PG&E announces new veterans-only job-training courses

Pacific Gas & Electric Co. announced Thursday that it will offer two new training courses for recently discharged veterans next year that will provide a career path into the energy industry through the utility’s PowerPathway program.

PG&E is offering the veterans-only energy training courses at American River College in Sacramento, part of the company’s commitment to helping recently discharged veterans find work and to growing a pipeline of skilled utility workers.

PG&E expects more than 40 percent of its workforce will be eligible for retirement within the next five years and believes veterans can be high-potential candidates for these positions.

As a former officer in the U.S. Navy, Tony Earley, PG&E’s chairman, CEO and president, said he is committed to creating career paths for veterans.

“Unemployment rates are as high as 29 percent for young veterans — about 65 percent above those for other Americans in the same age group,” Earley said in a news release. “PG&E has the opportunity to match our workforce needs with the great technical skills and leadership ability that veterans offer.”

In addition to veterans-only courses, PowerPathway partners with community colleges, universities and community-based training organizations throughout Northern and Central California to offer other industry-related courses that are open to all qualified candidates.

A schedule of PowerPathway programs that will be open to new enrollment in 2013 — at nine community colleges, universities and community-based training organizations throughout Northern and Central California — can be viewed at www.pge.com/powerpathway.