Michigan

Visit the Michigan Energy Workforce Development Consortium website.

2019 Michigan State Energy and Education Assessment

2019 Consortium Activities

Michigan was awarded a grant that enabled it to hire a project manager to help the MEWDC move at a quicker pace. This consortium has engaged new members and reengaged some that had left the consortium. In December, the MEWDC presented an updated strategic plan and reconfigured leadership organization. MEWDC has six high schools and four community colleges teaching Energy Industry Fundamentals and has plans to add additional institutions in 2020.

Careers in Energy Week 2019

• The Governor of Michigan proclaimed October 14-18, 2019, Careers in Energy Week. Read the proclamation.
• The MEWDC shared a press release about Careers in Energy Week in Michigan.
• During the week of October 14-18, there will be classroom activities and contests for high school students statewide.
• On October 14, DTE Energy and Oakland Schools Technical Campus Southeast will have a tour and demonstrations.
• On October 14, Lansing Board of Water and Light (LBWL) Erickson Plant will host a tour for Holt High School.
• On October 15, Consumers Energy will host Marshall Tours for Jackson Pathway High School, Pansophia Academy, Coldwater, and Hartland students.
• On October 16, LBWL is hosting a tour.
• On October 16, there will be a Hartland High School Energy Program Open House for the general public.
• On October 17, there will be a Henry Ford Community College Career Fair.
• On October 17, there will be a Jackson College Open House.
• On October 17, Consumers Energy is hosting a Ludington Pumped Storage Facility Tour for Ludington High School students and Mason County High School students.
• On October 18, DTE Trombly Service Center is hosting a tour for students from Cody, Osborn, River Rouge, and Pershing high schools and Randolph Career and Technical Center.
• On October 18, DTE Grand Rapids Wealthy Station is hosting a tour for job-ready adults, in partnership with the Grand Rapids Urban League and the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan.
• On October 18, there will be a MIAT College of Technology Open House for students from Fordson, Edsel Ford, and Airport high schools and Starkweather Academy.
• On October 18, there will be a Boyne City/Great Lakes Energy Tour for Newaygo students.
• On October 18, there will be a Alpena Community College Tour for multiple northern high schools.
• On October 18, LBWL is hosting a tour for Lansing and Waverly students.
• On October 18, there will be a Mi Career Quest Career Fair for Charlevoix-Emmet IDS ninth graders.

2018 Consortium Activities

The MEWDC made great strides during 2018 in building out its talent pipelines at the high school and community college levels, with six participating high school programs that offer EIF, and five community college programs. Three additional high school programs are planned in 2019.  For Careers in Energy Week, the MEWDC produced two videos using the “I Got Into Energy” career awareness concept and sponsored a Social Media Hashtag Contest for students ages 14–18. In December, the MEWDC will celebrate its 10th Anniversary.

Careers in Energy Week 2018

• The week of October 15 has officially been declared Careers in Energy Week by Governor Rick Snyder.
• MEWDC has created its own logo and hashtag for Careers in Energy Week:
  
• Both Consumers Energy and DTE Energy, in collaboration with over 50 partners throughout the state, recognize the importance of Energy Career Awareness with our Michigan students. Therefore, we have created a couple videos that highlight the wide variety of career opportunities in our industry. We encourage you to share these video links with whomever you deem appropriate within your school and beyond. Ask them to take 5-6 minutes to show these videos in class, as a way to create that vital awareness among our youth.
  • Energizing Careers at Consumers Energy
  • Energizing Careers at DTE Energy
• Consumers Energy and DTE Energy are co-sponsoring a Social Media Hashtag Contest for students ages 14-18. Please see this flyer for more information on how they can win a drone, simply by posting a picture to either Twitter or Instagram, using #GetIntoEnergyMichigan. If one of your students’ photos is chosen, your school will win $500 in cold hard cash!
• Careers in Energy Week events were covered by news outlets throughout the state:
  • WXYZ-TV (Detroit) – Tour of DTE Energy’s Technical Center in Westland
  • FOX 2 (Detroit) – Tour of DTE Energy’s Technical Center in Westland
  • Daily Energy Insider – Story on Careers in Energy Week
  • Michigan Business Network – Interview with Edythe Hatter-Williams, CEO, Capital Area Michigan Works!
  • Battle Creek Enquirer – Tour of Consumers Energy’s Marshall Training Center
  • WILX-TV (Lansing) – Rep. Walberg tour of Lansing Community College
  • WLNS-TV (Lansing) – Rep. Walberg tour of Lansing Community College
  • WILS-AM (Lansing) – Interview with Michael Flowers from the Lansing Board of Water & Light
  • JTV-TV (Jackson) – Interview with Roger Curtis from Consumers Energy
  • Traverse City Record Eagle – Brief on Careers in Energy Week
  • WFDF-AM (Detroit) – Live interview
  • WLNS-TV (Lansing) – Tour of Lansing Board of Water & Light facilities
  • WHMI-FM (Livingston County) – Provided information on event at Hartland High School
  • Radio host Michael Patrick Shiels – Interview with Diane Antishin from DTE Energy
  • WOOD-TV (Grand Rapids) – Interview with officials from DTE Energy, Consumers Energy
  • Ludington Daily News – Joined tour of Ludington Pumped Storage Facility

