ComEd Power Up Academy offers accredited training and opens pathways to engineering careers

ComEd, in partnership with City Colleges of Chicago, has announced the accreditation of its Power Up Academy, a workforce training program aimed at preparing participants for careers in the engineering and energy sectors.

The accreditation allows program participants to earn up to 13 college credit hours toward relevant degree programs during the 14-week training, removing barriers to education and career advancement.

Launched in 2023, the Power Up Academy aims to provide accessible pathways to technical roles in engineering and energy by eliminating the upfront requirement of a college degree. The program has a strong focus on diversity, with nearly 90% of graduates identifying as people of color and nearly 80% being women.

The latest cohort of nine graduates was celebrated at a recent event in Chicago. Graduates completed training that included industry knowledge, project management skills, and proficiency in AutoCAD software, a key qualification for entry-level technical roles in grid maintenance and modernization.

Mark Baranek, Senior Vice President of Technical Services at ComEd, emphasized the program’s role in the region’s energy transition:

“ComEd’s Power Up Academy is helping ensure more of our diverse communities are a significant part of the opportunity for good-paying jobs in the engineering related professions. And our expanded partnership with City Colleges of Chicago will ensure that participants of this program have a chance to gain entry to in-demand roles supporting the grid and the fast-growing energy sector here in Illinois.

“With the clean energy transition underway in Illinois, this will require the region to develop more skilled and diverse talent to help us modernize the grid and ensure continued reliability for more than 9 million people who depend on ComEd every day.”

The program is supported by local workforce agencies, including Revolution Workshop, and five engineering firms, such as Primera and HBK Engineering, which sponsor the initiative and hire graduates. With an over 80% job placement rate, the program provides a pathway for graduates to secure employment with ComEd or partner companies.

Dr. Webb Walker, President of Kennedy-King College, stated:

“City Colleges of Chicago is committed to supporting students across the Chicagoland area with educational opportunities that prepare them for a variety of high growth, good paying careers, including those in the utility and construction sectors.

“Through our partnership with ComEd, we are providing Power Up Academy participants with an opportunity to earn college credit hours during their technical services training, ensuring that more women and diverse students who have been underrepresented in the STEM fields are able to enter and advance in this industry.”

As Illinois continues its clean energy transition, which is projected to create 150,000 jobs by 2050, initiatives like Power Up Academy are critical for developing the workforce needed to modernize the grid and support renewable energy projects.

Manny Rodriguez, co-founder and executive director of Revolution Workshop commented on the partnership:

“We’re proud to continue developing Power Up Academy alongside our partners to ensure we’re removing barriers for our community members to pursue a variety of career paths in the engineering field. By now offering college credit hours as part of our training, participants stand to gain not only a head start in earning a college degree but the confidence to seek out promotions in the future.”

Eric Bergstrom, president of HBK Engineering, added:

“As we gear up to take on new projects supporting the advancement of renewable and more efficient energy technology, it’s important that we expand these opportunities to those in our communities who are interested in joining the field, no matter their background.

“Thanks to our coalition that created Power Up Academy, HBK is already seeing the quality talent coming out of the program, helping us prepare our teams with the talent needed to make a lasting impact on the future of our communities.”

One graduate, Kala Wheeler, has already joined ComEd as an associate engineering design technician and is pursuing a degree in Technology Engineering with an emphasis on Sustainability and Renewable Energy. Wheeler shared, “Power Up Academy gave me direction and the tools to pursue a career in a field where the work I do directly impacts the future of my community.”

The next Power Up Academy class will begin in Fall 2025. For updates and application details, visit ComEd.com/CleanEnergyJobs.