Alan Jones, Business Manager
alan_jones@ibew177.org
Around the Local
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US artificial intelligence expansion confronts major electricity supply constraints as power demand from data centers strains grid capacity
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Maine IBEW business manager argues recent policy changes benefit both electrical workers and electricity ratepayers across the state
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Portsmouth Naval Shipyard IBEW Local 2071 members each received $1,000 from Second District locals during six-week government shutdown, rewarding those who rejoined after executive order ended dues deductions
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IBEW Local 1439 honored Stephen Lindewirth for five years of service and Treasurer Ray Rose for 35 years during recent ceremony with President Chad Fletcher
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Nearly half of Americans expect data centers to become a campaign issue within five years, with top concerns centered on electricity bill increases and blackout risks, new Politico poll finds
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Data center landlords securing top credit ratings for asset-backed securities to unlock billions in financing, with Compass Datacenters achieving first-ever Aaa rating from Moody's
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IBEW Local 648 says data centers could bring 800-1,200 construction jobs, but researchers warn facilities are capital-intensive while creating few permanent positions despite massive tax breaks
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2028 Democratic contenders who backed data centers with tax breaks are suddenly retreating amid growing voter revolt over electricity costs and community impacts
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At 91, Charlie Horhn reflects on a lifetime at the intersection of the Civil Rights and labor movements. Beginning with his work organizing IBEW Local 2268 at a segregated Jackson, Mississippi factory in the 1960s, Horhn draws a direct line between economic justice and civil rights, and the enduring power of solidarity across both movements.
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Rep. Donald Norcross, the only IBEW represented electrician in Congress has introduced the Faster Labor Contracts Act, which would set enforceable deadlines for first contract negotiations, requiring talks to begin within 10 days of certification and moving to binding arbitration if no agreement is reached within 120 days. IBEW International President Kenneth W. Cooper is urging members to contact their representatives in support of the bill.
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The Clean Technology Training Trust has launched a new podcast, Apprenticeships WORK!, featuring 9th District International Vice President Dave Reaves discussing the history and value of IBEW joint apprenticeships and how they advance the interests of workers, employers, and communities alike. Available on all major podcast platforms.
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Voting for the 2025 IBEW Photo Contest closed January 31. Winners, including a $1,000 first prize and $750 second prize, will be announced in the March 2026 issue of The Electrical Worker, available online March 1.
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Blackstone owned QTS Data Centers is pursuing a $2 billion Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities refinancing deal covering three campuses in Atlanta, Chicago, and Northern Virginia, the latest in a series of major capital market moves fueled by surging AI driven demand for data center infrastructure.
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A new independent report analyzing 154 statements from major tech companies and the IEA found no verified examples of generative AI tools, including Google's Gemini and Microsoft's Copilot, delivering measurable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Researchers say companies are deliberately conflating energy-efficient traditional machine learning with the far more power-hungry generative AI to mislead the public about the technology's climate impact.
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Ten years after the Paris Agreement took effect, newly released climate data shows 2025 ranking among the three hottest years on record, with ocean heat and sea levels reaching new highs. Efforts to phase out fossil fuels remain insufficient, and with the U.S. having withdrawn from the accord, the world is on course to significantly overshoot its climate targets.
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Climate superfund legislation is gaining momentum across multiple states despite ongoing legal challenges from fossil fuel companies. The bills aim to hold major polluters financially responsible for climate change impacts and fund infrastructure improvements.
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Construction has begun on a new $20 million IBEW training facility in Cambria County. The state-of-the-art center will provide apprenticeship programs and continuing education for electrical workers, expanding workforce development opportunities in the region.
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Profile of Robert Corona, Business Manager for IBEW Local 11. Learn about his leadership role, vision for the local, and commitment to advancing the interests of electrical workers in the region.
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Analysis of the administration's Arctic development plans and their potential impact on the global climate crisis. The policies could have significant implications for energy infrastructure and environmental regulations affecting electrical workers and contractors.
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An IBEW local union is hosting a specialized program designed to help servicewomen transition into careers in the electrical trades. The initiative provides training, mentorship, and job placement assistance for women veterans.
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KGW television producers are preparing to vote on whether to join IBEW Local 48. The unionization effort reflects growing interest among media production workers in securing collective bargaining rights and workplace protections.
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Gridley city officials have approved wage increases as part of a new contract agreement with IBEW union members. The deal includes raises for electrical workers and represents progress in ongoing labor negotiations.
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An in-depth look at the renewed role of nuclear energy in meeting America's growing power needs, including workforce implications and long-term infrastructure planning.
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A profile highlighting a union member's leadership and advocacy, focusing on mentorship, inclusion, and expanding access to skilled electrical careers.
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A discussion on strategies for strengthening the nation's energy infrastructure, investing in training, and preparing the next generation of electrical workers.
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How the Code of Excellence initiative is improving labor-management relationships, raising jobsite standards, and delivering better outcomes for workers and contractors.
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An analysis of the legal, regulatory, and infrastructure challenges created by rapidly increasing electricity demand across the United States.
