2026 Initiative
DELAWARE | LANCASTER | INDIANA | WESTMORELAND
OnbehalfofUnionEnergyPA,wearepleasedtosharetheframeworkforaportionof our2026strategicplantoadvanceworker-centeredenergypolicythroughafocused four-countyapproach.TheUnionEnergyOfficersandBoardidentifiedandapproved theseprioritiesduringourmeetinginDecember2025.Thedecisionfollowedacareful reviewofpolicyobjectives,workforceimpacts,andalignmentwithUnionEnergy’s mission
Welookforwardtoworkingwithyouandourcollaborativepartnerstoimplementthese prioritieslocallyandbuildascalablemodelforlabor-ledleadershipontheissues acrossPennsylvaniaidentifiedbyourworkinggroups.
ThefollowingplanisjustoneoftheinitiativesUnionEnergyPAwillfocusonin2026 Thankyouforyourcontinuedpartnershipandcommitmenttothisimportantwork
InSolidarity,
AngelaFerritto President
RobBair Secretary-Treasurer
JimSnell ExecutiveVicePresident
2026 UNION ENERGY FOUR COUNTY INITIATIVE
Entering2026,UnionEnergyPAwillbuilddurablelabor-ledinfrastructuretoadvance worker-centeredenergypolicythroughoutkeyCountiesinPennsylvania.Thefour identifiedCountiesarecentraltothisproject:Delaware,Indiana,Lancaster,and Westmoreland Together,thesecountiesrepresentastrategiccross-sectionof Pennsylvania’sindustrial,agricultural,suburban,rural,andinfrastructuresectors, positioningthemaskeyanchorsforadvancingUnionEnergypriorities.
ForUnionEnergytobesuccessful,therewillbeongoingoutreachtoCentralLabor Councils,LocalBuildingTradesCouncils,FaithInstitutions,StudentGroups,Farmer Organizations,Union-FriendlyBusinesses,andEnvironmentalgroupsthathave presenceinthosegeographicareasorareaffectedbypoliciesdrivenorimplemented withinthosejurisdictions.
Toensureconsistencyandaccountability,UnionEnergySteeringCommitteeswillbe establishedineachCounty.Thisstructurewilltrackprogressandensurealignment amongunionsandpartnerorganizations UnionEnergywillactivelyengagein educatingthepublicandpolicydiscussionswhileremainingnonpartisan.
UNION ENERGY WORKING GROUP/BOARD
ThePennsylvaniaUnionEnergyWorkingGroupswereestablishedbasedonthe findingsandrecommendationsoftheCornellClimateJobsstudy,whichidentifiedkey sectorswhereenergypolicycandrivejobcreation,strengthenlaborstandards,and supportajusttransition ThePennsylvaniaUnionEnergyWorkingGroupsarethe oversightbodydirectingstrategicdirectionandpriorities.Belowarethepriorities identifiedbyeachofthesevenworkinggroups.
2026PRIORITIES
Just Transition Working Group
Chair:ChuckKnisell,UMWA
Vice-Chair:PhilGlover,AFGE
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BuildtheCoalLandsRedevelopmentPipeline(Map→Inventory→“ShovelReady”Sites).
Deliverausablestatewide(Western/Southwestern-focused)inventoryof active/inactive/abandonedminelandswithacreagetotalsandsitereadiness soPAcancompeteformajorprivateinvestmentanddirectlyplugsitesintothe states$500Msitedevelopmentprogram.
ConvertCoalLandsintoStrategicEnergy&JobsAssets(Developers& HybridEnergyModel&CommunityBenefits).
Marketreclaimedminelandsasenergy-adjacentdevelopmenthubs especiallynearpipelinesandwithon-sitepowerpotential targetingprivate datacenterdevelopersandotherindustrialusers.Integrate“politically durable”add-onslikesolar-on-reclaimed-land,CommunityBenefit Agreements,andlocalpower-billreliefwherefeasible,andclarify/control keyrights(e.g.,coalbedmethane)toenablehybridredevelopmentmodels.
3
ProtectReliabilityandWorkerLeverageDuringtheTransition(CoalBridge &AEPSBargaining,StopHarmfulConversions,StabilizeWorkforce)
Advanceacoordinatedstrategytodelayretirementswhereneededforgrid stability(e.g.,Keystone,Conemaugh,Seward),useAEPSreformasthe negotiatingbridgethatkeepsworkers“drivingthebus,”preventing irreversiblegasconversionsthathollowoutunionstrongholds(e.g., Harrison),andconfronttheminingworkforcecollapses,sothesystemcanbe executed
2026PRIORITIES
Energy Working Group
Chair:FrankMuia,IBEW
Vice-Chair:ChuckKnisell,UMWA&BradMickatavage,Boilermakers
BuildFirmPowerFast(Nuclear&SmallModularReactors(SMRs)).
