Consumers Energy opens $10.1M natural gas training facility in Flint, Michigan
Consumers Energy announced a forward step for Flint, Mich., last week, completing a new natural gas training facility there, which will aid hundreds of the utility’s gas employees.
Consumers partnered with the Michigan State Utility Workers Council (MSUWC) to build the facility. The result is a state-of-the-art structure that will be used to immerse trainees in the environments, equipment, and scenarios natural gas workers can encounter on the job and help them learn the ins and outs of the state’s infrastructure. Emergency first responders will also likely train at the site.
“We are committed to building the workforce of the future to ensure we safely and reliably deliver natural gas to our customers, and this world-class facility is a tangible representation of that commitment,” LeeRoy Wells, Jr., senior vice president of operations for Consumers Energy, said. “We are deeply grateful for our partnerships with the MSUWC and the city of Flint to bring this project to fruition and look forward to seeing the impact it will have and the workforce it will grow for years to come.”
A formal opening last week of Flint Gas City, as the site shall be known, followed nearly two years of construction and development. Through instructors and controlled environment scenarios, the site will also help teach Consumers’ employees the proper safety required for their work, which helps keep 1.8 million customers going.
“Flint Gas City is a great example of how the partnership between Consumers Energy and the Utility Workers Union is working to provide safe, best-in-class training to all of our members who keep the public safe and provide exceptional service to our customers,” Craig Wright, president of the Michigan State Utility Workers Council, said. “This state-of-the-art training center, along with our process of utilizing qualified Union employees, will provide for a great training opportunity.”
