Laurel Ridge Community College’s Power Line Worker Training Program Receives Donation From NextEra Energy Transmission MidAtlantic

NextEra Energy Transmission MidAtlantic, Inc. joins Laurel Ridge Community College Educational Foundation to announce a $10,000 donation to support the college’s Power Line Worker Training Program.

“NextEra’s gift strengthens Laurel Ridge’s ability to train the next generation of skilled workers,” said Laurel Ridge Foundation Executive Director Liv Heggoy. “Workforce training programs are costly to operate, but they are essential. Our programs build a strong pipeline of qualified talent for high‑demand infrastructure careers – jobs that offer higher wages and fuel our local economy.”

Next Era’s donation supports the Foundation’s Building the Future fundraising campaign, which is aimed at expanding workforce training programs to address critical skilled labor shortages in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley and Northern Virginia.

The campaign’s first phase wrapped up in 2023 with the completion of the new Skilled Trades Center at the Fauquier Campus in Warrenton, Virginia. The second phase focuses on career training in the power and energy sector. Laurel Ridge launched the Power Line Worker Training Program in September 2025, and the first cohort of the new 14-week program graduated Dec. 19.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of electrical power-line installers and repairers is projected to grow 7 percent over the next 10 years, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Kaitlin McCormick, senior director of development for NextEra Energy Transmission, said the company is eager to begin its partnership with Laurel Ridge.

“At NextEra Energy Transmission MidAtlantic, we’re excited to help Laurel Ridge Community College to prepare the next generation for careers that power America’s energy future,” McCormick said. “Together, we’re investing in a skilled local workforce dedicated to public service and the reliability of our energy system.”

NextEra Energy Transmission MidAtlantic, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Transmission, is a member of the Northwestern Virginia Power & Energy Consortium, a collaboration with regional employers and Laurel Ridge. This initiative is dedicated to developing a skilled workforce to meet the growing demands of the energy sector.