HispanicBusiness

Pacific Gas and Electric Company will offer two new training courses for recently discharged veterans next year, including classes in Sacramento.

PG&E said this segment of its PowerPathway program in California is designed to give veterans a career path into the energy industry.

Locally, veterans-only energy training courses will be at American River College in Sacramento.

The utility said it expects more than 40 percent of its work force to be retirement-eligible within the next five years and believes veterans can be high-potential candidates for vacated positions.

The PowerPathway program aims to provide career and technical training to approximately 250 California residents, including 100 veterans, and place about two-thirds of those into energy and utility industry jobs through 2013.

The "PowerPathway Bridge to Utility Worker for Veterans" course offers 240 hours of training designed to strengthen participants' candidacy for employment and increase their knowledge of the energy and utility industries. The course will begin in January 2013.

The "PowerPathway Welding for Veterans" course provides fundamental training on pipe-welding techniques and safety procedures in the utilities industry. It will begin in May 2013.

More information and a schedule of courses can be found at www.pge.com/powerpathway.