First Broadcast Pensions
Local 1228's Historic Wins

Ready for the Solar Boom
Hiring IBEW a 'Must-Do'

Ink-Stained Tribute
Local 3 Member Honored

Coming Soon
New Retiree
Membership Cards

North of 49°
Manitoba Government Restores Union-Backed
1:1 Apprentice Ratio

Au nord du 49° parallèle
Manitoba ramène le ratio d'un compagnon par apprenti appuyé par les syndicats

Sierra English

The IBEW's Heroes
of D-Day

Renewable energy construction isn't new for members of Kennewick, Wash., Local 112. Its jurisdiction is east of the Cascade Mountains, away from major metro areas like Seattle and Portland, and runs through many smaller communities in eastern Washington and Oregon. The area is ideal for wind energy.

"We've been working on windmills forever," Business Manager Travis Swayze said with a laugh. "We were doing windmills 25 years ago."

A renewable energy facility it worked on last year is different, however. It is the only one of its kind in the United States, although it may not be that way for long.

The W.heatridge Renewable Energy Facility near tiny Lexington, Ore. — population about 240 — is the country's first plant to have wind, solar and battery storage all at one facility.

It's advanced technology, but pro-worker wins at the state and federal level drove the construction of Wheatridge, making clear that the clean energy revolution is a boon for union jobs.

Oregon officials have mandated an aggressive push toward clean energy, putting the onus on Portland General Electric, co-owner of the facility, to modernize its delivery systems.

On the federal level, the Inflation Reduction Act passed by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden in 2022 provided incentives for major energy companies like NextEra, the other co-owner, to invest even more heavily in renewables. The law includes a 30% tax credit for stand-alone battery storage.

Those factors, and the strong relationship Local 112 has with a prominent signatory contractor, led to about 2,000 of its members performing nearly all the work on the facility. All solar work, including the high-tech installation of battery systems, was done by Local 112 members.

Cooper:
Climate Jobs Are Here
Noble:
Extreme Heat, Cruel Laws

Daniel L. Shirey;
Ann Miller;
William G. Hamilton

New Numbers Prove Unions Increase Household Wealth, Reduce Inequality;
New Training Makes It Easier to Talk About Issues That Matter to Members

A Tribute to the Man Who Kept the Lights On;
Fourth District Program Turns Today's Members Into Tomorrow's Contractors

It's Hot Out There. Here's a Reminder to Work Safely.

April 2024

Founders Scholarship Is 'Emblematic' of Way Wisconsin Member Lives
His Life