PowerForward DuPage | The Fox Valley Labor News

The Future Energy Jobs Act went into effect June 1, 2017. The IBEW is taking action by implementing solar training to prepare workers with jobs in the solar industry.

By Jennifer Rice
Managing Editor
Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018
Email Jennifer Rice at: jen@foxvalley
labornews.com

WARRENVILLE — On a dark and cold evening Jan. 29, more than 130 people packed Warrenville-based IBEW Local 701 to talk and learn about the sun.

More specifically, they came to educate themselves on the status of the Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA), a piece of energy legislation that followed nearly two years of negotiations between energy companies, consumer advocates and environmental groups.

Its focus is energy efficiency, renewable energy and job training. It began June 1, 2017.

“We are in unique position with this Act to take advantage of its economic benefits,” said Tim Milburn, with the Northwest Cook County Group of the Illinois Sierra Club. The Sierra Club, along with PowerForward DuPage sponsored the event.

Industry experts believe renewable energy is one of the fastest emerging energy technology fields. The Future Energy Jobs Act will help stimulate job creation throughout Illinois and when it does, the IBEW will be ready with trained workers. Photo courtesy of U.S. Air Force/Jennifer Green-Lanchoney

Those advantages include requiring the state’s two biggest electric utilities — Commonwealth Edison and Ameren — to dramatically expand their energy efficiency programs and reduce electricity waste, lowering Illinois power bills by billions of dollars through 2030.

For workers, FEJA saves and created thousands of clean energy jobs.

Harry Ohde, executive director of Illinois IBEW Renewable Energy Fund, said he’s been waiting 20 years for solar, but it’s finally here. His job is to make sure the IBEW has a trained workforce to keep up with the demand of solar installation. With $30 million in funding to help with training, a plan is being implemented. Before the panel installation on any building, it is important to know the answers to common questions like ‘can you transfer a solar lease‘, etc.

“These systems are made to last so they need to be installed properly,” Ohde said. “We need to have a workforce from Illinois to make sure people aren’t coming in from out-of-state to do these installations. We want an educated and qualified IBEW solar installer who will be employed by a union IBEW contractor.”

Chicago-based IBEW Local 134 has what its calling, a “traveling solar roadshow,” to promote renewable energy technologies throughout Illinois. Photo courtesy of IBEW Local 134

The $30 million in funding will be diverted among three job training programs: solar pipeline training, a craft apprentice program and a multi-cultural jobs program.

Ohde’s organization is in the process of developing a 40-hour renewable energy training curriculum, which will offer hands-on training and support.

This summer, the Alsip-based Renewable Energy Training Field will invite IBEW members to its IBEW/NECA Technical Institute for a Train the Trainer program. With the information learned at this program, IBEW members can return to their Locals and begin implementing the same program.

An engaged audience at Warrenville-based IBEW Local 701 consisted of decision makers who would install solar panels on their private businesses, public facilities or municipalities. Several residential home owners indicated they were planning to install solar panels in the near future. Jennifer Rice/staff photographer

Solar training programs also will be implemented in junior high schools, high schools, community colleges and low-income communities. Train the Trainer Training program.

Ohde was proud to announce that six high schools in diverse neighborhoods throughout Illinois will start a potential per-apprenticeship program, either this year or in 2019, to be worked out with local IBEW unions.

“We need young people for the types of jobs in this industry. These jobs aren’t going to be for an old guy like me, that’s for damn sure,” Ohde said to laughter.

RENEW Local 701 members participated in its first ever holiday food drive, collecting 550 pounds of food and donating it to Naperville’s Loaves & Fishes food pantry, which serves DuPage County residents. In a bit of friendly competition among the apprenticeship classes, first year apprentices got bragging rights for donating the most pounds of food. Jennifer Rice/staff photographer

By Jennifer Rice
Managing Editor
Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017
Email Jennifer Rice at: jen@foxvalley
labornews.com

Donations can be mailed to:
Loaves and Fishes
1871 High Grove Lane
Naperville, IL 60540
Phone: 630-355-3663

To learn more or make an on-line donation, visit Loaves and Fishes

NAPERVILLE — Members of IBEW Local 701’s RENEW (Reach out and Engage Next-gen Electrical Workers) ended 2016 with a gesture that will leave an impact on the DuPage County community.

For two months during the holidays, RENEW members collected food and various household items like diapers, for a friendly competition among the apprentices.

A Loaves & Fishes volunteer, left, helps three IBEW Local 701 RENEW members unload 550 pounds of food and household items Dec. 28 donated by the group during its first ever food drive. First year apprentices won a friendly competition, donating the most food of all the classes. Jennifer Rice/staff photographer

“We challenged the apprentices in our five-year program to see which class could donate the most food,” explained Journeyman Jonathan Johansen who heads the RENEW chapter at Local 701. To keep things fair, donated food was weighed. In the end, first year apprentices earned the bragging rights, donating nearly half of the 550 pounds of food collected. They also collected $80.

“RENEW is all about getting the younger members involved and helping the community. Our first year apprentices they really showed us,” Johansen said with a smile.

The mission of IBEW’s RENEW program is to inspire the next generation of IBEW workers to become active in their local union. The program pushes younger members to focus on issues important to them, provide education about the IBEW and the labor movement, and foster relationships with members and local union leadership.

At their last day of collection in December, RENEW members realized they achieved their goal of a successful food drive, but didn’t know where to donate the items. PowerForward DuPage Executive Director Karyn Charvat helped out by suggesting Loaves & Fishes, which provides food and client resources to DuPage County residents.

Loaves & Fishes Communications and Event Manager Michelle Iskowitz gives Local 701 RENEW members Jonathan Johansen, Thomas Imburgia and Tyler Drew a tour of the facility, allowing them to see first hand how their donations helps the community. Jennifer Rice/staff photographer

Johansen, along with fellow journeyman Thomas Imburgia, second year apprentice Tyler Drew and Charvat, delivered the food, Dec. 28.

Loaves & Fishes Communications and Event Manager Michelle Iskowitz gave them a tour and explained the significance of their donation.

“A woman who comes here said if it wasn’t for this place, her family would be homeless. With no health insurance, three children and a husband awaiting a liver transplant, all their money goes towards rent,” Iskowitz explained. “Your donation is helping her and hundreds others like her. Having a meal provides such normalcy for a family,” she added.

Motivated by her comments, the RENEW members committed to do more. “With our first year doing this, we didn’t know what to expect. Now we have a goal to double what we donated this year,” Johansen said.

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