What do electricians, engineers, assembly technicians, utility managers, product managers and sales reps have in common? They’re all upskilling through certifications, training programs and statewide coalitions.

Electrification engineering

Engineers and assembly technicians who design and work with internal combustion engines can now learn how to electrify their product lines by obtaining a certificate in electrification engineering at the University of Minnesota’s Technological Leadership Institute in Minneapolis.

“We also have managers from utility companies take these courses, so they can learn more about the needs of end-­users of the grid, and how their utility can support that,” said Brad Bauer, an instructor with the Electrification Engineering Program. “For example, an end-user could all of a sudden have a fleet of electric vehicles, so the utility manager will want to learn how the grid can support that charging infrastructure.

“In that course, we see a lot of product managers or sales reps, or anybody wanting to better understand electrification terminology when they’re going out and marketing their products or meeting with their vendors,” he said.

The first course, Introduction to Electrification Engineering, is intended for anybody wanting to learn basic concepts. Students learn about battery storage, how the power grid works, associated challenges and regulatory policies pertaining to the grid. 

The second course, Electrification Engineering, gets more in-depth about how batteries and motor design work and will also learn the fundamentals of how to properly ground systems, he said. The third course, Advanced Electrification Engineering, is a senior-level course about the same topics and is equivalent to an undergraduate course.

Students also take a fourth elective course within the College of Science and Engineering—anything from electrical engineering to power electronics. Once they complete all four classes, they receive a certificate in electrification engineering.

Center initiatives

In 2023, the institute started the Minnesota Center for Electrification Opportunity, made of companies in the Twin Cities metropolitan area leveraging its resources, Bauer said. With funding from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, the consortium supports workforce development training in electrification, acting as a bridge between academia and industry.

Its first initiative was Electroposium, which “aimed to inspire and empower the next generation of electrification leaders” by showcasing the latest technological advancements, offering hands-on training sessions for high schoolers and college students, and fostering discussions about the future of electrification in Minnesota. This year, Electroposium became part of the Minnesota Energy Innovation Summit.

EVITP and other programs

The Metro Detroit Electrical Industry Training Center in Warren, Mich., offers two advanced programs in emerging technologies: Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training and Certification and Energy Storage and Microgrid Training and Certification, said Kimberly L’Heureux, president of IBEW Local 58 in Detroit. Both programs are led by Jennifer Mefford, the local’s director of marketing and business development.

The Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training and Certification program (EVITP) has become the standard in the United States and Canada for electric vehicle supply equipment installation, L’Heureux said. Launched in 2012, EVITP is an industry­-led collaboration.

The Energy Storage and Microgrid Training and Certification program (ESAMTAC) is equally important, L’Heureux said.

“As renewable energy grows, battery storage and microgrid systems are becoming essential for resiliency and cost savings,” she said. “ESAMTAC was designed to prepare our workforce for this shift, and the Metro Detroit Electrical Industry Training Center was one of the first in the nation to launch it. “

Workers across the Wolverine State can reap the benefits of the Michigan Statewide Infrastructure Workforce Plan. Launched in May by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity and other state agencies, the comprehensive plan is a framework for creating and enhancing job opportunities and training programs to meet Michigan’s critical infrastructure needs.

Partnerships

Michigan’s IBEW State Conference has also formed a coalition with the Climate Jobs National Resource Center, which mirrors efforts in California, New York, Maine and Texas, she said.

“The goal is to make the clean energy transition job-rich, equitable and led by workers. It’s about ensuring environmental progress while also delivering economic justice for Michigan’s workforce. Our contractors and members are well positioned to deliver on these new technologies because of the foundation of electrical expertise we already bring to every job,” L’Heureux said.

Workforce and business development in the electrical contracting industry has been significantly enhanced by the cooperation between labor and management, she said.

“Our contractors bring cutting-edge solutions to customers, and our highly skilled electricians deliver on every project, no matter how advanced the technology,” L’Heureux said.

In Detroit, labor-management collaboration can be seen at major events, she said. 

“At the Mackinac Policy Conference, our LMCC delegation sits at the table with Michigan’s business and political leaders,” L’Heureux said. “As we say, ‘You’re either at the table or on the menu.’ We’re always at the table, shaping the conversation around policy and infrastructure.”

Training centers

Workforce development—including upskilling programs—“all comes down to building a resilient, skilled and equitable workforce,” she said.

As part of this, Local 58 has secured several grants to expand training opportunities and reduce barriers for students. These include the MI-RAMP Grant, which supports training and provides supportive services for students; the Mi-Stairs Grant, which provides direct supportive services for students; the Michigan Grant, which funds training equipment; and the EVITP Grant, which helps cover training costs and provides fuel cards to apprentices.

“From new training programs to statewide coalitions, from national business development initiatives to local partnerships, we’re focused on preparing Michigan’s electricians for the future. The challenges are big, but so is our commitment,” L’Heureux said, adding that, with labor, “Michigan is ready to power the clean energy revolution.”

“One of our goals moving forward is to build in leadership and foreman training earlier in members’ careers—introducing leadership skills during the apprenticeship and offering foreman training for new journeymen,” she said. “We believe that developing leaders early will strengthen both our workforce and our contractors.”

The IBEW-NECA Electrical Training Alliance, Bowie, Md., develops and provides courses of study for upgrading journey-level workers’ skills so journey-level workforce can stay up to date on the newest technologies, said Todd Stafford, executive director.

“We’ve always upskilled in our program—this is a lifelong career of learning,” Stafford said.

ETA works directly with equipment manufacturers and technology developers of tools, equipment and supplies, he said. Once a new training need has been identified, ETA designs an appropriate training course, provides instructor training and distributes materials to help them meet their requirements. 

“We build courseware interactive tools for a journey-level worker, developing the software side to provide educational content on the theoretical background of a particular technology,” Stafford said. “Then they go out into the field and use the technology, which gives them greater potential for learning further about the technology—that’s the true value of upskilling.”

Upskilling is not just about technology, he said.

“We also encourage journey-level workers to participate in our field leadership skills program,” he said. 

“This will also enable them to get people from diverse backgrounds and different ages to work together as a team—and that takes skills as well,” Stafford said.

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