Avangrid Prepares Workforce for Growing Wind Jobs

Avangrid, a sustainable energy company and member of the Iberdrola Group, just had its second cohort of newly hired technicians graduate from Avangrid’s National Training Center (NTC). Technicians from Avangrid wind projects in three different states attended two-and-a-half weeks of safety and technical training at the NTC located in Sherman County, Oregon.

Wind Turbine Technician positions are expected to be one of the country’s fastest-growing jobs through the end of the decade.

“At Avangrid, we are developing a highly trained and skilled workforce that is essential to the industry’s growth and creating job opportunities in the communities we operate in. Our National Training Center marked a significant step forward in our abilities to equip technicians with the highest standards of safety and technical expertise,” said Pedro Azagra, Avangrid CEO. “By investing in comprehensive training programs, we are not only enhancing the capabilities of our new hires but also empowering our existing workforce to excel in their roles.”

The NTC, built earlier this year, is helping Avangrid bring new wind and solar technicians up to speed quickly and efficiently, while empowering hundreds of current technicians to become

At the NTC, students practice on Avangrid’s 30-foot-tall fall protection tower to learn how to handle emergencies while working at heights, empowering trainees to master proper safety protocols in a safe place before working on a turbine. They get hands-on training on a variety of components pertaining to a wind farm, solar plant, or high voltage installation, including access to a completely intact nacelle (top of a wind turbine) for practicing maintenance and troubleshooting in a real-world environment. They also have access to fully immersive virtual reality training to become familiar with a variety of machines and experience working through challenges in a simulated environment.

Avangrid’s training program was developed in accordance with guidelines from the American Clean Power Association. Additionally, Avangrid is seeking certification from the Global Wind Organisation (GWO) to ensure technicians are meeting global industry safety standards.

The NTC is located near many of Avangrid’s 14 existing wind and solar facilities in Oregon, with about 1.6 GW of combined clean energy capacity, and represents additional investment in the region.