Installation of rooftop solar on the Musician's Hall
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
A. We sent a letter January 2021 (see below) to senators urging them to pass legislation to insure fair labor standards for solar and wind projects funded with state dollars. In the letter we sent to Senators we stated:
The climate justice and environmental groups that have signed this letter are writing to express concerns about how the Oregon Strategic Investment Program is being used. Our groups are committed to moving as rapidly as possible to the use of renewable energy. We also believe that climate measures must be implemented in a just manner with respect to labor standards as well as workforce equity.
We have learned that a high percentage of the solar and wind projects in Eastern Oregon, including “re-power” work replacing wind turbine blades and rotors, are frequently awarded to out-of-state companies that bring in non-union and lower skilled workers rather than hiring from the local workforce. These companies do not help build Oregon communities, and yet many of them receive Oregon tax abatements under the Oregon Strategic Investment Program.
Members of the groups listed below are committed to addressing the climate crisis and the Strategic Investment Program can help bring wind and solar companies to our state. However we need labor and equity standards governing how renewable companies are brought in. There should be accountability in adhering to those standards, especially because taxpayer money is being allocated. Low road wind and solar jobs in eastern Oregon are not the good green jobs we think are possible. We can do better. We believe that our state can foster the creation of wind and solar projects and at the same time have high labor standards.
We support the Oregon State Building and Construction Trades Council and its affiliates in their effort to see legislation passed requiring companies that benefit from state tax subsidies to meet high road labor and workforce standards. These standards would include requirements to pay prevailing wages, take part in apprenticeship programs, and utilize a local workforce with set goals for hiring, training, and retaining women, people of color, and veterans. This cannot be left to the voluntary “good will” of employers. We need legislation that mandates that high labor and workforce values be upheld by companies receiving Oregon subsidies.
We know you care about how climate change is seriously hurting our state. As you are well aware, Oregon-based climate scientists project rising sea levels threatening the state’s coastal communities, a shrinking snowpack posing a dual threat of lower soil moisture and stream flows in the summer; and increasing danger of excessive heat and wildfire smoke that threatens farmworkers, construction workers, and other outdoor workers with illness and death. We can’t move rapidly to a sustainable future on the backs of Oregon’s workers. When taxpayer money is used to subsidize an industry, it should be used in a way that raises standards rather than lowering them. Please support legislation requiring companies that benefit from Oregon tax subsidies to meet high road labor and workforce standards.
We welcome the opportunity to discuss these issues with you further. Please feel free to send any comments to Climate Jobs co-chairs, Dave King (landd_2@q.com) or Mark Darienzo (markdari@pacifier.com)
Supporting organizations include:
Oregon Conservancy Foundation
Oregon League of Conservation Voters
Metro Climate Action Team of Oregon League of conservation Voters
Sierra Club
Breach Collective
XR
Stop Fracked Gas PDX
Stop Zenith Collective
Verde
Sunrise
Braided River Coalition
Portland Harbor Community Coalition
Oregon Physicians for Responsibiity
OPAL
Climate Jobs PDX
350pdx
Ecofaith recovery
B. We developed and delivered a three day Labor 101 class in coordination with Sunrise May 2020. Day one was labor history and why unions are important; day two was interaction between four labor leaders and Sunrise; and day three was discussion of the Green New Deal, Just Transition and next steps.
C. We were instrumental in adding labor language to the City of Portland Climate Emergency Declaration in 2020. The City Council has yet to approve.
D. We helped pass the Portland Clean Energy Fund in 2018. The fund will receive revenue from a surcharge on gross receipts from major retailers in Portland. The money will go toward renewable energy and weatherization projects and job training and union apprenticeship programs with a focus on low income and communities of color.
E. We have been active with the Community Solar Program. We are a member of the Community Solar consortia whose goal is to insure the Community Solar rules are equitable. We spread the word to unions and other groups (e.g. schools, churches) about Community Solar. We attended workshops facilitated by the Public Utility Commission who wrote the rules. In a letter we sent to the commission we stated the following:
We believe, as a matter of consumer protection and stability in a new industry, that companies who install Community Solar projects should adhere to high labor standards and use of high quality materials. The solar workforce should be well qualified and highly trained. Workers should receive prevailing wages as well as good quality pension and health benefits. Companies should demonstrate during the pre-certification process that they adhere to these labor standards.
Not only should low-income citizens be able to invest in solar projects, but low-income citizens should also be trained and employed to work in the solar industry. Companies with minority or women ownership should be encouraged to win contracts building and developing solar projects. Community Benefits Agreements, as shown in Portland over the last four years, are one avenue to promote such efforts toward greater equity, and in turn help stabilize the industry.
F. We helped organized a Just Transition Workshop in 2016 in coordination with the Center for Sustainable Economics
G. We sponsored events for Joe Uehlein, Labor Network for Sustainability in 2015 and 2016
H. Musicians Hall solar installation
a) We helped the Musician’s Hall install a10 KW roof top solar panel array through the Feed in Tariff Pilot (FIT) program August 2014. In partnership with the Musician’s Union and Synchro Solar, the solar contractor, we facilitated the FIT application process on behalf of the union. FIT is a program where the owner of the solar panels is paid for excess energy produced by the solar panels.
b) We organized the Musician’s Hall Solar Panel Installation Celebration August 2014.