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A report identifying regions most at risk for electric grid strain, examining aging infrastructure, extreme weather, and rising energy consumption.
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Power generation outages are expected to increase significantly on the nation's largest electric grid. The anticipated surge raises concerns about grid reliability and highlights the critical need for skilled electrical workers to maintain infrastructure.
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IBEW Local 429 claims Nashville Electric Service turned away union linemen offering help during a crippling ice storm that left over 230,000 customers without power. NES denied the allegations, though emails reviewed by local media show contractors were told their help was not needed. IBEW leadership later disputed the reports as "unequivocally false."
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IBEW Local 601 members protested outside a 16-story high-rise construction project in Champaign-Urbana, opposing the hiring of Bonus Electric Construction Company. Union members say the out-of-region contractor pays substandard wages below the area standard established by the IBEW, undermining wages and benefits local electrical workers have fought to maintain.
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Trump administration officials have delayed finalizing the repeal of EPA's 2009 "endangerment finding" - the scientific foundation for most federal climate regulations - over concerns the proposal is too legally weak to withstand court challenges. The finding underpins greenhouse gas rules for vehicles, power plants, and other major pollution sources.
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Gas-fired power plant development in the US nearly tripled in 2025, driven primarily by energy-hungry AI data centers. More than a quarter of all global gas power pipeline projects are now in the US, with over a third of newly proposed capacity explicitly linked to data center projects. The boom raises concerns about long-term emissions and threatens to derail climate goals.
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A massive winter storm brought power outages to over 780,000 customers across the South and East, with PJM Interconnection forecasting record peak demand of 147,000 MW. The deep freeze threatens to cripple natural gas infrastructure and test regional grids serving tens of millions of Americans.
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Winter storm conditions risk shuttering Appalachia gas wells and pipelines in bitter cold, potentially forcing more electricity outages in the East. PJM warned that pressure will mount across regional grids as the nation's largest grid operator exports power while managing unprecedented demand.
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FERC has directed PJM to create new rules facilitating co-location of data centers with power plants, potentially favoring on-site natural gas generation. The regulations aim to accelerate interconnection while addressing reliability concerns and avoiding lengthy grid connection delays that can stretch 5-7 years.
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Naperville Council voted 6-1 to reject a 36-megawatt data center despite IBEW's Anthony Giunti emphasizing construction would bring millions to the local economy and create long-term career opportunities. Labor leaders warned that rejecting the project removes years of high-paying skilled construction work from a vacant property.
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America faces critical shortages of skilled electrical workers and electricity supply to support manufacturing reshoring and AI data centers. Morgan Stanley warns of a potential 20% power shortage by 2028 while Bureau of Labor Statistics projects nearly 80,000 electrician job openings over the next decade, with apprentice programs increasing 50% to address the gap.
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The January 2026 blackout in Caracas during US military operations against Venezuela demonstrated how cyber warfare targeting industrial control systems has become a precision weapon in modern conflict. Experts warn that widespread adoption of insecure distributed energy resources like residential solar inverters creates decentralized vulnerabilities, while examples like Stuxnet, Industroyer, and Volt Typhoon show nation-states are actively pre-positioning within critical infrastructure networks.
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Microsoft announced a "Community-First AI Infrastructure" policy ensuring communities won't bear the full cost of electricity consumption and grid expansion from its data centers, following Trump administration pressure. The company's commitment comes as IEA estimates US datacenter electricity demand could triple by 2035, from 200 to 640 terawatt-hours annually.
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Wind and solar generated 30% of EU electricity in 2025, surpassing fossil fuels at 29% for the first time, driven by a surge in solar installations that grew 20% for the fourth consecutive year. Energy think tank Ember reports coal power fell to a record low of 9.2%, though gas generation rose 8% due to lower hydropower availability, lifting import costs to 32 billion euros.
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US electricity consumption is forecast to reach record levels in 2025 and 2026, driven primarily by surging demand from data centers and AI workloads. EIA projects total power demand rising from 4,110 billion kilowatt-hours in 2024 to over 4,260 billion kilowatt-hours in 2026, marking the first time since 2007 that demand has risen for four consecutive years.
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The Trump administration halted construction on five offshore wind projects in December citing classified national security concerns, but has refused to share specifics with developers or the public. Wind companies filed lawsuits arguing the lack of transparency suggests political motives rather than legitimate security threats, as experts note that concerns about wind turbines affecting military radar systems have been known for decades.
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The Trump administration suffered three court losses last week in its campaign against offshore wind, as federal judges lifted stop-work orders on major projects. Industry advocates and even some oil industry figures have grown alarmed by the administration's anti-wind vendetta, which threatens to restrict power supply at a time when electricity demand is surging from data centers and other sources.
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Ray Ryerse, business manager for IBEW Local 86, has been elected president of the Rochester Building Trades Council, succeeding Grant Malone who served for five years. Ryerse, a longtime advocate for registered apprenticeship programs and jobsite safety, will lead the council representing affiliated construction trade unions across the Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes region.
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