| 15 | | - | 1. 1. That the Director of the Department of Energy (the Director) shall identify and develop training resources to advance the offshore wind industry in the Commonwealth, including the development of offshore wind careers and training curriculum, such as pre-hire soft skills training and technical skills training, for manufacturing trades, providers of offshore wind products and services, maritime workers, and other skilled trades. As part of such curriculum, the Director shall assess the availability of offshore wind developers, original equipment manufacturers, and supply chain firms that operate within the Commonwealth and, following such assessment, consider establishing a Global Wind Organisation training program to meet minimum safety requirements including training on fire awareness, first aid, sea survival, working at height, and manual hauling for offshore wind industry workers. Training opportunities for veterans, local workers, and workers from historically economically disadvantaged communities, as defined in 56-576 of the Code of Virginia, shall be prioritized. In developing such training resources, the Director shall consult with public and private institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth, vocational-technical institutions, apprenticeship programs, and at least one historically black college or university, as defined in 2.2-1604 of the Code of Virginia. Funding for developing such resources may include existing sources of local, state, or federal funding and grant resources for the purposes of identifying and developing skills required to support workforce development in the offshore wind industry and expand the offshore wind industry in the Commonwealth. Any training programs developed pursuant to this act shall be developed in coordination with the Transmission Siting and Economic Development Program as awarded to the Department of Energy, including awards granted to the Hampton Roads Workforce Council. |
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| 23 | + | 1. 1. That the Director of the Department of Energy (the Director) shall identify and develop training resources to advance the offshore wind industry in the Commonwealth, including the development of offshore wind careers and training curriculum, such as pre-hire soft skills training and technical skills training, for manufacturing trades, providers of offshore wind products and services, maritime workers, and other skilled trades. As part of such curriculum, the Director shall assess the availability of offshore wind developers, original equipment manufacturers, and supply chain firms that operate within the Commonwealth and, following such assessment, consider establishing a Global Wind Organisation training program to meet minimum safety requirements including training on fire awareness, first aid, sea survival, working at height, and manual hauling for offshore wind industry workers. Training opportunities for veterans, local workers, and workers from historically economically disadvantaged communities, as defined in 56-576 of the Code of Virginia, shall be prioritized. In developing such training resources, the Director shall consult with public and private institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth, vocational-technical institutions, apprenticeship programs, and at least one historically black college or university, as defined in 2.2-1604 of the Code of Virginia. Funding for developing such resources may include existing sources of local, state, or federal funding, grant resources, or newly appropriated state funding for the purposes of identifying and developing skills required to support workforce development in the offshore wind industry and expand the offshore wind industry in the Commonwealth. Any training programs developed pursuant to this act shall be developed in coordination with the Transmission Siting and Economic Development Program as awarded to the Department of Energy, including awards granted to the Hampton Roads Workforce Council. |
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