Texas unions celebrate geothermal win in Austin
Texas Climate Jobs Project is celebrating the unanimous passage of an Austin City Council resolution to evaluate potential geothermal projects within the city, which could significantly reduce emissions and generate 62,500 direct jobs over 10 years.
Labor and environmental allies held a rally in support before the vote, featuring speakers from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 520 and the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA).
“Unions are leading the charge to solidify Texas’ position as a renewable energy leader. Geothermal energy is poised to be a real game-changer for our power grid. It’s clean, reliable, low-cost, and always available. We hope this work will show just how beneficial this type of energy could be for the working people of Austin.”
— Cameron Dodd, Political Director for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 520
“One of the things that makes geothermal so promising is that Texas already has the workforce and the infrastructure to make it real. We can take the skills our oil and gas workers use every day and put them to use producing clean, reliable energy right here at home — without sacrificing the good, family‑supporting jobs people count on. Geothermal is abundant, steady, and cost‑effective, and it gives Texas a chance to lead in a way that supports workers and delivers real long‑term benefits for everyone,”
— Jeremy Hendricks, Assistant Business Manager for the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA) Southwest Labor District Council.
Rhode Island coalition and allies speak against attacks on offshore wind
Climate Jobs Rhode Island joined environmental allies and elected officials to decry the latest federal attacks on offshore wind. The press event was held in front of the wind turbines at Johnson & Wales University’s Harborside Campus and featured members of Rhode Island’s congressional delegation.
Watch the full event here. Read more as covered by the Providence Journal and Steve Ahlquist News.
WATCH: How labor is stepping up to lead on climate in Pennsylvania
Watch a new video featuring Angela Ferritto, President of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO and Secretary-Treasurer of Union Energy PA, about how labor is stepping up to build an affordable clean energy future in Pennsylvania.
“You should be able to go to work for 40 hours a week and come home and enjoy time with your family. One of the main reasons that we got involved and created Union Energy was to ensure that the jobs that are being created in these new sectors are actually good, family-sustaining union jobs.”
Watch the full video. Read Angela’s full Climate Jobs Voices interview here.
Also worth your time: Union Energy PA joined faith, labor, and environmental partners for an event with Father Mattia Ferrari, a Vatican representative, featuring a dialogue on workers’ rights, the economy, energy, and environmental stewardship in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Read more as covered by the Observer-Reporter and WJPA Radio.