Issue link: https://alabamapower.uberflip.com/i/647172
16 AFTER ALMOST TWO YEARS of study and hands-on training, Jon Gillies now knows what makes Plant Miller tick. "I really like learning and knowing how things work," said Gillies, Plant Miller electrical and instrumentation (E&I) apprentice. "There are so many instruments at the plant. You walk by them a thousand times, and you have no idea how they work. It's nice to know how individual components work together to help generate over 700 megawatts, and why one small thing is so important it could take the whole plant offline." Gillies is among 87 apprentices from all six company fossil generation plants who are taking part in state-of-the-art training offered through the Alabama Power Technical Education Center at Bevill State Community College in Sumiton. When he completes the program in May, Gillies will become a journeyman. "It has been very useful and specific," said Josh Piper, another Plant Miller E&I apprentice who will complete the training in May. "The equipment we use at Bevill State is the same as what we will be using at the plant. I've had to learn on the job at other places. But here, I learned the specifics in training, so once I get to the plant, I'm ready to go to work." The center at Bevill State provides technical and career-development training for APC apprentices and journeymen. The facility, which was dedicated last November, is the culmination of a longstanding partnership among Alabama Power, Southern Company, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and Bevill State. "I'm excited about the new training center at Bevill State and the opportunities it offers our plant employees," said Jim Heilbron, Alabama Power senior vice president and senior production officer. "Our people and their safety are our top priorities in Generation. The center is assisting us in achieving our priorities by providing quality training that will help keep our employees safe on the job." The interactive training has two tracks – the Apprentice Electrical and Instrumentation Program and the Apprentice Plant Mechanical Program. Students who complete either of the programs will progress to journeyman status. In addition, they will earn a short- term certificate or, with additional study, an EDUCATION Electrical and Instrumentation Apprentices Josh Piper, left, and Will Gurganus work in the classroom, too.