WIS Politics | Robb Kahl, July 17
Sunny skies and abundant winds are not just part of our quality of life here in Wisconsin. They also represent an opportunity to build a clean energy economy. A clean energy economy will diversify our energy resources, bring down utility bills over time, stimulate economic growth in Wisconsin communities, and create thousands of high-quality, family-sustaining careers.
However, if the jobs on clean energy projects are temporary or low-quality ones—e.g., filled by workers making $20 an hour traveling from out-of-state with little to no training—Wisconsin communities risk losing out on these benefits. That’s why it was so important for Wisconsin’s four major utilities—Alliant Energy, Madison Gas & Electric, WEC Energy Group, and Xcel Energy—to pledge, earlier this year, that they will employ local union workers for the construction of dozens of utility-scale solar, wind, and battery projects across the state for years to come.
Just this month, union electricians, operating engineers, carpenters, and laborers began working in Polk County to build a 1,000-acre solar array that will offset nearly 150,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide each year. The workers heading to this site each day have been trained for lifelong careers through multi-year, earn-while-you-learn, union, apprenticeship programs.
Thanks to the pledge, they will have additional opportunities long after construction of this particular project is complete. Hiring highly-trained union workers also means that clean energy projects get built right the first time, saving these projects from costly repairs and rebuilds down the line. One recent study found that using union labor makes construction projects on average 4% cheaper overall, despite the higher wage costs, because union labor delivers 14% higher productivity, a 33% lower risk of
turnover, and a 40% reduction in labor shortages. Another study shows that unions help raise the pay and quality of jobs for all workers and generate benefits for communities and local economies.
When critics complain that this pledge will somehow close the door to opportunities for Wisconsin workers, we should be skeptical. Union construction trades make up more than half of the non-residential workforce in the upper Midwest. Union construction trades historically built the electric generation facilities in Wisconsin due to the complexity of utility-scale projects. That union construction trades are now building renewable energy projects in continued partnership with the utilities, should come as no surprise. For any construction worker not yet in a union, Wisconsin’s building trades unions are eager to welcome you and will provide better wages, retirement security, great health benefits, paid training, and access to these clean energy jobs.
Wisconsin utilities’ pledge to hire local workers to build our clean energy future is the right approach for utilities, workers, ratepayers, and local communities.
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