New NEPPA Training Center Construction to Begin this Fall

NEPPA is in the process of finalizing plans for a state-of-the-art training center which will be located in Littleton, Mass., on land owned by the Littleton Electric Light Department (LELD).

Design plans for the new Training Center include multiple classrooms which can be used for technical training programs, professional seminars and workshops and meetings of up to 100 people. A large indoor area will be available for use as a meter laboratory, indoor pole yard, heavy equipment bay and truck bay to accommodate bucket trucks for use in the line training programs. Additionally, office space for the NEPPA staff will be included in the building. Outside, a pole yard will be constructed for field training in the apprentice lineworker program, and a new underground residential distribution facility of vaults, manholes and ducts will also be constructed.

Site work and construction is expected to begin by October, 2011, and is estimated to take approximately six months. It is expected that NEPPA can begin to use the classrooms and training areas of the new facility by early- to mid-2012.

The total cost estimated for site work and to construct, finish and furnish the building is approximately $2.3 million. $1.8 million will be financed by the Littleton Electric Light Department, which will be repaid by NEPPA over 20 years through annual lease payments. NEPPA will be responsible for the remaining $500,000. Some of these funds will be taken from available reserves which NEPPA has accumulated over the past 15 years. The remainder will be solicited from NEPPA members through a special one-time capital assessment. In addition, NEPPA will seek financial donations and contributions of equipment, tools and supplies from NEPPA affiliate members to help furnish the center.

For more information, please contact Pat Hyland at (508) 482-5906.

Artist rendering of NEPPA Training Center