Virginia

Visit the Virginia Energy Workforce Consortium website.

2019 Virginia State Energy and Education Assessment

2019 Consortium Activities

The VEWC, in partnership with the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, kicked off a competition during Careers in Energy Week, which encouraged students to research innovative solutions to real-world problems. The Governor signed a proclamation for Careers in Energy Week in the state of Virginia. Earlier in 2019, the consortium received approval to embed a 17th career cluster in energy in their state.

Careers in Energy Week 2019

• The Governor of Virginia proclaimed October 14-18, 2019, Careers in Energy Week. Read the proclamation.
• There will be an internship information table at Reynolds Community College highlighting professional and skilled trade internships. Those internships are Customer Billing, Customer Account Management, and Facilities Management.
• Dominion Energy is promoting open, full time career opportunities at the Hampton Get Hired Job Fair. The Hampton Get Hired Job Fair is held in a diverse community with a large Veteran population.
• On October 15, Dominion Energy Ambassadors and Wendy Wallener, VP of Shared Services, participated in an information session and networking at the Virginia Tech Mixer at Hahn Horticulture Garden Pavilion.
• On October 16, Dominion Energy shared intern and full-time opportunities at the Howard Campus Career Fair.
• On October 17, Dominion Energy held an information session to showcase the company and career opportunities at the UVA Breakfast + Info Session event at Stadium Presidential Suite.
• Dominion Energy participated in the Cedar Street Baptist Church College and Career Fair Greek Sunday in Richmond, Virginia.

2018 Consortium Activities

The VEWC continues to work on creating energy career pathways in the state and executing their 2017–2021 strategic plan with a focus on career awareness and communications, implementing education pathways, workforce planning, and structure and support.

VEWC members continue to offer an Energy Technology Career Studies Certificate at several community colleges; a Power Line Worker Training Program at Southside Virginia Community College and Wytheville Community College; Natural Gas and Solar Ready Vets SkillBridge programs at Tidewater Community College; and an Energy and Construction training program with Goodwill of Washington DC in Northern Virginia.

The VEWC has eight high schools in the state which are offering the Energy and Power certificate course (EIF), with interest from several other schools to add this course in the next year or two. This is up from six schools who were offering the course this time last year.

The Governor of Virginia recognized and proclaimed October 15–19 as Careers in Energy Week in Virginia. VEWC members across the state participated in various activities which included “I Got Into Energy” stories from employees and social media communications, employers and educators partnering to conduct class room visits and tours of employer sites and facilities, distribution of CEWD’s Careers in Energy Week materials, strategic discussion between organizations for future program implementation, and more.

The VEWC is partnering with the Virginia Chamber of Commerce to conduct a “Get Into Energy” Innovation Challenge with six high schools offering energy education and five energy employers. The challenge will kick off in January 2019 and will provide students with authentic experiences through solving industry problems, teamwork, working with industry mentors, and building awareness about energy careers. Students will work on a problem statement based on the Virginia Grid Transformation and Security Act of 2018 and identify innovative, renewable energy, or sustainability solutions to help create Virginia’s “self-healing” energy grid.

The VEWC continued to grow its membership, offer unique opportunities for employers to connect with educators and organizations developing future talent pipelines, and align their strategies with the Office of the Governor of Virginia and Virginia’s Energy Plan.

Careers in Energy Week 2018

• Careers in Energy Week has been proclaimed by the Governor of Virginia. Read the proclamation.
• One employer is hosting its annual PGA Charity Classic golf tournament during Careers in Energy Week. Proceeds from this tournament go to military and veteran organizations. The Troops to Energy Jobs program and Virginia’s Energy Educational and Career Pathways will be promoted.
• One employer is sponsoring a two-day “Power The Future Design-A-Thon” at Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Engineering. This is a unique, 36-hour challenge where college students from all disciplines put their talents to the test to bring ideas to life. There is a focus on developers, programmers, engineers, creatives, marketers, analysts, and business development. There will be a $4,000 cash prize awarded to the top team and additional prizes for second- and third-place teams.
• The Richmond, VA Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual “Mission Tomorrow” event, a career exploration event for thousands of 8th graders. Dominion Energy is the presenting sponsor and will have large displays including a large bucket truck, hot truck/”live wire” display, IT, innovation, and a number of other displays to help bring our careers to life for the 8th graders.
• Several high schools offering the Energy & Power course (Energy Industry Fundamentals) are conducting demonstrations led by the Energy students. The schools’ industry partners will provide speakers, presentations, and “live wire” demonstrations for the classes.
• Employers will participate in career fairs hosted by a number of our universities and community colleges highlighting our energy industry internships and careers opportunities.
• Southside Virginia Community College is partnering with employers to promote their Power Line Worker Training Program and other Energy programs to high school CTE programs across the state.
• Central Virginia Community College has received grants from the Office of the Governor of Virginia allowing them to receive and begin constructing a solar panel to operate their new “Farm Bot,” which will be completely sustainable. Construction on the “Farm Bot” will begin during Careers in Energy Week.
• Employers will engage their Employee Resource Groups and internal diversity organizations to support the activities planned for Careers in Energy Week.
• Several employers will engage their internal employees to participate in an “I Got Into Energy” communications plan, including internal articles, surveys for employees to share their favorite aspects of working in the energy industry, and social media campaigns to help create awareness about careers in the energy industry, how our employees got into energy, and why they work in energy.
• Dominion Energy worked with a local PBS station, Community Idea Station, on a video about careers in the energy industry and current employees. It was released for Careers in Energy Week. Watch the video here.

