Today, Ameren Illinois announced its new state-of-the-art electric training center will be built on a nearly 12-acre site in Belleville.
“This new training center is a key component of our Modernization Action Plan (MAP). This initiative is allowing us to accelerate the modernizing our electric distribution system over the next 10 years to meet the service expectations of our customers in the 21st century,” said Michael Moehn, Ameren Illinois senior vice president of Customer Operations.
“By locating the training center in Belleville, we will benefit from our collaboration with Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC). This innovative partnership is helping prepare a well-educated, skilled workforce to serve the needs of customers now and in the future,” Moehn said. “This partnership is helping provide area residents the opportunity to gain the credentials they’ll need to compete for good jobs in our rapidly changing industry.”
The new training center will enable Ameren Illinois to enhance the skills of co-workers and train new hires to build and maintain our modernized electric infrastructure. It is anticipated that up to 100 people will be in training at any given time. Typical training sessions will last one week or more. Those in training will support the local economy by staying at local motels, eating at local restaurants and making use of other services.
The project will involve the renovation of structures on the site, including the 15,000-square-foot main building. The training center will feature two state-of-the-art training rooms and a high bay for large equipment training. Electric service training will focus on:
• Line work training for those responsible for maintaining our nearly 46,000 miles of electric distribution lines.
• Smart grid training to support the advanced technology and automated equipment that will be deployed to improve the reliability and efficiency of the electric distribution system.
• Electrical relay training to support the new advanced relay systems that will be a critical component in maintaining distribution system reliability.
The new facility will require additional trainers and operational staff. It is anticipated the training center will require at least five new positions. In addition, a number of Ameren Illinois co-workers will relocate to the new training center.
Work on the training center project is beginning this spring. It is expected the center will go into service late this year.
The Belleville training center is another example of the action Ameren Illinois is taking to fulfill the requirements of the Illinois Energy Infrastructure Modernization Act.
As a part of the requirements of the new law, Ameren Illinois will create more than 450 additional jobs in 2015, the peak year of the 10-year initiative. Job creation is beginning this year and will increase until the peak year is reached.
In addition to jobs that will be created through the infrastructure modernization and improvement initiative, Ameren Illinois currently has openings for more than 200 full-time positions.
Employment opportunities and application information is available at AmerenIllinois.com.
Ameren Illinois delivers energy to 1.2 million electric and 813,000 natural gas customers in downstate Illinois, and our mission is to meet their energy needs in a safe, reliable, efficient and environmentally responsible manner. Our service area covers more than 1,200 communities and 43,700 square miles. For more information, visit AmerenIllinois.com.
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CONTACT: Leigh Morris, 217.535.5228, lmorris@ameren.com; Victoria Busch, 618.346.1286, vbusch@ameren.com