College Prepared for Off-Shore Wind Manufacturing Workforce Demand

January 29, 2021

New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo’s recent announcement that millions of dollars will be invested in off-shore wind projects means that the Capital Region is likely to become a major manufacturing hub for the industry. The state’s investment will mean career opportunities for those with the training and education to meet the demand.

The Port of Albany is slated to house a wind tower manufacturing facility for the state’s wind energy project, and the Port of Coeymans is being considered for cutting-edge turbine foundation manufacturing. It is anticipated that 350 new long-term jobs will be created at the port facility alone and many additional positions will be created to fill industry needs. Jobs include project managers, quality control personnel, positions related to welding and fabrication as well as construction and electrical mechanical positions. Manufacturers around the region are gearing up to prepare for the additional work.

According to the New York State Department of Labor, entry-level salaries in these fields are about $32,000 to $40,000. Individuals with experience and required training earn between $50,000 to $85,000 depending on the specific job and their level of education.

“Hudson Valley Community College excels in training for the renewable energy field as well as the trades that are associated with it,” said President Roger Ramsammy. “The prospect of the Capital Region becoming a major hub for this industry is exciting for us but also for those who want to begin a career in these fields.”

The college offers several certificates and associate degrees that individuals could pursue to train for these jobs of the future:

• Advanced Manufacturing Technology AOS
• Construction Certificate
• Construction Technology - Building Construction AAS
• Electric Construction and Maintenance AOS
• Electrical Engineering Technology-Electronics AAS
• Mechanical Engineering Technology AAS

Shorter term training options offered by the college’s Office of Workforce Development can also prepare individuals for positions in the growing field of clean energy technologies, including Building Science Principles and Operations Management.

“We’ve known this was coming for some time, and Hudson Valley is ready to prepare the workforce needed in the Capital Region,” added Penny Hill, the college’s dean of economic development and workforce initiatives. ”We have been building a coalition of partners to make sure that the entire region is trained and ready to participate in this workforce pipeline.”

The college has been working with partners such the Educational Opportunity Center (EOC), Center for Economic Growth (CEG), the Capital Region Workforce Development Boards, the Greater Capital Region Building and Construction Trades Council, and the Port of Albany.

“The Capital Region already has a solid base of workers with the skills needed by the offshore wind industry, and that is because we have so many manufacturers that demand these skillsets and institutions such as Hudson Valley Community College that provide training for them. We are not building a talent pipeline from scratch – we are scaling one up, and Governor Cuomo’s vision for a cleaner New York is the catalyst that will take our workforce to the next level,” said Center for Economic Growth Chief Executive Officer Katie Newcombe.