1
Movefromannouncementstobuild-readybaseload:AP1000sandSMRs withrealistic2030–35timelines
Lockinsupplychainandworkforceneedsearly(steel,concrete,copper, manufacturingcapacity,skilledlabor).
Executeasitestrategythatprioritizesexistinglicensednuclearsiteswhile advancingnewsitelicensingnearmajorloadgrowth.
UnlockProjectsbyFixingtheBottlenecks(Licensing&FederalAdvocacy)
2
DriveNRC/FERClicensingandfeereformthatacceleratesapprovalsand doesn’tpriceSMRsoutofexistence.
Maintainconstantfederalintelligenceandrapid-responsecoordination, solaborhelpswritepolicy,notjustreact
ModernizetheGridtoCreateCapacity(GETs&ATTs)
3
ScaleGridEnhancementTechnologies(GETs)toincreaseusabletransfer capabilityquicklyandreducecongestion.
DeployAdvancedTransmissionTechnologies(ATTs)tospeed interconnection,improvereliability,andunlockgenerationandlargeloaddevelopment
4
DeliverLarge-ScaleInfrastructurewithSharedBenefits(Mach2& LNG/Pipelines/Generation&CBAs&Mobilization)
StabilizeanddefendMach2toprotectfundingandinvestor/end-user confidence
AdvanceEddystoneLNGastheanchorforpipelineupgradesandnew generationtosupporteconomicredevelopmentandmajorloads. Implementequity-basedCBAs(communityequitystake,recurring revenue,laborgovernancerole)andmobilizeunion/communitysupport throughdisciplinedpublicengagementandframing
2026PRIORITIES
Industry Working Group
Chair:BernieHall,USW
Vice-Chairs:KrisAnderson,IBEW&TommyCarden,UE
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2
GreenSteel:Builda“GoodNeighborAgreement”pathwayfor SouthwesternPennsylvania
Organizeanearly-2026summitconveninglabor,community, environmental,students,andfaithstakeholdersin Pittsburgh/SouthwesternPennsylvaniatoalignaroundaGoodNeighbor Agreement(GNA),ledbytheUSW.
Produceaconcretepost-summitplanofactionthatadvances: employmentsecurityforUSWmembers,local/diverseconstructionhiring pathways,measurablepollutionreductionsandpublic-healthbenefits, andprotections/enhancementstolocaltaxbases.
Centertheinvestmentcaseonlong-termcompetitivenessthroughthe electricarcfurnace(EAF)anddirectreducediron(DRI)modernization. Developacomprehensivenarrativeandcommunicationstoolkit(fact sheets,slidedeck,infographics,talkingpoints)tolaythegroundworkfora broader2026-27publiccampaign
Locomotives:ScaletheErie“greenlocomotive”manufacturingagenda intoaflagshipjobs-and-industrywin
Advanceatwo-phasegrowthcaseforWabtec’sLawrenceParkfacility: Phase1(500greenlocomotives/year)andPhase2(1,000/year)includingTier4diesel-electricandbattery-electricplatforms-with majorjobupsideifbatterymanufacturingisaddedon-site.
Anchorthispriorityaroundmeasurableoutcomes:netemploymentgains atLawrenceParkandacrossErieCounty,plusstrongwage/benefitand job-qualitystandardstiedtoanyexpansion.
Maintainalivewatchonfederal/regulatoryshiftsaffectingrail procurementandemissionsstandardswhilebuildingacoordinated state/federalengagementplanthroughUE/IBEW/USWalignment.
Industry Working Group, cont. 2026PRIORITIES
Chair:BernieHall,USW
Vice-Chairs:KrisAnderson,IBEW&TommyCarden,UE
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4
NuclearSupplyChain:OrganizePennsylvaniaunionmanufacturingto captureAP1000andnext-builddemand
MapandmobilizePennsylvania’sunionmanufacturingcapacitytiedto WestinghouseAP1000buildoutandadjacentcomponents(withknown participationalreadyunderwayinthesupplychain).
Converttheopportunityintoanexecutionplan:supplierreadiness,skilled laborpathways,andtargetedstate/federaladvocacythatprioritizes buildreadinessandPennsylvaniasourcingwhereverfeasible
CircularIndustry&PermittingwithLaborStandards:Makeindustrialwins easiertobuildandhardertooffshore.
Driveabipartisanstrategyforasolarpanelrecyclingfacilityand legislativepathwaythatlocksinunionjobstandards.
Pairemissionsintegration(hydrogenblending,methanecapture)witha disciplinedapproachtopermittingreform trackingreforms,intervening early,andattachinglaborstandardswhereverpossible.
UseUnionEnergypolicysupportastheintegrationpointsoadvocacy stayssynchronizedacrossallindustrialworkstreams.
2026PRIORITIES
Buildings Work Group
Chair:MattYarnell,SEIUHealthcare
Vice-Chair:MichaelMaguire,AFSCME
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2
LaunchaPA-OnlyBuildingsEfficiencyStrategy(Budget&Agencies& Legislation)
BuildanentirelyPennsylvania-drivenframeworkledbyDGS/DCEDandthe legislature-focusedonwhatPAcancontrolin2026–2027.
