WHEREAS, energy is a fundamental part of our everyday lives and supports daily tasks, such as feeding our families, commuting to work, and cooling our homes; and
WHEREAS, energy sustains modern society’s complex systems, including patient care, air traffic control, and industrial processes; and
WHEREAS, following a powerful storm, restoring energy supplies is the first step to returning normalcy to our homes and communities; and
WHEREAS, energy generates commerce and fuels economic growth; and
WHEREAS, energy-related industries provide careers to tens of thousands of residents, including lineworkers, engineers, customer service representatives, accountants, chemists, environmentalists, power plant operators, and executives; and
WHEREAS, new workers are needed in energy-related industries to provide a bridge into the future, replacing retiring workers and maintaining a highly skilled and talented workforce to meet the new challenges of a growing economy; and
WHEREAS, through strategic partnerships, the Virginia Energy Workforce Consortium strives to promote a unified and results-oriented effort to ensure that residents find rewarding careers in energy so that Virginia can continue to grow and prosper;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Ralph S. Northam, do hereby recognize October 15-19, 2018, as CAREERS IN ENERGY WEEK in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.
