The program’s career-readiness curriculum, mentorship opportunities, skills-development components, and connections to industry leadership will help high school students in urban communities prepare for evolving and increasingly technical careers in energy. It is expected to launch in seven communities across the country during its first year, with plans to eventually expand to 40 communities while engaging with 1,000 students annually. 

“As the energy industry grows, we must expand access to its career opportunities for all communities,” CEWD Executive Director Missy Henriksen said in a statement. “The UEASP is our commitment to urban youth, offering them a clear pathway to energy careers—from GED to Ph.D.—and giving them the tools to step directly into impactful, sustainable roles in this dynamic sector.” 

The American Association of Blacks in Energy also is supporting the initiative, which is expected to formally launch in Fall 2026. It is one of several ongoing industry efforts to create new talent pipelines and draw students from a variety of backgrounds to an energy industry that is rapidly changing and often in need of technical, specialized skillsets. 

The Entergy Foundation last year provided a $2-million grant to Jackson State University in Mississippi to establish the Critical Power Grid Network Security Lab —an innovation and skills development hub that will help train the skilled cybersecurity workforce that electric companies will depend on in an increasingly digital economy. 

The Exelon Foundation, similarly, has supported the development of dozens of science, technology, engineering, and math centers across the country to help grade-school students develop valuable workforce skills and introduce them to a potential career in energy. 

CEWD data suggests the industry will need to recruit 32 million workers during the next decade to fill new roles and replace vacancies.