2017 Consortium Activities

Building on the momentum created by the MEWDC in gaining approval for a 17th career cluster in energy, the group made significant progress during 2017 in building talent pipelines for gas and electric lineworkers. Partnerships with Detroit Public Schools, Oakland Schools, and others solidified the state’s pathways into postsecondary programs and apprenticeships and internships with the two primary industry partners, Consumers Energy and DTE Energy. Governor Rick Snyder signed a proclamation for Careers in Energy week, and Consumers Energy, DTE Energy, and the Lansing Board of Water and Light hosted tours for local career and technical education students and Jobs for Michigan Graduates participants.

Careers in Energy Week 2017

• MEWDC has events happening Monday-Friday of Careers in Energy Week. See their schedule of events flyer for more information.
• MIAT is hosting a Careers in Energy Night on Thursday, October 19 from 5-8pm. There will be two industry speakers and optional tours. For more information and to RSVP, see the event flyer.

2016 Consortium Activities

The governor of Michigan signed a proclamation for Careers in Energy Week. During that week, three companies hosted six tours. The consortium held an Education Summit this year and is focusing on building a skilled trades program. Michigan received a $2.5 million registered apprenticeship grant from DOL.

Careers in Energy Week 2016

• Download a full list of events.
• On October 17, there is a Consumers Energy Marshall Training Center tour from 10am-1pm.
• On October 18, there is a DTE-Westland Electric Training Center tour from 10am-1pm.
• On October 18, there is a Consumers Energy Kalamazoo Service Center tour from 3:30pm-5pm.
• On October 19, there is a Consumers Energy Flint Service Center tour from 10am-1pm.
• On October 20, there is a DTE Melvindale Gas Training Center four from 10am-1pm.
• On October 20, there is a Lansing Board of Water & Light Luncheon at 12pm.
• On October 21, there are Lansing Board of Water & Light tours in the morning and afternoon.
• MIAT will have tours and open houses held throughout the week for the general public.
• Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency will be promoting careers in energy throughout the week via social media and brochure distribution.
• Lansing Community College, Henry Ford College, Jackson College, Alpena Community College, and Michigan Workforce Development Agency will provide supplementary support on-site for tours.

2015 Consortium Activities

The MEWDC meets face-to-face three times a year. The executive committee meets monthly. The consortium is the first state to name two executive sponsors. They are completing deliverables for a $90k grant from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. There were multiple Careers in Energy Week events, including a governor’s proclamation, TV and print media coverage of outreach events, a new brochure, and a video. Michigan does a good job keeping its website current: http://consortia.getintoenergy.com/michigan/. A 17th Career Cluster in Energy was approved by the Michigan Board of Education in February. The MEWDC is having a strategic planning update session with its executive committee on January 21, 2016.

Careers in Energy Week 2015

• Governor Rick Snyder of Michigan signed a proclamation recognizing Careers in Energy Week as October 12-18, 2015. The proclamation can be read here.
• DTE Energy and Consumers Energy are hosting events where high school students can participate in real-life training and development exercises simulating aspects of energy careers in the electric and gas industries. To read more about Michigan’s Careers in Energy Week plans, click here.
• FOX2 News in Detroit had Careers in Energy Week coverage this week. Watch the video and read the transcript here.
• The Michigan Energy Workforce Development Consortium (MEWDC) has a calendar of events for October and November, including several events for Careers in Energy Week.
• High school students visited Consumers Energy’s Flint, MI, service center on Tuesday, October 13, to learn more about skilled jobs in the natural gas field. Click here to read about and see photos from the event.
• FOX2 News featured a Careers in Energy Week story about high school students visiting DTE Energy and learning about careers in the energy industry.