Sunday, July 24, 2022 | 2 a.m.
A June 26 op-ed by Michael Stumo, CEO of the Coalition for a Prosperous America, — “Mistake from Biden could end U.S. solar industry” — revealed just how far removed he is from what’s happening here in Nevada.
Our more than 4,000 members of IBEW Local 357 celebrated June 6 when President Joe Biden issued his emergency proclamation to maintain the supply of solar panels flowing to the projects we are building and exercised the Defense Production Act to support American solar manufacturing.
The Biden administration action will build America’s energy arsenal and drive domestic energy manufacturing while reducing energy costs, supporting good-paying union jobs, and strengthening U.S. energy independence.
In addition, federal legislation supported by our two U.S. senators, Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen, called the Solar Energy Manufacturing for America Act, would incentivize American solar manufacturing, creating jobs and strengthening our national energy security.
Stumo sided with a few companies who are trying to shut down solar energy in the U.S. If they are successful, thousands of my IBEW members — and many other Nevada workers — would be laid off from their jobs building the low-cost, reliable, carbon-free power generation our state needs. Solar is the future, and the future is now. In Nevada and the rest of our country, this work is being carried out by American companies and American workers.
More than 6,000 Nevadans work in solar, and the numbers will continue to grow. IBEW 357 and our Electrical Joint Apprenticeship Training Program are investing in training that provides the workforce required to propel the growth of renewable energy. Behind every union job in the solar industry is a good paycheck, health care and pension — and the pride in knowing we are making a difference in the climate fight.
Biden’s executive action, along with strong support from Nevada’s congressional delegation, means a future where our members can continue to have careers turning our state’s abundant sunshine into clean electricity to power our lives.
Each renewable energy project creates hundreds of good-paying union jobs and provides hundreds of millions of dollars in wages, services and taxes into our communities — for our schools, police and fire departments. Solar energy will be the greatest source of career jobs for years to come.
As a union member for over 30 years, I have always promoted buy-American policies and I will continue to do so. The emergency proclamation issued by the president will allow an opportunity for domestic manufacturing of solar panels to take hold, before cutting off our vital supply. It is what I call common sense. Beware of false narratives from far-off places that favor the few companies trying to disrupt the market for solar energy and the local jobs it creates. We Nevadans know better.
James Halsey is the business manager and financial secretary of IBEW Local 357. The local union represents over 4,000 members in Southern Nevada.