Alan Jones, Business Manager
alan_jones@ibew177.org
Around the Local
-
IBEW Local 271 Business Manager Jeimeson Saudino pushed back against claims circulating at a packed Sedgwick County town hall, saying modern data centers use closed loop cooling systems rather than millions of gallons of water daily and pointing to projects in Oklahoma and Kansas where data center development reduced local property taxes.
-
Lowell City Council voted 10 to 0 for a one-year data center moratorium after IBEW members and neighbors clashed over a Markley expansion, illustrating the broader political squeeze facing Gov. Healey as consumer anger over high energy costs collides with her AI driven economic agenda and a stalled data center tax exemption that remains unfinalized 16 months after she signed it into law.
-
Virginia lawmakers are divided over whether to eliminate a data center sales tax exemption that cost the state an estimated $1.9 billion last fiscal year, with teachers and fiscal advocates calling for repeal while IBEW Local 26 and other trades unions rallied to preserve the incentive they say drives well paying union construction jobs in the Commonwealth.
-
Hundreds of Franklin County, Missouri residents filled a high school gymnasium to oppose rezoning agricultural land for two proposed data center campuses, with local trades union representatives countering that the projects would bring thousands of union jobs paying over $100,000 a year while a planning commission recommendation still awaits final county commission approval.
-
More than 90 retired members and spouses turned out for the first meeting of a revived IBEW Local 48 retirees group in Portland, a decade after the program went dormant, generating nearly 50 ideas for activities ranging from volunteer work and tool donations to new apprentices to regular social meetups across the metro area.
-
Profile of Nscale founder Josh Payne, Australian former coal miner who raised $2 billion at $14.6B valuation for AI data center company, with Sheryl Sandberg joining board amid infrastructure boom
-
IBEW International Vice President Michael Monahan urges Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee to stop promoting Gov. Janet Mills over Graham Platner in Maine Senate primary, citing Mills' fraught labor record
-
Demand for licensed electricians is rising sharply as AI infrastructure and data center construction expand, with younger workers increasingly drawn to the trades for stable, well-paying careers.
-
Residents opposing the approved AI data center in Independence are organizing a referendum petition drive to challenge the city council vote on the project.
-
BlackRock CEO Larry Fink announces a $100 million investment in skilled trades training, citing a growing shortage of electricians, plumbers, and HVAC technicians as demand for six-figure blue-collar careers surges.
-
A union electrician is entering the congressional race on Staten Island, aiming to mobilize the borough's labor base in a bid for federal office.
-
Construction unions including the IBEW are celebrating approval of a major AI manufacturing facility in Independence, Missouri, calling it a generational win for union jobs in the region.
-
Workers at Ingalls Shipbuilding have ratified a new contract featuring the largest single wage increase in the shipyard's history, a milestone win for IBEW and affiliated unions.
-
Former IBEW Local 1 President Jack O. Jacobs remembered as dedicated union man who served 25 years as officer, passed away February 23, 2026 at age 89, 70-year Local 1 member
-
IBEW Local 1 and NECA contractors recognized for ReConnect STL initiative providing free electrical repairs to St. Louis tornado victims, restoring power to over 200 addresses after May storm
-
Twenty-eight contributors to the Federal Judicial Center's Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence have signed an open letter condemning the deletion of its climate science chapter as a political attack on judicial independence. The chapter was removed in February after 27 Republican state attorneys general pressured the center to retract it, leaving federal judges without a peer-reviewed resource on climate science at a time when climate litigation is rapidly expanding in U.S. courts. Subscription may be required.
-
St. Louis IBEW member recognized for relentless dedication and commitment, earning prestigious IBEW scholarship award
-
Profile of Corey Goldberg, apprentice wireman from Bakersfield Local 428, sharing his journey into the electrical trade and IBEW membership
-
Rock Island Local 145 uses VR headset simulation at career expos to give students hands-on electrical jobsite experience without safety risks, yielding real apprenticeship applications from expo attendees
-
IBEW Local 1049 demonstrates community engagement through volunteer programs and emergency response on Long Island
-
IBEW International President Kenneth Cooper writes in The Electrical Worker about the union's role in meeting surging electricity demand across the country, from data centers to clean energy buildout. Cooper argues that the boom in power infrastructure represents a generational opportunity for IBEW members and calls on locals to position themselves at the forefront of the expanding electrical grid.
-
The March 2026 issue of The Electrical Worker reveals the winners of the annual IBEW Photo Contest, which drew hundreds of entries from members across the United States and Canada. The contest, with a first place prize of $1,000, showcases the work, activism, and fellowship of IBEW members through photography submitted from locals across North America.
-
IBEW International Secretary Treasurer Paul Noble writes in The Electrical Worker about the ongoing fight against right-to-work laws and the union's strategy for protecting worker organizing rights state by state. Noble draws on his experience helping secure the Workers' Rights Amendment in Illinois to make the case for why every state should give workers the full freedom to organize and bargain collectively.
-
The Electrical Worker examines Illinois' landmark energy reform legislation, which includes some of the strongest pro-worker provisions in the country for the energy industry. The law, backed by the IBEW and the state's building trades, ensures that the transition to clean energy in Illinois creates and protects union jobs, setting a model other states are beginning to follow.
-
IBEW Local 124 offered $600K+ sponsorship to restore iconic Western Auto sign with LEDs and lifetime maintenance, but HOA rejected proposal citing other bids without sponsorship requirements
-
Virginia workers and House Speaker Don Scott oppose legislative effort to eliminate data center sales tax exemptions as state budget negotiations advance
-
Alabama Power secures portion of $26.5 billion federal loan program designated for electrical grid infrastructure modernization and upgrades
-
Analysis of why utilities resist burying power lines despite reduced outages from blizzards and hurricanes, examining cost and technical challenges
-
US artificial intelligence expansion confronts major electricity supply constraints as power demand from data centers strains grid capacity
-
Maine IBEW business manager argues recent policy changes benefit both electrical workers and electricity ratepayers across the state
-
2028 Democratic contenders who backed data centers with tax breaks are suddenly retreating amid growing voter revolt over electricity costs and community impacts
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.