CMP Expands Industry-Leading High School Internship Program for 2026
Second year of the 10‑week paid Union Trade Internship Program will reach more Maine students and expand training opportunities
AUGUSTA, ME – April 14, 2026 – Central Maine Power (CMP), a subsidiary of Avangrid, Inc., is proud to announce the return and continued growth of its Union Trade Internship Program for 2026, providing more Maine high school students with hands‑on training alongside frontline union employees in the electric utility industry.
Now in its second year, the 10‑week paid program will:
- Extend to additional schools
- Double student enrollment
- Enhance training opportunities to include both line and substation operations.
Launched in 2025, the program will grow this year to include 10 students from additional schools in central and southern Maine. Students aged 16 and older are selected through a competitive recruitment and interview process through a partnership between schools and CMP.
“Our Union Trade Internship program is growing in size, scope, and opportunity in 2026 as we build on our momentum with this next class of students this summer,” said Linda Ball, President and CEO of CMP. “By partnering with more schools and reaching more students, we’re offering hands‑on experience that’s essential to safely operating and maintaining Maine’s energy grid. This program strengthens our connection with Maine schools while creating a strong, local pipeline for union skilled‑trades careers. Investing in the next generation helps ensure a well‑trained workforce that can deliver safe, reliable power to the communities we serve. It’s a win for students, schools and our customers across Maine.”
Running from June through August, the internship includes classroom instruction at CMP’s Training Center in Farmingdale, as well as supervised field experience alongside veteran CMP crews. Students in the line and substation programs will gain foundational skills such as pole climbing, bucket‑truck operation, breaker and power transformer maintenance and safe use of essential tools and protective equipment while strictly avoiding any work involving live electrical wires.
“Participating in CMP's Inaugural Union Trade Internship program in 2025 was an incredible opportunity for our students,” said Michaela LaPorte, Workforce Development at Somerset Career and Technical Center. “They gained hands-on experience, built valuable technical and safety skills, and entered their senior year with a stronger understanding of future career options. This program offered a rare and unique chance for Maine students to experience a skill trade firsthand before making decisions about their future. We are so excited to continue our partnership with CMP in 2026 as the program expands to reach even more students.”
CMP’s Maine-based internship program is part of a broader Avangrid workforce development initiative that began in Connecticut in 2023 at CMP’s sister company, United Illuminating (UI). It was the first internship of its kind in the electric utility industry.