ComEd recognizes first class of graduates from EV pre-apprenticeship program
ComEd and HIRE360 recognized the first class of graduates of the Take Charge: Pre-Apprenticeship program, which prepares Chicago-area residents for careers in Illinois’ electric vehicle (EV) industry.
The new program, created by ComEd, is designed to grow the workforce to meet the evolving demands facing the grid due to EV adoption. Currently, there are 80,000 registered EVs statewide, and 70,000 registered in ComEd’s service territory alone, up from just over 19,000 statewide in 2019.
The shift toward EVs and a clean energy economy is expected to create a significant number of jobs in the years ahead. A recent study estimated that as many as 150,000 new clean energy jobs will come to Illinois by 2050.
“The clean energy transition will require a skilled, diverse talent pipeline, and today’s Take Charge graduates demonstrate that those workers are here within our Chicagoland communities,” Gil Quiniones, CEO of ComEd, said. “In collaboration with HIRE360 and others in the region, we are establishing training programs that provide jobseekers from diverse communities with essential skills, positioning them to be first in line for good-paying careers created by the rise in clean tech, including Illinois’ fast-growing EV sector. These workers can help us build a cleaner, more modern grid for the future.”
The inaugural class featured a diverse group of 17 graduates, with 16 individuals of color, and four women. Their ages spanned from 18 to 51. ComEd’s partner, HIRE360, prioritized recruitment of diverse candidates from across Chicago and the region, with a focus on training in communities in the south and west sides. The 8-week training program will prepare them to meet entry-level trades roles at ComEd and at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 134.
“HIRE360’s core tenants are to provide sustainable career opportunities for local residents, particularly women, Black and Brown individuals and minorities, and the Take Charge program provides a lifetime opportunity for these 17 graduates seeking to enter the EV industry,” Jay Rowell, executive director of HIRE360, said. “Working with ComEd, we are exposing more local candidates to exciting careers in the clean energy space, and building a talent pipeline that the industry will demand and that our communities will need to stay ahead.”
The curriculum included on-site training at McCormick Place, as well as off-site learning opportunities with ComEd fleet managers and with the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), where candidates received a behind-the-scenes experience in CTA’s electric buses and charging facilities.
Take Charge participants also toured the IBEW-134 Center in Bronzeville, the Chicago Drives Electric exhibition at the 2023 Chicago Auto Show, and construction sites located around the city to provide hands-on industry exposure and an opportunity for networking.
“The Take Charge program opened my eyes to many opportunities that I never knew were possible, but that will have a huge impact on the environment and my future,” Yasriyyah Green, a graduate and South Shore resident, said. “I am excited to apply my experience learning about EVs in the Take Charge training program toward to a future electrical career, which will align with my professional goals and allow me to make a positive impact in the community.”
