Climate Jobs NY
Long Island Report | April 2021
Happy belated Earth Day to all! It is gearing up to be quite the year for clean energy development, so let's get you caught up on what happened this month.
 NEW YORK PASSES HISTORIC RENEWABLE ENERGY JOB STANDARDS
As part of the New York State budget, Climate Jobs NY secured ground-breaking labor standards and economic-development provisions that bring us one step closer to securing good family-sustaining, community-supporting union jobs in the renewable energy sector. Climate Jobs NY has and will continue to prioritize climate action but must ensure that our collective investments both take on climate change and lift up New York workers and communities.

The following standards are now codified into state law:

  • Prevailing wage and project labor agreement requirements for construction on renewable-energy projects that are 5 megawatts or larger
  • For operations and maintenance work, a requirement that system owners on projects 5 megawatts and larger enter into labor peace agreements
  • A requirement that covered projects buy American steel and iron where feasible
  • Provisions to incentivize procurement of New York State renewable energy equipment and supplies

We look forward to continuing to work with our allies to build a clean-energy economy in New York that works for everyone, with good union jobs, more equitable communities, and a more resilient New York.
Our Climate Change and Offshore Wind Trainings Are Now "In Person"
In collaboration with Cornell's Worker Institute, we hosted our first in-person Long Island Climate Change and Offshore Wind Training with union members from Laborers Local 66 and 1298. Members were eager to hear about the pipeline of offshore wind projects and the need to ensure the thousands of jobs being created are good union jobs for New Yorkers.  

In the next few months, we will be training members from SEIU 1199 and SEIU 32BJ, NYSNA, IBEW 1049 and IBEW 25, NYSUT, CWA, and more!

If you are interested in setting up a training for your members, please reach out to me directly.
New Project Media: A Just Clean Energy Economy For All
I had a lot of fun writing a guest post for New Project Media entitled "A Just Clean Energy Economy For All." I wrote about the victories Climate Jobs NY secured in the NYS budget and a vision of how we must include high-road labor standards, the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act and other community-sustaining initiatives in future federal infrastructure packages. Please let me know what you think! 


I was also interviewed by NPM's Elana Knopp and discussed the new wind energy areas in the NY Bight that were announced last month by the Biden administration. Take a look here: 
Captain Paul Forsberg interview podcast

Last but certainly not least, I had the pleasure of joining a new friend of mine, Cpt. Paul Forsberg, in his podcast debut of "Offshore Wind Watchdog." Cpt. Forsberg is based out of Montauk with the Viking Fleet and is working as a surveyor with offshore wind developers. Paul and I discussed the new career opportunities that offshore wind development will bring to our local union members and fishermen alike. Please take a listen on Spotify. 
Until next time!

In solidarity,
Mariah Dignan
Long Island Organizer
Climate Jobs NY
646-708-5474