SEEC Celebrates Climate Workers Advancing America’s Clean Energy Future
Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) — through the leadership of the SEEC Climate Jobs Task Force — hosted a public roundtable with climate workers who are at the center of America’s clean energy future. The climate crisis is a monumental challenge that will affect generations of Americans to come. Building a clean energy workforce with good-paying union jobs that can withstand the tests of our rapidly changing world is essential to meeting this critical moment. With the help of the transformational investments from the Inflation Reduction Act, we are training new generations of clean energy workers, building an equitable economy, and leading the world in the fight against the climate crisis.
The event livestream can be found here.
“The Inflation Reduction Act is hard at work bringing down costs for our families and sparking the creation of good paying union jobs in the trades," said SEEC Climate Jobs Task Force Co-Chair Rep. Nikki Budzinski (IL-13). “Today, I was thrilled to join my colleagues on SEEC's Climate Jobs Task Force in bringing together a broad coalition of workers, including from my home state of Illinois, who are benefiting from historic investments in our clean energy economy. I look forward to keeping up our efforts to ensure that our nation's transition to clean energy is powered by the union workers who sustain the American middle class."
“The transition to a clean energy economy provides a remarkable opportunity for more people to access the training and support they need to get quality, family-wage, union jobs,” said SEEC Climate Jobs Task Force Co-Chair Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01). “In NW Oregon, this includes jobs in clean manufacturing and sustainable forestry. Forging partnerships among high schools, colleges, workforce training providers, organized labor, and the clean energy industry is critical to prepare the workforce we need to address the climate crisis. The SEEC Climate Jobs Task Force is committed to advancing policies that are pro-worker and pro-climate. I’m grateful to the workers who shared their experiences today as we continue this important work.”
“The Inflation Reduction Act is a historic opportunity to transition the workforce towards the clean energy industry while maintaining workers’ pay, skills, and dignity. I have long worked to help support this transition in the district I represent, where many are employed or are impacted by the fossil fuel refineries nearby,” said SEEC Climate Jobs Task Force Co-Chair Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10). “This is a vital aspect of addressing the climate crisis while ensuring no workers are left behind.”
“General Electric (GE) workers in Schenectady, New York have kept the lights on in this country and around the world for over a century. Unfortunately, due to decades of bad trade policy and massive offshoring, we’ve seen thousands of good union jobs leave our facility and devastate our community,” said Eric Romero, Sr. (Materials Handler, International Union of Electrical Workers – Communications Workers of America Local 301). “After years of lay-offs and fighting alongside my union to get wind work and investment in our shop, it’s amazing to welcome my son and other kids from the community as the next generation of GE union workers. It gives me hope.”
“GE adding an onshore wind turbine nacelle manufacturing line in Schenectady, New York has created opportunities for young people like me that we never thought would come our way. Our union and the Inflation Reduction Act made this investment possible,” said Eric Romero, Jr. (Assembler, International Union of Electrical Workers – Communications Workers of America Local 301). “I’m making $24.50 per hour with full benefits and will soon earn $29.19 per hour for an entry level position straight out of high school. Our community needs and deserves more good union jobs like mine and my father’s. My co-workers and I just finished building the first three nacelles and we’re excited for what the future holds.”
“The Inflation Reduction Act demonstrates that investing in clean energy and ensuring that it is built by union labor is a priority. I have been working on solar for the past several years in Illinois and it has given me the opportunity to provide for my family as well as contribute to protecting our planet,” said Jeff Westendorf (Electrician, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 146). “The work my union brothers and sisters do is important for our communities and it takes an investment from state and federal governments to commit to clean energy and build it with strong labor standards.”
“I’m in my final year as an apprentice, and after five years, I have put in 8,000 work hours on commercial, industrial, and solar fields. The work is hard, but rewarding because I am part of this new clean energy industry that is doing great things for the state of Maine,” said Kilton Webb (Electrician, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 567). “It’s also exciting because of the potential of having more union jobs ready for the next generation of workers. Students who were in middle and high school when I started my journey of becoming an electrician are now apprentices that I work with and teach every day.”
“Climate Jobs Illinois is taking action on the dual crisis of climate change and inequity by ensuring climate jobs are union jobs. Through our union apprenticeship programs, we are ensuring union career opportunities in clean energy are provided to Black and Brown communities,” said Chynna Hampton (Equity Director, Climate Jobs Illinois). “Union jobs reduce the racial wealth gap by providing stable, good-paying employment opportunities that can transform lives and entire communities.”
“The transformational power of the Inflation Reduction Act cannot be overstated. The law is already working to grow clean energy, revitalize U.S. manufacturing, and support and create the good-paying, union jobs we need to give all workers the opportunity for a middle-class life,” said Jason Walsh (Executive Director, BlueGreen Alliance).