The Second Michigan Energy Summit held on August 11, 2010

On August 11, 2010, the Michigan Laborers' Employers Cooperation and Education Trust (LECET) held their second Michigan Energy Summit at the Michigan Laborers Training and Apprentice Institute (MLTAI). The summit brought together government, energy industry, utility, public interest, and labor representatives to discuss the current and future outlook for renewable energy in Michigan.

Summit hosts Gerald Hesson and Geno Allessandrini from Michigan LECET and Lynn Coleman, Director of MLTAI arranged for attendees to learn about and discuss diverse energy sources and opportunities, including solar, wind, methane recovery from landfills, and geothermal. Attendees also heard suggestions for making better use of more conventional resources like clean coal and natural gas.

Presenters included State Representative 101st District, Dan Scripps; Director of Michigan's Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth, Andrew Levin; and the President of Mackinaw Power, Richard F. Vander Veen, III. Representatives from several municipalities - Holland, Wyandotte, and Lansing - also discussed energy programs in their communities. Click here for a list of presenters.

The relationship between energy industry growth and the generation of new jobs was a major focus of the summit. Michigan's residents realize the opportunity that renewable energy presents to both reduce the state's carbon footprint and to rebuild the state's economy. By building upon the skilled labor force, manufacturing expertise, and the current interest in reducing America's reliance on fossil fuels, the participants predict that Michigan will maintain its leadership role in alternative energy development.

LIUNA Training's Administrator, Bernadette Rivera, spoke about the role of training and worker certification in promoting a strong energy industry. LIUNA programs in Weatherization Technician/Installer; Weatherization Supervisor; Energy Auditor; Lead Renovator; and Solar Panel Installation prepare members for jobs now and in the future. Other construction courses provide workers with the skills they will need to perform a wide variety of tasks associated with developing new energy generation. For example, pipe laying, concrete placement, drilling, and hoisting and rigging training will be needed for building generation facilities and for installing the infrastructure to transfer resources and energy from generation or recovery to the user.

Mr. Coleman reinforced Ms. Rivera's comments and added the special role of the training site in building Michigan's workforce. For over 30 years, the Michigan Laborers' Training and Apprenticeship Institute has provided training for LIUNA apprentices and journey workers. Instructors draw upon their extensive field expertise and professional instruction skills to provide members with top-notch training using cutting edge technology. State-of-the-art training facilities located in the cities of Wayne, Perry, and Iron Mountain accommodate 4,500 members annually. MLTAI offers 70 different courses that prepare workers for jobs in renewable energy and green construction, residential retrofit and weatherization, environmental remediation, pipeline and other infrastructure, and building and highway construction. They also offer life skills training and on-line courses that address the changing needs of the state's diverse workforce. With access to LIUNA Training staff and LIUNA's network of over 70 training sites, MLTAI can meet most contractor and worker training needs. For more information, visit www.mltai.org.