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Avangrid Foundation and Central Maine Power join Kennebec Valley Community College to Celebrate Lineworker Program Milestone

via Business Wire

KVCC unveiled new Derrick Digger Truck, specialized equipment for essential workforce development

The Avangrid Foundation, the philanthropic arm of leading energy company Avangrid Inc., a member of the Iberdrola Group, and Central Maine Power (CMP) joined Kennebec Valley Community College (KVCC) in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for their Electrical Lineworker Technology Program. KVCC unveiled their new Derrick Digger Truck, a state-of-the-art addition to the program’s training resources.

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Kennebec Valley Community College's new Derrick Digger Truck

Kennebec Valley Community College's new Derrick Digger Truck

The Avangrid Foundation provided $100,000 for the new vehicle that will provide essential training opportunities. Digger trucks are used by lineworkers to set utility poles and perform earthwork. KVCC’s Electrical Lineworker Technology Program, the only such program in Maine, prepares students with the necessary skills in maintaining and advancing the state’s energy grid.

“I’m incredibly proud of the Avangrid Foundation’s meaningful work supporting education and fostering thriving communities across the country,” said Avangrid CEO Pedro Azagra. “Investing in electrical lineworker education at Kennebec Valley Community College is crucial for grid resiliency, energy security, and economic growth. Today’s celebration underscores Avangrid’s commitment to modernizing U.S. grid infrastructure and bolstering our future workforce.”

“The Avangrid Foundation is proud to support Kennebec Valley Community College in providing a top-tier and hands-on education for our nation’s future lineworkers. Preparing the next generation of infrastructure workforce with new state-of-the-art resources is essential to maintaining and enhancing grid reliability and resiliency. I applaud KVCC on their commitment to Maine’s energy future,” said Pablo Colón, Executive Director of Avangrid Foundation and Director of Corporate Citizenship at Avangrid.

“This investment represents more than just cutting-edge equipment for the Lineworker Program. It’s a powerful symbol of our commitment to prepare students for critical roles in Maine’s energy future,” said KVCC President Karen Normandin. “We’re deeply grateful to Avangrid Foundation, Central Maine Power, the Foundation for Maine’s Community Colleges, and an anonymous donor for their generous support, which ensures our graduates are job-ready and positioned to keep our communities connected.”

The Avangrid Foundation and Central Maine Power have a long history of supporting KVCC’s Electrical Lineworker Technology program with funding, equipment, and expertise. The Avangrid Foundation contributed to the initial renovation of the Nutter Field House into the classroom space that hosts the program with $250,000 in grants. The Foundation also most recently provided $10,000 in scholarship funds for students enrolled in the Lineworker Technology Program, or students pursuing specialties in the Trades and Technology Department.

In 2024, CMP hired multiple lineworker apprentices who were graduates from the KVCC program, continuing a partnership that is now more than six years old. CMP has proudly trained lineworkers in central Maine for generations, offering competitive wages and lifelong careers over the company’s 125-year history.

Kennebec Valley Community College (KVCC) is a two-year comprehensive community college in mid-Maine serving students from Somerset, Kennebec, and Knox counties and well beyond. KVCC has two campuses in the heart of Central Maine—our 70-acre Fairfield Campus, which is readily accessible by I-95, and our 600-acre Harold Alfond Campus, just seven miles north. KVCC offers 30 degree programs between these two campuses, ranging from Nursing to Allied Health to Trades and Technology, and credentials in Mental Health, Liberal Studies, Business Administration, Early Childhood Education, Biology, General Studies, and Psychology. In addition to certificate and associate degree programs, KVCC’s Workforce Training and Professional Development office provides a wealth of short-term training programs for business, industry, and professional development. KVCC is a collegial environment emphasizing student success and respect for a diverse population of employees, students, and community members.

About Avangrid Foundation: The Avangrid Foundation is an independent, nonprofit organization that funds philanthropic investments that primarily impact communities where Avangrid, Inc. and its subsidiaries operate. Since 2001, the Avangrid Foundation and its predecessors have invested more than $42.4 million in partnerships that focus on building sustainable, vital and healthy communities; preserving cultural and artistic heritage; advancing education; and improving people’s lives. The Avangrid Foundation is committed to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in the United States. For more information, please visit https://www.avangrid.com/avangrid-foundation.

About Avangrid: Avangrid, Inc. is a leading energy company in the United States working to meet the growing demand for energy for homes and businesses across the nation through service, innovation, and continued investments by expanding grid infrastructure and energy generation projects. Avangrid has offices in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Maine and Oregon, including operations in 23 states with approximately $47 billion in assets, and has two primary lines of business: networks and power. Through its networks business, Avangrid owns and operates eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.3 million customers in New York and New England. Through its power generation business, Avangrid owns and operates more than 75 energy generation facilities across the United States producing 10.5 GW of power for over 3.1 million customers. Avangrid employs approximately 8,000 people and has been recognized by JUST Capital as one of the JUST 100 companies – a ranking of America’s best corporate citizens in 2025 for the fifth consecutive year. The company was named among the World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2025 for the seventh consecutive year by the Ethisphere Institute. Avangrid is a member of the group of companies controlled by Iberdrola, S.A. For more information, visit http://www.avangrid.com.

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