Building the Clean Energy Workforce
Rendering of new Sacramento Electrical Training Center facility, currently under construction.
As California’s Capital Region ramps up investment in clean energy infrastructure, the demand for a skilled electrical workforce is rising just as rapidly. The Sacramento Electrical Training Center plays a critical role in meeting that need, training electricians who will help power the state’s transition while opening doors to high-quality careers in the trades.
This strong foundation was laid under the leadership of former Training Director Matt Nootenboom, whose early partnership with Valley Vision helped launch a collaborative model rooted in shared goals. Matt was instrumental in welcoming external partners and establishing a spirit of openness that set the stage for long-term success.
Since 2021, current Training Director Chris Tillery has built on that foundation and dramatically expanded the Center’s reach. Under his leadership, the Center has become a regional anchor for inclusive, high-caliber apprenticeship programs, primarily focused on the electrician apprenticeship jointly overseen by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). This program equips individuals with the necessary tools to succeed in a changing energy landscape. Through its partnership with Valley Vision, the Center has expanded its reach and sharpened its focus on green energy readiness, equity in access, and long-term workforce sustainability, cementing its place in the region’s broader clean economy ecosystem.
With electrical occupations among the most in-demand trades statewide, the need for a skilled, future-ready workforce has never been greater. The Sacramento Electrical Training Center enrolls approximately 120 new apprentices annually, maintaining a strong 85% graduation rate. Apprentices benefit from academic support in math and electrical theory, and instructors offer tutoring as needed to foster long-term success. The Center’s commitment to remedial pathways and second-chance opportunities ensures a wide entry ramp for aspiring electricians from all backgrounds. It promotes connection and community through mentoring groups, such as the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus (EWMC), RENEW (Reach Out and Engage the Next Generation of Electrical Workers), and the Women’s Committee, ensuring support extends beyond the classroom.
These efforts are bolstered by regional coordination. As a key partner in Valley Vision’s High Voltage Electrical Careers Advisory this past April, the Center contributed to an ongoing dialogue with employers, labor market researchers, and workforce stakeholders to ensure that training keeps pace with emerging technologies and labor demands.
Apprentices begin earning a competitive wage from day one. The pay scale is structured and consistent, reflecting a clear upward trajectory:
- 1st Year – $23.72/hour
- 2nd Year – $26.35/hour
- 3rd Year – $31.62/hour
- 4th Year – $36.89/hour
- 5th Year – $42.16/hour
- Journeyperson (Graduate) – $52.70/hour
All stages include full medical, dental, and vision coverage for the apprentice and their spouse and children. Starting in the third year, apprentices also receive pension contributions, reinforcing the long-term financial sustainability of this career path.
The results of this collaboration are clear. Since 2021, the year Chris Tillery became Training Director, the Center has dramatically expanded its community engagement, participating in over 60 outreach events annually, up from just 12. “When I first stepped into this role, we were only doing a handful of events each year,” Tillery shared. “Now, with support from partners like Valley Vision, we’re showing up everywhere—schools, job fairs, community forums—you name it.”
This heightened visibility has gone hand in hand with the development of formal linkage agreements and structured partnerships with organizations that provide clear pathways into the apprenticeship program. These agreements are in place with key partners, including Cosumnes River College, GRID Alternatives, North State Building Industry Foundation, Sacramento Regional Conservation Corps (SRCC), Northern California Construction Training (NCCT), and local MC3-certified pre-apprenticeship programs.
For students and job seekers, these agreements offer tangible benefits: priority access to application cycles, waived or reduced entrance requirements, and coordinated support for completing prerequisites like math assessments. In many cases, students are able to build hands-on experience and gain industry exposure before applying, making them stronger candidates for success in the rigorous apprenticeship program.
“These linkage agreements are about reducing barriers,” said Tillery. “We want to recognize the work that people are already doing in trusted programs, and give them a fair shot at entering this career. Valley Vision has been very instrumental in what we’ve done in this realm. Having someone who can introduce us to the right partners and connect us with events has enabled us to do some of our best networking and expand our linkage agreements.”
To meet rising demand and integrate emerging technologies, the Center is preparing for a major expansion, including the construction of a state-of-the-art second training facility (rendering above), slated to open in spring 2026, as well as a significant modernization of the original campus. The expansion is expected to double the Center’s training capacity, allowing it to serve upwards of 250 apprentices annually—a critical investment at a time when the region’s clean energy economy is accelerating.
The original Sacramento Electrical Training Center, founded decades ago by local members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), has long been a cornerstone of workforce development in the region. Training Director Chris Tillery, a third-generation electrician, carries that legacy forward: his grandfather helped build the original facility, and today Chris is leading the charge to ensure it remains relevant, responsive, and rooted in the community for generations to come. Architectural renderings of the new facility showcase a high-tech, future-focused environment, designed with hands-on labs, advanced simulation technology, and flexible classroom space to support evolving training needs in solar, battery storage, high-voltage systems, and EV infrastructure.
To sustain this momentum and meet the region’s growing workforce needs, the Sacramento Electrical Training Center is actively seeking support, from funding for new tools to deepen community outreach partnerships. This expansion builds on the Center’s long-standing legacy of local IBEW leadership while actively working to increase access for communities that have historically had less opportunity.
For stakeholders across industry, education, and public policy, this is a clear invitation to engage. Whether through partnership, investment, or collaboration, supporting this expansion is an opportunity to directly strengthen the Capital Region’s clean energy economy and help shape a workforce ready to lead it. As the Capital Region continues to invest in infrastructure and innovation, programs like this will be crucial in ensuring that the workforce is not only prepared but also positioned to lead.
