A Move to Put the Union Label on Solar Power Plants (CA Unions Attack Non-Union Renewable Jobs]

New York Times Business Office (original) ^ | 20 June 2009 | By Todd Woody,

[Robert A Cook PE]

Jun 20, 2009

When a company called Ausra filed plans for a big solar power plant in California, it was deluged with demands from a union group that it study the effect on creatures like the short-nosed kangaroo rat and the ferruginous hawk. By contrast, when a competitor, BrightSource Energy, filed plans for an even bigger solar plant that would affect the imperiled desert tortoise, the same union group, California Unions for Reliable Energy, raised no complaint. Instead, it urged regulators to approve the project as quickly as possible.

One big difference between the projects? Ausra had rejected demands that it use only union workers to build its solar farm, while BrightSource pledged to hire labor-friendly contractors. As California moves to license dozens of huge solar power plants to meet the state’s renewable energy goals, some developers contend they are being pressured to sign agreements pledging to use union labor. If they refuse, they say, they can count on the union group to demand costly environmental studies and deliver hostile testimony at public hearings.

If they commit at the outset to use union labor, they say, the environmental objections never materialize. “This does stress the limits of credibility to some extent,” a California energy commissioner, Jeffrey Byron, said at one contentious hearing, “when an attorney representing a labor union is so focused on the potential impact of a solar power plant on birds.”

Union leaders acknowledge that they make aggressive use of the environmental laws, but say they do it out of genuine concern for the sustainability of California’s power industry, not just as a negotiating tactic. And they contend they do not abandon valid environmental objections to a project just because a company signs a labor agreement. “We’ve been tarred and feathered more than once on this issue,” said Marc Joseph, a lawyer for California Unions for Reliable Energy. “We don’t walk away from environmental issues.”

At proposed fossil-fuel power plants, the union group has long been accused of exploiting environmental laws to force companies into signing labor agreements. ...(trimmed)...

What is new is that California Unions for Reliable Energy, a coalition of construction unions, appears to be applying this approach to new-age renewable energy projects, especially solar power plants, which are being fast-tracked to help meet the state’s green power target.

Lawyers for the union both negotiate labor agreements with solar developers and participate in the environmental review of the projects.

...(trimmed)...

What is new is that California Unions for Reliable Energy, a coalition of construction unions, appears to be applying this approach to new-age renewable energy projects, especially solar power plants, which are being fast-tracked to help meet the state’s green power target.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Lawyers for the union both negotiate labor agreements with solar developers and participate in the environmental review of the projects. California Unions for Reliable Energy insists it is pursuing the long-term interests of its members. If energy projects are held to high environmental standards, the group says, more of them will ultimately get built, and that will mean more union jobs.

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Notice that Obama's unions are USING the environment laws to promote THEIR union jobs, not to protest (or even protect) the actual environment impacts of any job.

They are NOT interested in real jobs, environmental impacts, or the overall economy and health of the nation. ONLY their selfish interests - but the ABCNNBCBS media will continue to ignore the issue.

[marron]

If they commit at the outset to use union labor, they say, the enviromental objections never materialize.

Unless its an oil project or oil-related project like oil shale, coal to oil, something of the like. Then the environmental attacks never cease.

I always assume that the environmental lobbies are a shake-down operation for hire to the highest bidder, whether the unions or OPEC, whoever.

[freekitty]

You know; if the unions take over; you can’t work if you don’t join the union. That’s how they operae and they are really strict about it. I saw this in the culunary union in Las Vegas. Human Resources Departments had to turn people away and tell them to go apply at the union before they could be considered.

[steelyourfaith]

 

Beam me to Planet Gore !

[NonValueAdded]

Union leaders acknowledge that they make aggressive use of the environmental laws, but say they do it out of genuine concern for the sustainability of California’s power industry, not just as a negotiating tactic.

Sounds like a RICO violation admission, right there!

[HereInTheHeartland]

Unions have the same mindset as the Iranian mullahs.

[preacher]

Evidently, animals are endangered only by non-union companies.