Central Maine Power Co. has welcomed nine Maine students into its expanded summer internship program for the skilled trades.
Now in its second year, the 10-week paid Union Trade Internship Program has nearly doubled student participation, expanded partnerships with schools in central and southern Maine and introduced enhanced learning opportunities in both line and substation operations.
This year, six students are participating in the lineworker track while three are focusing on substation operations.
After spending their first two weeks learning foundational skills at CMP’s Training Center in Farmingdale, interns are now transitioning to supervised field experiences alongside veteran CMP crews.
“The strong interest we’ve seen from students and schools across Maine reflects the growing demand for hands-on learning opportunities and careers in the skilled trades,” said Linda Ball, president and CEO of the utility, which distributes power to 635,000 customers in southern and central Maine.
“By investing in the next generation of lineworkers and skilled trade professionals, we’re creating a strong local talent pipeline, helping ensure we have the well-trained workforce we need to safely operate and maintain Maine’s energy grid for years to come and helping young people develop skills that will enable them to have a vibrant career right here in Maine.”
Students ages 16 and older are selected through a competitive recruitment and interview process conducted in partnership with participating schools.
CMP is owned by Avangrid Inc. (NYSE: AGR), an Orange, Conn.-based subsidiary of Spain’s Iberdrola SA.
