Scouting for the Next Generation of Energy Workers

Energy companies looking for new ways to engage young people's interest in the careers they have to offer may wish to take a look at an old one: merit badges.

For 65 years, Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) has been teaching kids about energy through an electricity merit badge workshop they offer in partnership with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). Right alongside them is We Energies, which has been offering a similar program for almost as long. The two utilities now operate as part of WEC Energy Group.

In Florida, Robotics Experience Comes FIRST

Energy companies are always looking for new ways to engage with students, hoping to encourage greater interest in the energy industry and the careers they have to offer. Programs like FIRST Robotics have long offered an opportunity to do just that. But now companies like NextEra Energy/Florida Power and Light (FPL) are learning FIRST can do even more: it can nurture exactly the type of job applicants they need.

Leveraging Resources: Why Partnerships Benefit Everyone

For utilities situated in remote parts of the country, finding--and keeping--a sufficient number of qualified applicants to replace workers who retire can be a challenge.

For colleges that want to provide training for entry-level job applicants in those areas, ensuring that they'll all find jobs once they graduate is also a challenge.