required to lead public power for decades to come. We look forward to continuing to evolve this conference and growing the network of public power brethren involved. Grand Island Utilities is proud to play a part in centralizing a collaborative effort that has the potential to be something very special for a long time to come," Schmitz said.
The training site is designed to provide municipal utility crews with a dedicated, hands-on environment for field-based instruction, equipment training and safety exercises that reflect real-world operating conditions.
Conference participants had the opportunity to put their skills to work through hands-on instruction and training activities that included utility pole setting, transformer connections, metering, safety practices and line construction.
The event also provided an opportunity for lineworkers from different communities to share experiences, learn from one another and build relationships that will strengthen public power's workforce.
“This inaugural conference and the new training facility is a result of collaboration among many public power utilities to find a solution to address valuable ongoing workforce training,” said Bruce Doll, director of utility services and member relations for the Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska.
The conference and training facility expands training opportunities for lineworkers to help ensure utility employees are prepared to safely and reliably service their communities for years to come, MEAN noted.