2017 Consortium Activities

VEWC continues to work on creating energy career pathways in the state. The updated 5-year strategic plan was implemented in January with a focus on structure and support, workforce planning, career awareness and communications, and implementing education pathways.

In March, the VEWC co-hosted an Energy Workforce and Educational Pathway summit with the Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium and the Virginia Community College System. The summit included a keynote address from Dominion Energy’s Chief Innovation Officer and three panels of speakers addressing the state and future of the energy industry, workforce and talent pipeline development best practices, and educators addressing the importance of career and technical education and pathways. Approximately 100 educators, industry representatives, and state and government officials were in attendance. Recommendations as a result of the summit include pursing a 17th Energy Cluster and more postsecondary energy pathways, certificates, and degrees across Virginia’s community colleges.

Led by Dominion Energy, Washington Gas, Pepco, and Electric Cooperatives in the northern part of the state, the VEWC partnered with Goodwill of Washington, DC, to offer an Energy and Utility Skilled Trades (EUST) job training program for clients of Goodwill. Included in the training were parts of EIF and the GIE Math Bootcamp. 21 individuals completed the course, and 8 were hired by the end of Q3 2017.

VEWC has 6 high schools in the state that are offering the Energy and Power certificate course (EIF), with interest from 3 other schools to begin offering the course in 2018-19. This is up from 2 schools who were offering the course this time last year. There are 3 community colleges who are offering an Energy Technology Career Studies Certificate (CEWD Introductory Core Curriculum), with another offering a Renewable Energy Technologies Career Studies Certificate focusing on solar and consisting of a similar core curriculum.

VEWC members also launched a Natural Gas SkillBridge program led by Virginia Natural Gas in partnership with Tidewater Community College. The first cohort had 6 military personnel participate, with all 6 receiving interest and offers from employers.

In October, VEWC members across the state participated in Careers in Energy Week. Activities included social media communications, employers and educators partnering to conduct class room visits and tours of employer sites and facilities, distribution of CEWD’s Careers in Energy Week materials, strategic discussion between organizations for future program implementation, and more.

Careers in Energy Week 2017

• Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe signed a proclamation recognizing Careers in Energy Week.
• High schools offering energy courses are conducting Careers in Energy Week kickoff events.
• One high school educator has scheduled the grand opening of their new Solar Energy Lab to take place during Careers in Energy Week.
• Postsecondary schools are hosting their career and technical fairs during Careers in Energy Week. This includes employers incorporating Careers in Energy Week materials into what will be distributed to students, and employers setting up technical displays and demonstrations at some of the fairs.
• Employers are partnering with educators at all levels (secondary and postsecondary) to conduct energy careers information sessions in classrooms, host tours of their stations and other facilities, execute live displays and demonstrations for students, and market internships and scholarships available with the employers.
• Employers and educators offering energy courses and curricula have planned social media campaigns using tools and resources from CEWD’s Careers in Energy Week Toolkit to highlight careers and educational pathways in Virginia. Employers are also updating “sponsored” advertisements on their social media pages to market Careers in Energy Week.
• HR and Staffing representatives from employers will provide students with resume writing and interview tips, as well as tips on how to apply to our careers.
• Employers are leveraging their Communications, Community, and External Affairs departments; Speaker Bureau’s; employee resource groups; and others to create awareness about Careers in Energy Week.
• Employee resource groups are combining Careers in Energy Week messages with Black Energy Awareness Month (BEAM) activities with students and other community organizations.
• One employer is hosting its annual PGA Charity Classic golf tournament during Careers in Energy Week. Proceeds from this tournament go to military and veteran organizations. The Troops to Energy Jobs program and Virginia’s energy educational and career pathways will be promoted.

2016 Consortium Activities

The consortium did a lot throughout the year. VA FIRST met with the consortium and encouraged members to get involved in FIRST. EIF has been approved for high schools as part of an energy career pathway. In July, the consortium ran workshops for teachers to gain more interest in EIF. Virginia Values Vets hosted a utility employer training day for 50 veterans. Two community colleges in the state have added energy programs. The consortium is also thinking about doing a Natural Gas Bootcamp.

Careers in Energy Week 2016

• VEWC leadership has shared the Careers in Energy Week Promotion Guide with members encouraging them to promote the week through communications and activities as each member sees fit.
• VEWC has encouraged members to like and share CEWD / Get Into Energy content during this Careers in Energy Week.
• VEWC is partnering with the Virginia Department of Veterans Services’ Virginia Values Veterans (V3) program to host an employer training day to help Virginia energy and utility companies with the best practices for recruiting, hiring, and retaining veterans in our industry.
• VEWC is encouraging members to promote the new Energy curriculum which exists in Virginia. The courses and curriculum are:
  • Energy Technology Career Studies Certificate, which is being offered by Central Virginia CC and John Tyler CC beginning Fall 2016.
  • Energy & Power (Energy Industry Fundamentals) certificate course, which was approved by the Virginia Department of Education in 2014 and began being offered at several Virginia high schools in 2015-16, with more scheduled to offer the class beginning in 2017-18.