Workforce Development Is Key To Successful Virginian Wind Industry
Wind farm developments off the coast of Virginia are bringing turbine manufacturers to the Hampton Roads region.
To maintain momentum in building a wind industry in Virginia, it’s vital the workforce receives training to acquire skills relevant to the job.
The Mid-Atlantic Wind Training Alliance and some community colleges are offering courses to those interested in pursuing a career in the wind industry.
America’s offshore wind industry is seeing tremendous growth. In 2019, the industry supported 120,000 jobs, and today, wind turbine technicians are the fastest-growing job in the country. This is good news for Virginians. Home to deep ports capable of supporting the manufacturing of massive turbines and a skilled maritime workforce, Virginia is primed to be a central player in a burgeoning wind turbine industry.
A number of recent developments are bolstering Virginia’s offshore wind industry. Dominion Energy is currently working on the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project, which will power nearly 700,000 homes and create over 1,000 jobs once complete. The world’s largest developer of offshore wind, Ørsted, began leasing space in a Port of Virginia terminal last year. And late last month, Siemens Gamesa, a Spanish company that manufactures turbine blades used for offshore wind farms, announced plans to invest $200 million to operate a facility at the Portsmouth Marine Terminal.
These developments signal that Virginia is on the right track in developing offshore wind as a means to offset carbon emissions and build a cleaner energy grid. But it also means that clean energy jobs are coming to Virginia; the Siemens Gamesa project is expected to create over 300 jobs. To maintain the momentum in building Virginia’s wind industry, it’s vital to develop a workforce equipped with the skills necessary for the job. That’s why the state is offering a couple ways for those looking to make a career out of wind to acquire the skills needed for the job.
Last year, Virginia formed the Mid-Atlantic Wind Training Alliance. Hosted by the New College Institute and Centura College, two education centers based in Virginia that provide workforce training to students, the Alliance will administer courses on safety and carrying out mechanical tasks related to turbines. All of the courses offered are certified by the Global Wind Organisation, a non-profit formed by wind turbine manufacturers throughout the world that develops training and safety standards for the wind workforce.
Community colleges in Virginia are also stepping up to help develop a strong workforce for the state’s wind industry. Tidewater Community College, which has campuses in Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach, is offering workforce training for the wind turbine industry. The school has invested in $300,000 of training equipment to help prepare students. The first group of students is scheduled to graduate from the wind turbine courses at the same time Dominion is expected to begin hiring for construction jobs. Additionally, Thomas Nelson Community College in Hampton is also offering a course on wind turbine technology.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for wind turbine service technicians in 2019 was $56,700, making the career prospect an attractive one for Virginians. Developing a strong wind workforce will not only bring high wages to Virginians, but it will also help attract new wind developments. In turn, these developments will make investments in Virginian communities and deliver clean energy to households throughout the Commonwealth. The next General Assembly and governor should continue to provide workforce development opportunities in order to create favorable economic conditions in the Hampton Roads region and throughout the state.