Category Archives: Projects

ACT NOW! Support US Wind’s Permit Application To Build Facility in West Ocean City

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A rendering shows how US Wind’s proposed operations and maintenance facility
off of Harbor Road in West Ocean City is expected to look when completed.
Rendering courtesy US Wind

Support Offshore Wind Before September 30!

The Maryland Board of Public Works (BPW) needs to hear from you! One of the companies that is developing offshore wind in Maryland, US Wind, has submitted a wetlands permit application for their essential operations and maintenance facility in West Ocean City. This permit will support necessary on-shore infrastructure offshore wind. The Maryland Department of Environment has thoroughly reviewed and issued a favorable recommendation for this permit. Now, it’s up to the BPW to make the final decision, and they need to hear from supporters like you before September 30!

ACT NOW

Send a message to the Board of Public Works to take a significant step
towards a cleaner, more sustainable future for our state,
based on sound science and thorough review!

Members Needed To Show Support For US Wind, Clean Energy Jobs

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Local 24 IBEW has been partnering with US Wind in efforts to facilitate the permitting and approval process for an offshore wind farm here in Maryland.


Your help is needed now, and we are asking Local 24 members to show up and state your support for this project at in-person and virtual meetings being held during the next 2 weeks.

In-person public meetings:
Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. – Ocean City Elementary, 12828 Center Dr, Ocean City, MD 21842
Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. – Indian River High School, 29772 Armory Rd, Dagsboro, DE 19939 

Virtual public meetings:
Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. 
Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. 
Registration is required for virtual public meetings – the link is below.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has done a thorough analysis of US Wind’s construction and operations plan. I support Alternative B (Proposed Action) and ask the BOEM to do the same.
As a skilled union electrician, I am qualified to perform this work. This project will provide good jobs for us and many other skilled trades in our region.

Suggested wording for comments

The in-person meetings will be like an open house, with multiple stations set up around a large room, each covering a different subject area (viewshed, birds, marine mammals, etc.). BOEM personnel will be available at each station to answer questions. There will be a separate room next to the main room for registering comments, which can be done by dictating to a BOEM staffer, or “self-service” by typing your comments into a computer or handwriting them.

Registration for the virtual public meetings is required, and can be done here: https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_x3ygygooTOSlnrzhiOJYPg#/registration. Please note that BOEM will call on people to testify in the order that they registered online, so please register ASAP if you do not wish to sit through hours of testimony.

Action Needed To Support Offshore Wind Program – Clean Energy And Good Jobs

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We have an exciting opportunity to bring hundreds of jobs to Maryland through the offshore wind program, including jobs in manufacturing, construction, and engineering.  These jobs will be located throughout the state from the Eastern Shore to Baltimore to Frederick. The offshore wind program also brings multi-million dollar investments in local ports and fabrication facilities.

Today we are asking you to empower our great state to lead the way. This is your opportunity to put politics aside and be a leader in a new energy sector that benefits Maryland in many ways!

 

 

What Can You Do?

We need you to tell your state legislature you support offshore wind.  Please go supportmdjobs.com and fill out the petition.  You can do this as a private citizen. Also spread the word- tell your friends and family.  All of our voices need heard.

 

Stop Senate Bill 1058 and House Bill 1135! This bill will kill the progress we’ve made.

Two bills (Senate Bill  1058 and HB 1135) will be he heard in Annapolis for public hearings for on Tuesday, March 6th before the Senate Finance Committee  and Thursday, March 8th before  the House Economic Matters Committee at 1:00pm.  These two pieces of legislation are identical bills and require that offshore wind projects to be constructed and operated no closer than 26 nautical miles.  This will delay and potentially stop the two Maryland projects approved by the MD Public Service Commission from being built.   You may have seen press on OC’s opposition.

If you have been following the offshore wind market is happening in the United States.  States like MA, NY, and NJ are moving forward with large 3500 MWs,  The only loser in this view shed issue fight will be the Maryland business community. As a reminder, the MD PSC requires both developers to spend $1.8B in state spending, spurring the creation of almost 9,700 new direct and indirect jobs and contributing $74 million in state tax revenues over 20 years.

Ocean City uses the argument that they will lose tourists and property will be devalued when the offshore wind project goes forward. Many years ago, OC along with other municipalities felt the same way when the State was going to ban smoking in restaurants.  Obviously, the economy continued to thrive.  Block Island tourism economy has not been damaged from the Block Island Wind Farm. In fact recreational fishing is thriving. Check this out:  https://awea.filecamp.com/public/file/2d2f-dbj8mbdu

 

Unions Rally For Accountable Development

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The excitement was widespread when Under Armour announced its plans to redevelop Port Covington, site of the old Sparrows Point steel mill, to build a distribution center and employ 1000 people. That sort of growth should be good news for Baltimore.

Like many businesses, Under Armour is asking the city of Baltimore for tax incentives for the new distribution center. Local labor unions believe that it is important for everyone to win – businesses when they receive tax breaks and other incentives, AND the city and community when development results in good-paying local jobs and a stronger tax base.

There are still unaddressed issues that can have a significant impact on exactly how good the new Under Armour distribution center will be for the community. For example, will the project be built union? Will the hiring for permanent jobs there be done locally? How much will those jobs pay? Is there enough affordable housing in the area?

Many Local 24 members, along with members of several other union locals affiliated with the Baltimore Metro Council AFL-CIO, met before the Baltimore City Council meeting on September 8, 2016 to remind city officials about these concerns, and to ask the Council members and Mayor to make sure all the issues are addressed before a decision is made.

 

Union Electric Is Making Ravens’ Solar Project A Reality

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It made headlines last summer when the Baltimore Ravens announced their plans to partner with Constellation on a solar project at Ravens Training Facility in Owings Mills, MD.

Now, Union Electric and the Local 24 members working there are turning those plans into reality. They are employing their expertise to install over 1200 photovoltaic panels on the roof of the Ravens’ practice field. That’s a worksite that is 85 feet off the ground!

The completed project is expected to generate 460,000 kWh every year.