October 17-21, 2022: Careers in Energy Week

WHEREAS, access to affordable, reliable energy is fundamental to the lives of all Michigan residents and crucial to businesses; and,

WHEREAS, Michigan’s energy industry currently boasts nearly 116,000 jobs with total employment in the field projected to increase by 7.5% between 2020 and 2030, underscoring the vital need to increase the number of adults with a skill certificate or college degree to 60% by 2030 to meet the growing demand for high-skilled, high-demand talent in this industry and beyond; and,

WHEREAS, this industry is transforming energy generation to cleaner, greener and renewable generation technologies and infrastructure as older coal-fired generation facilities are retired over the next 10 years; and energy-efficiency and clean energy sources have become a priority for Michigan residents, businesses and governments; and,

WHEREAS, the energy industry is vital to Michigan’s electric vehicle (EV) transformation, powering the network to charge EVs at home or at public locations along Michigan’s roads and providing the programs, incentives and rebates to enable equitable access; and,    

WHEREAS, the Michigan Energy Workforce Development Consortium (MEWDC) is a partnership of more than 50 representatives of industry, education, workforce, labor, government and veterans celebrating 14 years of dedication to identifying and acting on current and future workforce issues crucial to building and sustaining Michigan’s energy industry; and,

WHEREAS, the energy jobs represented by the MEWDC member utilities including electric power generation, transmission, distribution and storage and energy efficiency have collectively hired more than 1,500 employees since January 2022; and

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

WHEREAS, the MEWDC was awarded more than $1.3 million in competitive grants by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity to integrate additional high-demand occupations into energy education programs resulting in more than 800 participants including underrepresented populations earning energy credentials through 2024; and,

WHEREAS, the MEWDC collaborated with the Michigan Department of Education to create a roadmap for high school, career and technical education, and community college students to pursue jobs in the often less visible energy sector, resulting in nearly 1,400 students earning certificates in Energy Industry Fundamentals since 2016; and,

WHEREAS, the MEWDC members have a year-round presence in schools and on college and university campuses with a focus on hiring Michigan students, in addition to offering nearly 500 industry internship, work-based learning and co-op opportunities annually for students; and,

WHEREAS, during the week of October 17-21, the MEWDC members will focus on energy career awareness and career exploration through tours, career fairs, school presentations, social media and more to increase the awareness about the many benefits of energy careers;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim October 17-21, 2022, as Careers in Energy Week in Michigan.