The project will expand training facilities to support workforce development and operational readiness
Avangrid, Inc., a leading energy company and member of the Iberdrola Group, today announced that it has broken ground on a project to upgrade and expand its National Training Center (NTC) located in Sherman County, Oregon. The company is increasing the facility’s footprint by about 2,500 square feet and enclosing its 30-foot-tall fall protection tower to allow technicians to train on the equipment year-round, no matter the weather conditions. These changes will help Avangrid continue providing consistent, hands-on safety and technical training throughout the year, and prepare the skilled workforce needed to operate a nationwide fleet of energy projects.
“Nothing is more important than ensuring our employees have what they need to work safely,” said Avangrid CEO Jose Antonio Miranda. “Upgrading our National Training Center represents Avangrid’s investment in the health and safety of our people. As we grow our generation fleet, we are simultaneously building a skilled workforce to operate our facilities and help us to meet growing electricity demand.”
Avangrid’s NTC was built in the summer of 2024 and welcomed its first cohort of technicians that fall. Since opening, approximately 350 new and existing Avangrid technicians have attended training courses at the facility. The facility is near many of Avangrid’s operating energy projects in Oregon. It serves as a centralized location to train and upskill technicians working across Avangrid’s generation portfolio.
The facility includes several innovative features, including:
- Fall protection tower: This 30-foot tower allows technicians to practice handling emergency procedures while working at heights, helping trainees to learn proper safety protocols in a safe place before working on a turbine.
- Hands-on experience: The NTC includes hands-on opportunity for technicians to practice maintenance and troubleshooting on real-world equipment, as well as additional individual components pertaining to a wind farm, solar plant, or high-voltage installation.
- Immersive training: Virtual and mixed-reality tools allow technicians to become familiar with equipment and practice responding to simulated operating challenges.
In addition to the NTC, Avangrid operates more than 2.5 gigawatts of capacity in Oregon from 17 energy generation facilities. It also maintains a large corporate office in Portland.
About Avangrid: Avangrid, Inc. is a leading U.S. energy company investing in grid infrastructure and power generation projects to deliver reliable energy and meet growing electricity demand. With approximately $50 billion in assets and operations across 25 states, Avangrid is helping modernize the U.S. electric grid, improve system resiliency, and support economic growth for the customers and communities it serves.
