Green Jobs in California, Learnin from the Skilled

IBEW Local Ready to Create Green Jobs in California

Dec 14, 2010 - With local unemployment running at nearly 30 percent in California’s Imperial County—the highest rate since the Great Depression—the members of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 569 in San Diego plan to play a big role in helping to rebound the county’s economy.

Under a 2009 executive order by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), one-third of the Golden State’s energy supply must come from renewable sources by 2020. Union members and community and business leaders are working to make Imperial—a sun-drenched county located between San Diego County and Mexico—into the state’s leading center for alternative energy and good-paying green jobs.

Last year, Local 569 opened the first union apprentice training facility in Imperial County. With its emphasis on green technology, the Imperial County Electric Training Center is expected to graduate its first class next spring. IBEW has a national initiative to train workers for green jobs withn training centers in several locations, including Miami and Indianapolis. {continued}