Supporting the next generation of clean-energy talent, while building a clean energy system is part of the Ontario government's plan to create and support jobs while ensuring Ontario has the electricity it needs to power homes, schools, hospitals and the economy.

The Government of Ontario is committed to training students in the energy sector today to build Ontario's clean energy workforce of tomorrow.

To help students reach their goals, Hydro One has partnered with four Ontario Colleges to support electrical engineering programs. Students at Georgian, Algonquin, Mohawk and Northern colleges will benefit from more scholarships, co-op placements, as well as access to recruitment services and specialized equipment.

Graduates are finding jobs across the province's energy sector, including Hydro One's Ontario Grid Control Centre in Barrie. This facility is the nerve-centre of Ontario's high-voltage transmission system, employing about 300 staff including controllers, dispatchers, engineers and technologists.

Supporting the next generation of clean-energy talent, while building a clean energy system is part of the Ontario government's plan to create and support jobs while ensuring Ontario has the electricity it needs to power homes, schools, hospitals and the economy.

QUOTES:
"The results from the first phase of this partnership are outstanding. The four colleges have been very effective in attracting more students to their electrical programs, ensuring a stronger workforce for Hydro One and the entire utility sector. This is good news for the people of Ontario."

– Laura Formusa, President and CEO of Hydro One

"Georgian College gave me the training I needed to develop my skills as a system control technician. Now that I'm in the workforce, it's great to see that the province is just as committed as I am to rebuilding Ontario's transmission system and ensuring reliability for future generations."

– Jeff Higenbottam, System Control Technician and Georgian College Graduate

QUICK FACTS:
• Hydro One owns and operates 96 per cent of Ontario's transmission system.
• More than 5,700 people are employed by Hydro One, including 250 students hired for work placements.
• So far, Ontario's green energy initiatives have helped create over 20,000 jobs and are on track to create 50,000 jobs.
• Since 2007, Hydro One has invested over $7 million to support electrical engineering programs at Ontario colleges.
• Ontario's target for clean, renewable energy from wind, solar and bioenergy is 10,700 MW by 2018, the equivalent of taking up to 2.9 million homes off the grid.
• So far, Ontario has brought more than 9,000 megawatts of new and refurbished clean energy online - enough to power cities the size of Ottawa and Toronto.

LEARN MORE:
• Learn more about Hydro One
• Learn more about the Ontario Clean Energy Benefit

For more information, contact:
Ainsley Martin, Media Relations, Brand Marketing
Tel: 416-314-8704
E-mail: ainsley.martin@ontario.ca

Berj Alexanian, Account Executive, BlissPR
Tel: 312-577-0048
E-mail: berj@blisspr.com