MIDDLETOWN — Looking for a high-wattage new career with an average starting salary of $70,000? Then check out the new Power Line Worker program that Laurel Ridge Workforce Solutions is offering starting Sept. 15.
During the 14-week, full-time program, students will earn seven industry-recognized credentials:
- CDL
- Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO)
- Power Industry Fundamentals
- Power Line Worker Level 1
- Virginia Department of Transportation Work Zone Flagger – Intermediate
- OSHA 10
- First Aid/CPR
For this first class, 12 students will be accepted, according to Anna Jane Cribbs, program manager for Workforce Solutions. The final three-and-a-half weeks of the program will be completed at Southside Community College in Blackstone, which has a pole-climbing facility. Thanks to sponsorship from Dominion and Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, those students will have their housing costs covered.
While the physical conditions of the job can be challenging, the camaraderie among line workers is well known, and the compensation is good — with an average starting salary of $70,000, and “lots of opportunities for overtime,” according to Cribbs.
“Experienced line workers are making well into six figures,” she added. “Because Virginia’s energy infrastructure is going to be required to grow immensely due to increasing power demands, there is a need to build and maintain more power lines. Additionally, like any trade sector, the power line field is seeing more and more of their folks starting to retire and not enough of the next generation stepping in to take their place.
“This will be the only program like this north of Richmond in Virginia.”
The Northwestern Virginia Power & Energy Consortium was born out of the critical need for additional utility workers. Laurel Ridge, along with Dominion Energy Virginia, Shenandoah Electric Cooperative, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative, Mas Tec, River City Construction and Pike Electric, established the consortium last year. It is focused on developing training programs to prepare the workforce needed by the energy industry, to secure funding and resources to develop and expand training programs, and to collaborate with industry on curriculum, facility and equipment needs.
“Our whole consortium has been really, really supportive when it comes to advising and helping us build out the program,” Cribbs said.
A grant of more than $400,000 from Go Virginia is helping to support the program’s equipment and curriculum development costs.
At Laurel Ridge, students will train on the HEO simulators and will have classes in the Student Union Building on the Middletown Campus. A new facility to house the power line equipment is scheduled to be completed in early 2027, and it’s hoped a pole yard will be ready before that, said Cribbs. Once that is ready, there will no longer be a need for trainees to finish their education at Southside in Nottoway County.
For now, two classes a year are anticipated, with that growing to three — each with up to 30 students — once the facility is ready, according to Cribbs.
She said the Laurel Ridge program is a pre-apprenticeship power line program providing training in the fundamental skills required to enter the energy utility workforce as a grounds worker or line worker apprentice. The graduates would then continue training through their employers to become a journeyman line worker, which is a four-year process.
“We’re just doing the initial level,” said Cribbs. “The employers say it’s really important that they have a CDL and that they’re willing to climb poles and are not afraid of heights, and are familiar with the physical demands of the industry. It can be long hours in varying weather conditions.”
While the program’s tuition is $16,600, grant funding will cover all costs for eligible students.
“We have FastForward funding available,” Cribbs said. “That would leave one-third of the remaining costs, and G3 funding will cover the rest for those who qualify.”
Workforce Solutions is hosting an information session about the Power Line Worker program from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 14, at the Middletown Campus. The deadline to register for the Power Line Work program is Sept. 1.
Register and learn more at laurelridgeworkforce.com/powerline.
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