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Energy

Overview

When we talk about energy as a strategic industry, we are talking about a vast array of businesses that are connected to power, transportation or conservation. To truly have a strategic focus on energy, a state must have a plan that addresses all of the above. Energy and environmental innovation are at their best when developed symbiotically, in a community that understands balance. Georgia is that community and Georgia has a plan.

The state is home to many economic resources to support growth in the energy industry. Building on these assets and its plan, the state is focusing on adopting new, sustainable building technologies, encouraging highly efficient distributed power generation and transmission, supporting biomass fuel production and manufacturing energy-related products such as solar panels and fuel cells.

With environmentally conscious, business-friendly public and private sectors, the state is maximizing economic development opportunities, while maintaining a high quality of life for everyone. Georgia supports the growth of its green industries, especially sustainable architecture and construction, and Georgia Work Ready is building a pipeline of skilled workers to take the state into the future.

Georgia's comprehensive approach to innovations in energy is supported by the Energy Innovation Center, which serves as a communication portal for the state's energy industry economic development.

Economic and Workforce Outlook

The Selig Center for Economic Growth at the Terry College of Business, University of Georgia, publishes an annual Economic Outlook. The 2009 edition has been released and includes and economic and workforce forecast for Georgia's public utilities industry (Download document). The summary predicts a small increase in the industry with average performance. It also predicts that job growth in the industry will be steady across the state due to the anticipated baby boomer retirement and Georgia's rapidly growing population. The Economic Outlook also includes the economic and workforce forecast for Georgia's construction industry (Download document) that shows a moderate decrease for 2009. However, with the expansion of Fort Benning in Columbus and the building of the Plant Vogtle nuclear facility in Augusta, there will be a regional workforce demand in 2010 and these areas are preparing to meet that need.

Above are the occupations needed for a power plant and the number of people graduating from a relevant program in Georgia.

Education and Training

In Georgia, we understand that sustainable architecture and construction companies need several key positions to create initial success and drive future growth. Georgia's education system, coupled with Work Ready Certificates, provide this pipeline of workers. The state is home to 22 public colleges and universities, 32 private four-year colleges, two community colleges and 33 technical colleges. The Construction and Energy Foundation of Georgia (CEFGA) is a key ally in helping develop Georgia's sustainable construction workforce. Outstanding engineering programs at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Southern Polytechnic Institute and Georgia Southern University are graduating engineers ready to design solutions and develop the next level of energy-efficient technology. The University of Georgia College of Agriculture is teaching students how to develop cost-effective and scalable renewable energy. At UGA, environmental engineers in training learn how to protect our precious environment while meeting the needs of a growing state. To find the right one Georgians can take advantage of Georgia College 411 to explore careers, select a college, prepare for the SAT and ACT, plan high school courses and learn about financial aid. Georgia's HOPE Program provides scholarships and grants that reward students with financial assistance in degree, diploma and certificate programs at eligible state public and private colleges and universities, and public technical colleges.

Georgia's colleges and universities also provide continuing education and Work Ready assessments that ensure students are ready for the flexible, customized training provided to new and expanding Georgia employers through Quick Start, the state's nationally recognized job training program, and the Intellectual Capital Partnership Program (ICAPP), an economic development program of the University System of Georgia that brings together education and business. In fact, the state's technical colleges have helped 21 percent of the state's workforce attain gold-level Work Ready Certificates.

Georgia Energy Work Ready Regions

One region in the state has gone even further by becoming a Work Ready Region, multiple counties that are bringing together their assets and leaders to create regional talent pools targeting sustainable architecture and construction to increase economic development opportunities.

The state's sustainable architecture and construction Work Ready Region includes:

Chattahoochee Valley-BRAC Energy Work Ready Region
(Chattahoochee, Harris, Marion, Muscogee, Stewart, Talbot and Taylor Counties in Georgia; Russell County in Alabama)

East Central Georgia Energy Work Ready Region
(Burke, Columbia, Jefferson, Jenkins, McDuffie, and Richmond Counties)

More detailed information about Georgia's sustainable architecture and construction assets, workforce strengths, education and training, and community partnerships are contained with the site. This is valuable information for those companies seeking to expand or relocate their operations in the state.

Improve your Skills. Hire the Best. Get started with Work Ready.

You can access Work Ready tools and info in every Georgia county. Learn how to:

Schedule a Work Ready assessment
Access gap training to improve your level
Inquire about a Work Ready job profile