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Tag Archives: clean energy

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

Posted on September 18, 2024 by Maggie Young
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!
Posted in IBEW Local 24, Projects | Tags: clean energy, MarWin Offshore Wind Project, Maryland Board of Public Works Wetlands Administrator, Union jobs, US Wind |

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

Posted on October 17, 2023 by Maggie Young

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.

Posted in IBEW Local 24, Projects | Tags: clean energy, IBEW Local 24, Offshore Wind, US Wind |

Maryland Needs Larger Wind Energy Areas To Meet Climate Goals And Increase Good Jobs

Posted on August 21, 2023 by Maggie Young

IBEW Local 24 has made a priority of supporting clean energy initiatives and preparing and training our members to meet the challenges of new energy industries. Offshore wind has been at the forefront of our efforts, and we are working hard to avert a potential setback in Maryland.

WE NEED MEMBERS TO SPEAK OUT IN SUPPORT, TOO!

Find out how at the bottom of this post, and ACT NOW.

Here is what is happening. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) recently released the final Wind Energy Area (WEA) map for the Central Atlantic, impacting offshore wind development off the coasts of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and northern North Carolina. The final map has raised concerns and poses these potential setbacks for Maryland:

  1. Decrease in Job Opportunities: The reduction in available leasing areas will lead to a decrease in
    good-paying jobs. The potential for a 5 GW increase in capacity could create 12,800 jobs, but fewer
    leases would result in a significant loss of employment opportunities.

  2. Market Favoritism towards Virginia: The final map disproportionately favors Virginia, allocating half
    of the proposed leasing area to the state. This diminishes Maryland’s potential market size, which
    negatively impacts the incentive for supply chain and manufacturing companies to establish
    operations in Maryland.

  3. Uncertainty in Meeting Clean Energy Goals: The reduction in available leasing areas poses
    uncertainty in meeting Maryland’s clean energy and carbon reduction goals, jeopardizing the state’s
    commitment to sustainable energy.

  4. Presidential Administration Change Risk: The looming risk of a change in the White House in 2024
    could halt future offshore wind development opportunities, adding unpredictability to the industry’s
    future.

  5. Increased Ratepayer Costs: Leases located farther away will incur higher costs, potentially burdening
    ratepayers.

Urging BOEM to revise their maps and provide adequate WEAs for Maryland, Business Manager Michael J. McHale has sent a statement to them, outlining the many reasons for concern.


“As the demand for clean electricity increases along the East Coast, we believe that offshore wind can be revolutionary for Maryland’s economy and the climate goals of the United States. We urge the BOEM to ensure that the development of offshore wind projects aligns with the vision of a sustainable future and continues to create new jobs in the construction and manufacturing industries within the region,” McHale said. “These jobs will play a vital role in supporting the livelihoods of Baltimore Metropolitan Area residents, as well as working women and men on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. This industry will contribute significantly to building middle class employment opportunities for the Mid-Atlantic Region.”

Local 24 members are asked to add your voices in support of expanding the WEAs by posting a comment before the August 31 deadline – and we are providing you an example below. Click the link now, post your comments, and support offshore wind, clean energy and good jobs for Maryland!

Don’t forget to replace the words IN BOLD with your information!

Hello, I am [INSERT NAME HERE], a member of IBEW Local Union 24 for [HOW LONG YOU’VE BEEN A MEMBER HERE]. I am writing to urge the BOEM to adjust the Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) for the Atlantic Continental Shelf. With the signing of the Promoting Offshore Wind Energy Resources (POWER) Act, Maryland pledges to develop 8.5 gigawatts of energy by 2031. Currently, the WEAs are not adequate for Maryland to achieve its climate and sustainability goals, as these are estimated to only support 6GW. These WEAs will also have to be shared with neighboring states, which limits the ability for all of us to meet our goals.

This issue is also important for me because I am an Electrical [JOURNEYMAN/APPRENTICE/WORKER], and Offshore Wind in Maryland will create union jobs that will support many working families, such as my own. Diminishing the leasing areas as they are now will disrupt the industry’s investment in Maryland, and negatively affect the amount of work available for the building trades.

So I again request that BOEM expand the leasing areas of WEA B-1 and WEA A-2. Doing so will not only guarantee jobs for working individuals like me, but also keep Maryland and the United States on track to reach all of our sustainable energy goals.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME HERE]

Thank you so much for your help and your continued support.

Posted in IBEW Local 24, Training | Tags: boem, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, clean energy, electrical industry, IBEW Local 24, Offshore Wind, union, WEA, wind energy area |

Local 24 Joins Celebration Of Inflation Reduction Act On Capitol Hill

Posted on July 27, 2023 by Maggie Young

Yesterday LU24 Agent Rico Albacarys represented not only us but all of Labor on Capital Hill at the 1-year anniversary celebration of the Inflation Reduction Act, which has already created many clean energy jobs for American workers.

As Rico says in his speech, these jobs “…will provide for American families for decades to come.” Great work, Brother Albacarys!

Check out his speech here – Rico takes the podium at 35:45 of the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW7ahNYn1aI

American workers and our unions are the key to building a new energy economy, and we are ready to get to work.

Rico Albacarys, Local 24 Political Director
Posted in IBEW Local 24, Legislative & Political | Tags: clean energy, electrical industry, IBEW Local 24, Inflation Reduction Act, union strong |

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