NEWSOLARTECHNOLOGY

In October, IBEW Local 103 hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil an ambitious solar panel project on the roof of our union headquarters to accompany our nearby wind turbine.

The large wind turbine high above the Southeast Expressway in Dorchester is already an iconic structure and our union is proud to take another giant step in advancing clean, renewable energy for our state.

Just like the wind turbine, this solar and energy storage project will save the union money by providing IBEW with annual savings on energy costs and providing supplemental power in the event of a local power outage.

IBEW’s combined solar and storage system, designed and installed by Nexamp, will provide enough energy to meet nearly 70 percent of the electricity needs of IBEW’s headquarters. Combining solar generation with energy storage has the added cost-saving benefit of enabling IBEW to store solar power when electricity prices are low and use it when prices are high. It can also provide much-needed backup power during disruptions caused by increasingly frequent and intense storms.

This historic event brought together women in the building trades throughout the region and highlighted Boston’s role in making the construction industry more diverse and inclusive. It featured an array of informative panels and high-profile speakers, including a keynote address by U.S. Secretary of Labor, former Boston Mayor and labor leader Marty Walsh, and motivational words from then Attorney General Maura Healey.

“This is the labor movement at its best and what happens when a group of determined workers fights for their rights,” Secretary Walsh told the gathering.

“You are united and ready to smash down the doors for the next generation of women.”

Organized by the Greater Boston Building Trades Unions, it was only fitting that the conference was held at Encore, which was built with nearly 500 women workers, the largest number of women to participate in a construction project in U.S. history.

“Whenever I look at construction sites, I see women stepping up and paving the way for Boston’s future. I’m honored to be part of the surge in women’s participation and leadership in building trades unions,” said IBEW Local 103 Business Agent Renee Dozier. “We’re creating not just a better Boston, but a better future for women workers.”