October 19-23, 2020: Careers in Energy Week

WHEREAS, access to affordable and reliable energy is fundamental to the lives of all Michigan residents, crucial to businesses, and has proven to be an essential and resilient industry during the COVID-19 pandemic; and,

 

WHEREAS, since energy-efficiency and clean energy sources have become a priority for Michigan residents, businesses, and governments, our energy industry is transforming energy generation to cleaner, greener generation technologies and infrastructure; and,

 

WHEREAS, Michigan’s energy industry currently boasts 115,000 jobs, with this total demand projected to increase through 2028, underscoring a vital need to increase Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) and skilled trades training to increase the number of Michigan residents ready to fill the growing gap in the workforce pipeline; and,

 

WHEREAS, Michigan’s economy continues to grow and become more competitive, and Michigan energy utilities have collectively hired more than 3,200 employees since January 2019; and,

 

WHEREAS, I have signed Executive Order 2020-182 and Executive Directive 2020-10 to create the MI Healthy Climate Plan, which will not only protect Michiganders’ public health and the environment, but also develop new clean energy and energy efficiency jobs by putting Michigan on a path towards becoming fully carbon-neutral by 2050; and,

 

WHEREAS, our energy industry is transforming energy generation to cleaner, greener, and renewable generation technologies and infrastructure as older coal-fired generation facilities are retired and both energy-efficiency and clean energy sources become a priority for Michigan residents, businesses, and governments; and,

 

WHEREAS, the Michigan Energy Workforce Development Consortium (MEWDC) is a coalition of more than 50 representatives of industry, education, workforce, labor, government, and Veterans celebrating 12 years of dedication to identifying and acting on current and future workforce issues crucial to building and sustaining Michigan’s energy industry; and,

 

WHEREAS, MEWDC has aligned with energy-related associations including the Michigan Energy Efficiency Contractor Association, the Michigan Municipal Electric Association, the Michigan Energy Co-operative Association, the Michigan Electric and Gas Association, and the American Petroleum Institute; and,

 

WHEREAS, MEWDC works with the State of Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity and demonstrated sector strategy best practices in Talent Pipeline Management, serving as a catalyst for engaging other industries; and,

 

WHEREAS, MEWDC has been awarded a Michigan Industry Cluster Approach 2.0 grant and a specialized business services grant from Michigan Works! Southeast to advance their work and further increase industry involvement and opportunities for students and residents of Michigan; and,

 

WHEREAS, MEWDC has collaborated with the Michigan Department of Education to create Michigan’s 17th “career cluster,” which provides a roadmap for high school, career and technical education, and community college students to pursue jobs in the often less visible energy sector; and,

 

WHEREAS, MEWDC members now have an enhanced, year-round presence in schools and on college and university campuses with a focus on hiring Michigan students, in addition to offering over 1,900 industry internship, worked-based learning, and co-op opportunities annually for students; and,

 

WHEREAS, during the week of October 19-23, MEWDC will focus on energy career awareness through virtual tours, virtual energy fairs, and other virtual events to raise awareness about the many benefits of careers in energy;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim October 19-23, 2020, as Careers in Energy Week in Michigan.