Since its inception at the dawn of the power industry, IBEW has constantly reinvented itself to be at the forefront of technology. The members are the most highly skilled workers in their field because of continuous training in the latest advancements in power distribution. And when it comes to alternative and renewable sources of energy, the IBEW has been witness to their evolution every step of the way.

Here are just a few examples of IBEW members bringing new technologies to life:

Long-Distance Transmission

In 1933, President Roosevelt created the National Power Policy Committee, which was tasked with researching the logistics of a national electrical grid system. One of the committee's first proposals was to construct a long-distance transmission line that would connect the Hoover Dam near Las Vegas to Los Angeles, a distance of 270 miles.

A project of this scope had never been attempted, and various experts were brought in to consult on its design. Statisticians analyzed data on population growth and electrical demand. Material experts from Stanford University fabricated conductors and insulation capable of carrying 275,000 volts. Electrical engineers designed switching stations that could swap out these high-voltage lines when faulted.

But when ground broke in 1934, it was members of Los Angeles Local 18 that had the honor of installing the country's first long-distance, high-wire transmission tower, taking the first step toward a national grid.

Nuclear Power

In 1954, ground broke on the world's first full-scale civilian-use nuclear power station in Shippingport, Pa. For three years, the construction and installation of this revolutionary power plant was performed by members of Beaver, Pa., Local 712. The reactor reached criticality in December 1957 and began sending 60,000 kilowatts of electricity to the Pittsburgh area.

On May 26, 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower dedicated the power station and, by remote control from the White House, opened the main throttle valve sending power to Allegheny and Beaver counties. Transmission was overseen by Pittsburgh Local 142 members at the Duquesne Light Co.

Wind Power

In 1979, the U.S. Department of Energy began partnering with industry groups to develop utility-scale wind turbines. As part of this effort, two models were tested outside Medicine Bow, Wyo., in 1981. One was built by Boeing that could produce 2 megawatts, while the other could produce 4 MW and was built by Hamilton Standard.

Members of Casper, Wyo., Local 322 were responsible for constructing the first turbine tower and installing the blades. Another facet of the experiment was to see which design was better suited for a future 100-MW wind farm, a concept that was years away at the time but is commonplace for IBEW members today.

Solar Power

In 1981, the Department of Energy completed a pilot project for solar thermal energy called SolarOne in the Mojave Desert. Having demonstrated the viability of this alternative energy source, the IBEW was called in to build the first utility-scale solar farm in Hesperia, Calif., called Arco Solar. Construction began in 1982 with members of San Luis Obispo Local 639. The farm was completed in 1984 and became the first commercial solar power farm in the U.S.

Electric Vehicles

In 1967, Electric Fuel Propulsion Inc. of Detroit unveiled an electric vehicle that was far ahead of its time — the MARS II. The Arizona Public Service Co. purchased one of the cars and put it to the test with the first ever cross-country EV trip.

The MARS II left Detroit that September and crossed nine states, making 36 recharging stops on the 2,226-mile journey to Arizona. It consumed 1,074 kilowatt-hours, which, based on the residential rate of 2.53 cents per KWh at the time, equated to $27.17 for the trip, or about 1 cent per mile.

A month after departing, it crossed the finish line in Phoenix, where it was greeted by members of Local 387 who were brought in to inspect the car and test some of its revolutionary electronics. The car was powered by 20 6-volt lead-cobalt batteries and had a maximum speed of 60 mph and a range of 70 to 120 miles per charge. Similar to EVs of today, the MARS II was capable of fast charging, reaching 80% of battery capacity in 30 minutes and 100% in 90 minutes.

The economic and environmental benefits of electric cars were clear. Unfortunately, the lack of a reliable network of charging stations was a major stumbling block that prevented their adoption. Thankfully, with the passage of President Joe Biden's Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the IBEW is changing that.

Using the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program developed by NECA and the IBEW, our members have been tasked with installing a national network of 500,000 charging stations by 2030. Once again, because of our extensive training and expertise, the members of the IBEW remain at the forefront of technology.