By Joe Salimando www.eleblog.com
It’s unreasonable to expect electrical contractors to cruise the Internet, looking for what’s up with NECA & IBEW on the alternative energy + energy efficiency fronts. For one thing, there are 360+ local metro areas in the United States, served by 120 NECA chapters and 280+ IBEW local unions. Not to mention all of the JATCs!
So we’ve done just a bit of the work for you. Almost all of this is RECENT (I’ve put dates posted or publicized next to each item). The stuff in italics is direct quotes, where used.
IBEW Local 48 Business Manager – Ocean Energy
Cliff Davis, writing (8/26) on SustainableBusinessOregon:
That brings us to wave energy, the new up-and-coming alternative. The challenges are many, while the opportunities are promising. The ocean is one of the most corrosive environments and the waves are very unpredictable. As a result, the generators will need to be designed to withstand the elements while also being a cost effective source of power that can be maintained. Furthermore, adding structures to the ocean environment will have impacts to the sea life and society’s use of these waters. We just don’t know to what extent yet.
NECA-IBEW JATC In D.C. Area Get Accreditation
From a press release posted (8/17) to EConline.com:
The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) has awarded the Joint Apprenticeship Training Program (JATC) ISPQ Accredited Training Program™ status. The JATC is jointly sponsored by the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 26.
And
“We are extremely proud to be one of only fifteen such accredited programs in all of North America, and the first NECA-IBEW training facility to achieve the status,” said David McCord, director of the JATC.
Secretary of Labor On Green Jobs In Montana
From The Billings Gazette (9/5):
Right here in Montana, we awarded a $5 million Energy Training Partnership Grant this year to the Montana Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Council, along with statewide union training centers that include bricklayers, electricians and sheet metal workers. The grant’s plan is to boost statewide training in wind, solar and hydro-electric power to help “green” the Big Sky Country and put Montanans back to work. More than 1,000 IBEW members in Montana, including journeymen and apprentices, will benefit from the training programs funded by the grant.
EXTRA: Download MEJATC “coordinator’s corner” August report – includes info on how the grant is being used.
IBEW 332 + Santa Clara Valley NECA Sponsor Solar Demo
. . . at the Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose, in partnership with the Greater South Bay Green Jobs Corps (8/31).
Each . . . participant was provided an “Eco Kit”, courtesy of IBEW 332 and SCV-NECA, comprised of an IBEW/NECA eco tote, a T-shirt commemorating IBEW/NECA’s participation with the Greater South Bay Green Jobs Corps, a Tamiya Solar Assembly Car, and a custom-printed book with solar photovoltaic basic theory, graphics, and a reference glossary of terms.
DID YOU KNOW . . . ?
NECA’s Oregon-Columbia chapter + IBEW Local 48 offer a Green newsletter.
NECA’s NYC chapter has a resource on its website, NECA NY Green
The JATCs in Ohio have a website, OhioGrows.org.
ElectricTV.net now lists (in its archives) videos by “tags.” Choose the LED tag, for example, and you’ll instantly find the four videos mentioning this new lighting technology.
Press release from Electrical Contractor magazine (8/5): “Electrical contractors around the country are embracing green building in great numbers, along with their growing influence as trusted partners in the overall electrical design or specifications with building owners or the design team” – John Maisel, publisher.
What the NECA Connection says (to prospective customers) about green solutions.
See also:
IBEW Is ‘First Request’ For Local Wind Turbine In Grayslake, Ill. (8/21)
Iowa’s leading manufacturer of wind towers (130 workers) is now with IBEW (9/3)
Broadway Electric installs utility-scale PV solution (5/11)
Cupertino Electric to help school system with solar parking canopies (8/11)