I. We facilitated article clubs (e.g. Bill McKibben’s “Do the Math” Rolling Stone Article and Naomi Klein’s “This Changes Everything” introductory chapter) 2013-2016
A. We sent a letter January 2021 (see below) to senators urging them to pass legislation to insure fair labor standards for solar and wind projects funded with state dollars. In the letter we sent to Senators we stated:
The climate justice and environmental groups that have signed this letter are writing to express concerns about how the Oregon Strategic Investment Program is being used. Our groups are committed to moving as rapidly as possible to the use of renewable energy. We also believe that climate measures must be implemented in a just manner with respect to labor standards as well as workforce equity.
We have learned that a high percentage of the solar and wind projects in Eastern Oregon, including “re-power” work replacing wind turbine blades and rotors, are frequently awarded to out-of-state companies that bring in non-union and lower skilled workers rather than hiring from the local workforce. These companies do not help build Oregon communities, and yet many of them receive Oregon tax abatements under the Oregon Strategic Investment Program.
Members of the groups listed below are committed to addressing the climate crisis and the Strategic Investment Program can help bring wind and solar companies to our state. However we need labor and equity standards governing how renewable companies are brought in. There should be accountability in adhering to those standards, especially because taxpayer money is being allocated. Low road wind and solar jobs in eastern Oregon are not the good green jobs we think are possible. We can do better. We believe that our state can foster the creation of wind and solar projects and at the same time have high labor standards.
We support the Oregon State Building and Construction Trades Council and its affiliates in their effort to see legislation passed requiring companies that benefit from state tax subsidies to meet high road labor and workforce standards. These standards would include requirements to pay prevailing wages, take part in apprenticeship programs, and utilize a local workforce with set goals for hiring, training, and retaining women, people of color, and veterans. This cannot be left to the voluntary “good will” of employers. We need legislation that mandates that high labor and workforce values be upheld by companies receiving Oregon subsidies.
We know you care about how climate change is seriously hurting our state. As you are well aware, Oregon-based climate scientists project rising sea levels threatening the state’s coastal communities, a shrinking snowpack posing a dual threat of lower soil moisture and stream flows in the summer; and increasing danger of excessive heat and wildfire smoke that threatens farmworkers, construction workers, and other outdoor workers with illness and death. We can’t move rapidly to a sustainable future on the backs of Oregon’s workers. When taxpayer money is used to subsidize an industry, it should be used in a way that raises standards rather than lowering them. Please support legislation requiring companies that benefit from Oregon tax subsidies to meet high road labor and workforce standards.
We welcome the opportunity to discuss these issues with you further. Please feel free to send any comments to Climate Jobs co-chairs, Dave King (landd_2@q.com) or Mark Darienzo (markdari@pacifier.com)
Supporting organizations include:
Oregon Conservancy Foundation
Oregon League of Conservation Voters
Metro Climate Action Team of Oregon League of conservation Voters
Sierra Club
Breach Collective
XR
Stop Fracked Gas PDX
Stop Zenith Collective
Verde
Sunrise
Braided River Coalition
Portland Harbor Community Coalition
Oregon Physicians for Responsibiity
OPAL
Climate Jobs PDX
350pdx
Ecofaith recovery
B. We developed and delivered a three day Labor 101 class in coordination with Sunrise May 2020. Day one was labor history and why unions are important; day two was interaction between four labor leaders and Sunrise; and day three was discussion of the Green New Deal, Just Transition and next steps.
C. We were instrumental in adding labor language to the City of Portland Climate Emergency Declaration in 2020. The City Council has yet to approve.
D. We helped pass the Portland Clean Energy Fund in 2018. The fund will receive revenue from a surcharge on gross receipts from major retailers in Portland. The money will go toward renewable energy and weatherization projects and job training and union apprenticeship programs with a focus on low income and communities of color.
E. We have been active with the Community Solar Program. We are a member of the Community Solar consortia whose goal is to insure the Community Solar rules are equitable. We spread the word to unions and other groups (e.g. schools, churches) about Community Solar. We attended workshops facilitated by the Public Utility Commission who wrote the rules. In a letter we sent to the commission we stated the following:
We believe, as a matter of consumer protection and stability in a new industry, that companies who install Community Solar projects should adhere to high labor standards and use of high quality materials. The solar workforce should be well qualified and highly trained. Workers should receive prevailing wages as well as good quality pension and health benefits. Companies should demonstrate during the pre-certification process that they adhere to these labor standards.
Not only should low-income citizens be able to invest in solar projects, but low-income citizens should also be trained and employed to work in the solar industry. Companies with minority or women ownership should be encouraged to win contracts building and developing solar projects. Community Benefits Agreements, as shown in Portland over the last four years, are one avenue to promote such efforts toward greater equity, and in turn help stabilize the industry.
F. We helped organized a Just Transition Workshop in 2016 in coordination with the Center for Sustainable Economics
G. We sponsored events for Joe Uehlein, Labor Network for Sustainability in 2015 and 2016
H. Musicians Hall solar installation
a) We helped the Musician’s Hall install a10 KW roof top solar panel array through the Feed in Tariff Pilot (FIT) program August 2014. In partnership with the Musician’s Union and Synchro Solar, the solar contractor, we facilitated the FIT application process on behalf of the union. FIT is a program where the owner of the solar panels is paid for excess energy produced by the solar panels.
b) We organized the Musician’s Hall Solar Panel Installation Celebration August 2014.
I. We facilitated article clubs (e.g. Bill McKibben’s “Do the Math” Rolling Stone Article and Naomi Klein’s “This Changes Everything” introductory chapter) 2013-2016
