San Diego Gas & Electric grants $1.2 million to San Diego College of Continuing Education Foundation's Employee Training Institute for tuition-free training to become a skilled aborist to prevent wildfires by clearing trees from utility equipment and lines.
The free Arborist/Utility Line Clearance Training Program is a 200-hour 5-week training in which graduates leave the program prepared to work in a line clearance crew. The program begins on April 2022 and runs through July 2025.
“The SDCCE Foundation is excited to bring awareness to the arboriculture industry and as a result of SDG&E’s generous training funding, low-income San Diegans are entering a high demand, high wage career path,” said Laurie Coskey, Ed.D., SDCCE Foundation’s CEO.
According to the college, the program is designed by industry experts and gives entry-level students skills that a utility line clearance arborist apprentice would learn in the first six months on the job. Students will receive training in techniques such as First Aid/CPR, OSHA 10, flagger training, fire safety prevention, chippers, chainsaw usage, ropes, knots, and climbing upon completion.
The SDCCE Foundation is excited to bring awareness to the arboriculture industry and as a result of SDG&E’s generous training funding, low-income San Diegans are entering a high demand, high wage career path.” said Laurie Coskey, Ed.D., SDCCE Foundation’s CEO.
The Arborist/Utility Line Clearance Training is open to all San Diego residents eighteen and older. Prospective trainees can apply now at the SDCCD’s ETi website or email Caron Lieber at clieber@sdccd.edu. Training takes place at the California Conservation Corps, Urban Corps of San Diego County, and the San Diego College of Continuing Education.
