Through ComEd's Market Development Initiative, local residents trained to participate in Illinois' fast-growing energy-efficiency sector

ComEd is celebrating the first graduates of a new workforce training offered as part of its Market Development Initiative (MDI). The initiative provides resources and training to help create a diverse, local workforce that is qualified to take on growing roles in the energy efficiency industry. This week, 12 local residents completed five weeks of training to become certified in the latest building standards and to receive other key industry knowledge that will help advance their careers in energy efficiency, HVAC, or weatherization.

"As we work toward a cleaner energy future, ComEd is committed to ensuring that the opportunities that come with the clean energy transition are accessible to all interested businesses and job seekers," said Melissa Washington, Senior Vice President of Customer Operations and Strategic Initiatives at ComEd. "With jobs in energy efficiency poised to grow in the years ahead, it's going to require an all-hands-on-deck effort to make sure all who are interested are prepared to take on the jobs and contracting opportunities that will come with it. Through MDI, ComEd and our partners are helping shape a more diverse and inclusive energy sector, where talented workers and firms in northern Illinois play a central role in the work to deliver a cleaner and more equitable future for our communities."

Reflecting the diversity of ComEd's service territory, over 90 percent of MDI's first class of graduates are people of color, with varying levels of education. With advanced training and new certifications under their belts such as Healthy Housing Principles, Building Science Principles, and Building Analyst Technicians, participants now have the opportunity to pursue promotions or salary increases. Graduates who own their own heating and cooling businesses may now offer expanded services and bid for contracts with large customers.

ComEd's Market Development Initiative (MDI) launched earlier this year to build the diverse and skilled pipeline of local job seekers and entrepreneurs that will be needed to deliver work created by the clean energy industry here in Illinois. Through MDI's new workforce training programs, participants develop the skills required to perform work in the energy efficiency space, a key industry growing to help customers lower their energy use while reducing their bills and carbon emissions for the community.

Launched in partnership with Walker-Miller Energy Services and The Will Group, MDI creates two new workforce training initiatives to help train and provide certification to both new and experienced workers and firms seeking to join the energy efficiency industry.

"We're proud to work with ComEd to not only advance the state's clean energy goals but to help local and diverse businesses gain the skills needed to keep up with the expanding energy-efficiency industry," said Carla Walker-Miller, founder and CEO of Walker-Miller Energy Services. "Participants' new industry certifications and skills will allow them to contribute to the widespread adoption of energy-efficient practices that help reduce energy consumption, lowering both consumers' energy bills and carbon footprint."

Business owners and entrepreneur participants are also offered resources to navigate the procurement process of energy-efficiency projects, assistance in joining a searchable vendor database, and education and training on ComEd's energy-efficiency portfolio offerings. Through MDI, participants have the opportunity to apply to become part of ComEd's Energy Efficiency Service Provider Network – a resource to gain new business while offering ComEd customers energy-efficiency improvements, incentives, discounts, and rebates.

"Our team strives to advance the careers and businesses of diverse vendors through education, training, and wrap-around assistance services," said Stephen Taylor, Director of Professional Services for The Will Group. "The launch of MDI builds on our longstanding partnership with ComEd to remove hiring barriers and prepare members of our communities for the growing number of opportunities in the clean energy sector."

Expanding job training in energy efficiency supports the goals of recent landmark climate legislation, with the state of Illinois' Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) poised to expand energy-efficient and clean energy technologies that will put Illinois communities on a path to a lower carbon future. A significant number of jobs are expected to come to Illinois to support the clean energy transition, with a recent study predicting that as many as 150,000 jobs will be added in Illinois by 2050.

"Although I have been in the HVAC industry for approximately 20 years, technology has advanced rapidly to make heating and cooling smarter, safer, and cleaner," said Anthony Simmons, MDI Skilled Cohort graduate and President of II Bulls Mechanical Services Inc., an HVAC company serving the Chicago area. "As more and more customers ask about heat pumps, I'll be ready to help customers decarbonize their homes. I'm excited to leverage my newfound training to deliver greater value to my customers while driving business growth for my company."

To reach more job seekers interested in working in the energy efficiency space, ComEd's MDI offers training for participants of all levels. The MDI Newcomer Cohort, aimed at providing introductory training for local residents new to the energy efficiency space, launches later this summer, with a deadline to apply by August 2. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, reside in ComEd's service territory, have a high school diploma or GED, and pass a background check.

For more information about MDI, visit ComEd.com/MDI.

B-roll of today's announcement is available for download at: https://vimeo.com/973230062/74f6d1a3fd?share=copy

Photos of today's announcement are available for download at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1bpM_HcGeSuaVP6MdSYfLw9dPUf3tROaw?usp=sharing

About ComEd

ComEd is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NASDAQ:EXC), a Fortune 200 energy company with approximately 10 million electricity and natural gas customers – the largest number of customers in the U.S. ComEd powers the lives of more than 4 million customers across northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state's population. For more information visit ComEd.com, and connect with the company on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.

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