IBEW Local 134 Awarded Future Energies Job Act Funding

When it comes to their recent award of FEJA (Future Energies Job Act) funding, Don Finn, IBEW Local 134 Business Manager and Financial Secretary, has quite a bit to say.

“The passage of Illinois FEJA is a win-win situation for all residents and businesses throughout the State of Illinois. The advancement of renewable energy technology and declining renewable energy costs has a huge impact on the direction of this exciting technology. FEJA has set the pathway for a cleaner environment and job creation. Through use of funding, we will be able to train IBEW members throughout the state to become qualified solar installers.

One of the more interesting uses of FEJA funding is the establishment of the IBEW Road Show trailer which will travel throughout the state providing education that promotes renewable energy such as wind and solar.”

That’s not all, adds Finn. “FEJA funding will also allow implementation of renewable energy programs in select high schools throughout the state, which consists of renewable energy curriculum and “hands-on” solar activities and projects.”

Details of the state initiative are impressive. Ten million in funding is available in 2017, 2021, and 2025, for a total disbursement of $30 million over a 10-year period in three separate programs, a Solar Training Pipeline, the Craft Apprenticeship, and a Multi-Cultural Jobs Initiative. IBEW Local 134/NECA has been awarded a considerable amount of funding to help these programs get off the ground by providing guidance and training that will ensure these programs are effectively managed and executed.

Harry Ohde, Executive Director, Illinois IBEW Renewable Energy Fund, has played a critical role in helping to organize and pilot a program that combines the best of the best – ensuring the State Initiative’s goals are met effectively, but also in a manner that ensures IBEW Local 134/ECA involvement. The Craft Apprenticeship plan utilizes the $3 million budget with a multi-pronged approach that includes qualified solar installer training and helps distribute solar energy projects throughout the entire state of Illinois.

The program requires the development of “solar training kits” that will include various technology products best suited for a solar implementation. In this case two (2) 5kW systems, one of them with Enphrase micro inverters, the other 5kW’s with a central inverter and an electrical vehicle charging station. IBEW Local 134/NECA is working with various solar manufacturers to attain the best product options for the best price.

Second, to help the initiative’s goal of ensuring diversity and a state-wide geographic spread, six key community colleges across the state are being selected to offer solar technology training to provide incentive for students to further their education after the community college classes and potentially move forward to IBEW apprenticeship.

Third, because it is so important to educate the upcoming generation on the importance of renewable energy, and because not everyone plans or can afford a college education, it was important to bring the right forms of education into high schools. The solution? Provide pre-apprenticeship programs on the high school level that will potentially feed into the various community colleges or again, pursuit of a path toward IBEW Apprenticeship

.And finally, what can be more flexible than something that’s mobile? The Solar Roadshow, a complete museum experience, takes the message to the community, on wheels! A final facet of the program includes a renovated, state of the art semi-tractor trailer truck reconstructed into a mobile museum, specifically designed to travel to communities throughout Illinois, creating a more flexible and versatile platform for education. The “museum on wheels” will create a full walkthrough experience that explains all aspects of Renewable Energy Education and Training, and will help generations to come embrace clean energy solutions.

Keep a look out for great things to come as a result of FEJA!