In newspapers from Ohio to Texas to Michigan, as well as a Spanish-language newspaper in Arizona, IBEW members are telling the IBEW story in guest editorials. These editorials are recruiting new members and informing readers about wins from the Inflation Reduction Act passed just two years ago. The swing-state editorial campaign warns against attempts to repeal the law that is putting IBEW members to work in renewable energy.
In an op-ed in the Plain Dealer, Cleveland Local 38 treasurer Brent Misenko says, “Union jobs are gaining momentum in the growing clean-energy economy.” He explains that the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) incentivizes companies to create workforce development and apprenticeship programs that can raise workers’ pay. Some earn $300,000 more in wages and benefits over their careers.
“As an electrician and an IBEW member, I’m proud to go to work every day to build infrastructure for more renewable energy and a more resilient grid,” Misenko says.
Dallas-Fort Worth Local 20 president Price Warwick III says the IRA has helped fuel a 22 percent gain in membership this year. The law is making it easier to organize, and sparking a new generation of good-paying union jobs that benefit communities and the environment at the same time.
“We are seeing a lot of people interested. We are smashing new member signup records every month,” says Warwick. “I’ve doubled my organizing staff in the last couple of months because of demand.”
In another article from the Courier Texas, Warwick adds, “Businesses have already announced more than 300,000 clean energy jobs. They expect to create millions more over the next decade.”
In fact, in Texas alone, the Inflation Reduction Act has prompted 23,000 new clean energy jobs and $16.45 billion in new investments. The law is expected to bring more than $66 billion to clean power generation and energy storage in Texas by 2030, meaning even more local jobs and opportunities for Texans.
Despite the major economic benefits of these energy infrastructure investments some, like Former President Trump and many Republicans, are pledging to gut the IRA if Republicans win the White House and Congress next year.
“Like everything these days, the Biden-Harris clean energy plan has been swept up in political games,” Warwick says. “But there shouldn’t be anything controversial about creating more good jobs and giving Americans more energy choices.”
