Good For The Environment, Good For Jobs, Good for Cities

"According to a local chapter of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, solar power appeals to union leaders as a 'green' cause in two ways: it is good for the environment, and it's also good for getting greenback dollars for members. Based in Dorchester in Boston, MA, Local 103...will begin offering a 35-hour class in photovoltaic panel installation to 150 or more apprentices in its standard five-year training program. The 6,000-member local's class, one of the first of its kind in the country, is expected to rapidly increase the number of people in eastern Massachusetts qualified to install solar electric power systems and boost solar installation expertise and interest among conventional electrical contractors. By expanding the pool of electricians who know PV [photovoltaic technology], they are removing an important bottleneck to getting systems installed and helping to reduce installation costs. Also, by making PV part of their training curriculum, Local 103 is helping to move PV into the mainstream....In recent years, Local 103 has added several new elements to its five-year training program, including classes in asbestos removal and environmental-hazard remediation, to increase the work opportunites for electricians."

Thanks to Connie Chung