It might take a village to raise a child, but thanks to a $10.1 million investment from Consumers Energy, a village is training gas utility workers in Michigan.
The new state-of-the-art training facility, called Flint Gas City, opened June 21 with a ceremony attended by Consumers Energy leaders, officials from the city of Flint and members of the Michigan State Utility Workers Council.
According to a statement by the utility, Flint Gas City enables natural gas workers to receive training and practice scenarios in a real-world “town,” made up entirely of buildings constructed to replicate the types of calls and jobs they would be assigned to. There are houses, an apartment complex and a natural gas facility room, featuring details such as fireplaces, dryers and gas stoves. It’s an array of appliances, gas lines and other equipment that a gas worker would actually encounter on the job. “There’s even one house set up to look like a dog lives there to require simulating the appropriate check about animals in the home,” said Tracy Wimmer, a spokesperson for Consumers Energy.
The utility already hosts the Marshall Training Facility for line workers, added Wimmer. After many conversations with co-workers and union leadership, the need for a similar facility for gas training became apparent.
Two years later, the facility was brought to life.
According to the utility, prior to this, gas workers were largely trained in a classroom and then out in the field under other workers. “Allowing the workers to learn about and practice the work they will encounter on the job in a controlled but real environment ensures they are prepared for multiple scenarios at a job site before they’re out in the field, making our co-workers and our customers safer,” Wimmer told American Gas.
She added, “The goal of the facility is to immerse the trainees in the actual environment they’ll be working in, to help them not only learn how to do their jobs safely and efficiently, but also to feel comfortable doing them in the actual types of locations and scenarios where they’ll work.”
Hundreds of natural gas workers are expected to learn at the facility each year, reported Consumers Energy. The location will also serve as a practice site for local first responders.
“At Consumers Energy, safety for our customers and our employees is one of our top priorities, and the training we’re able to provide with this facility will help ensure we’re able to continue delivering on that goal,” said Josh Sturgis, an instructor at Flint Gas City.