MakeThermalEfficiencytheCenterpiece(GeothermalastheFlagship whereFeasible)
Prioritizegeothermal,heatpumps,envelopeupgrades,andHVAC modernization framedascostcontainmentandreliabilityforcritical facilities
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4
FundandExecuteFeasibilityStudiesastheImmediateDeliverable Compilepriorityfacilitylists(publicfirst,thenunionprivate),runDGSled/state-fundedstudies,andconvertfindingsintobudgetasksandbill language.
ScaletoPrivateFacilitiesThroughGuardrailsandExistingPrograms (SITES/DCED)
Targetunion-representedemployersfirst,requireprevailingwageandlabor standards,preventprivatesystemcontrol,andactivelysteerprojectsinto underusedSITES/DCEDfunding.
2026PRIORITIES
Agriculture Working Group
Chair:WendellYoungIV,UFCW
Vice-Chair:MichaelMaguire,AFSCME
Lockina“NoIndependentAgency”CannabisFramework
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Holdthelineagainstcreatingastandalonecannabisauthority. Keepcannabisgovernanceinsideexisting,accountablestatestructures topreventrevenueleakage,regulatorycapture,andlabor-rightscarve outs.
AdvancetheHybridMarijuanaModel:AgriculturePermitting&PLCB Retail/RevenueControl
Dept.ofAgriculture:licensing/permittingforgrowingandprocessing; feestructureforfacilities.
PLCB:wholesalepurchasing/distribution,retailoversight(medical,adultuse),pricingcontrols,enforcement/penalties,feecollection,andtax revenuedirectedtotheGeneralFund
Make“statecontrolandreliablerevenue”thecorenegotiatingframeto outflankindustrypressure.
HardwireUnionStandardsandRealEnforcementintoAnyBill
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4
Bakeinthestrongestpossiblecard-checkneutrality/labor-peacestyle provisions,and critically requiretheregulatingentitiestouselicensing leveragewhencompaniesviolatelaborcommitments
Reconstitutethemarijuanaroundtable/workgroupearlyin2026toalign affiliatesandpresentaunifiedlaborplatformtoHouse/Senate leadershipandtheadministration.
ScaleAgEnergyandWorkforceProtections:Digesters&FarmLabor
Moveanurbandigesterpilot(Philadelphiaregion)fromconcepttoa funded,“buildable”projectwithunionjobexpectationsforconstruction andoperations.
Trackandpushfarmworkerrelief/protectionsatthefederalandstate level;reinforcethemessagethatPA’sfoodsystem(includingmajor poultryprocessing)dependsonaprotected,documentedworkforce andrejectnarrativesthatdestabilizethatworkforce.
2026PRIORITIES
Infrastructure Working Group
Chair:JasonPakech,CWA
Vice-Chair:KrisAnderson,IBEW&KeithKoppenhaver,IUOE
StopWater&SewerPrivatization,ProtectUnionStandards
1
Maintainpressuretokeepsystemspublicandblockbuyoutsthatleadto “paytwice”rateimpacts
Strengthenthepro-public,pro-unioncoalition(PUCrelationshipsand externalconsumer/utilitywatchdogcapacity).
Trackandinterveneearlyonproposedacquisitions;prioritizeprotections thatpreventunion-bustingduringtransitions.
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PassaGridModernizationPackageBuiltAroundGETsandATTs(With ControlandLaborStandards)
AdvancePennsylvanialegislationforGridEnhancingTechnologies(GETs) andAdvancedTransmissionTechnologies(ATTs)whilepushingbackon PJM/utilityattemptstodictateterms.
Ensureimplementationincludestransparentplanning,enforceable workforcestandardsandprocurementpathwaysthatkeeptheworkin unionjurisdiction.
Buildarapidfeedbackloopacrossbusinessmanagerstoflagproposals thatshiftworkawayfromrepresentedlabor
TargetBroadbandDollarstoRuralDead-ZonesUsingUnionContractor Mapping
Movefromscattershotdeploymenttotargetedcarve-outswhere serviceisworseandunioncontractorscandeliver.
Compileandcirculatelistsofsignatorycontractorsandrepresented telecomentitiestostrengthenthecasewithlegislatorsandagencies. Usereal-worldproof(servicefailures,legacycopper,unusablespeeds) tojustifyprioritizationandaccountability
2026PRIORITIES
Infrastructure Working Group, cont.
Chair:JasonPakech,CWA
Vice-Chair:KrisAnderson,IBEW&KeithKoppenhaver,IUOE
4
WintheUndergroundUtilityBill&Rate-CaseAccountability(ConsumerCostFrame)
Collect“hardstops”fromOEsandothercraftstounlockSenate negotiationswhileprotectingcoreoutcomes Driveaconsumer-firststrategyagainstunjustifiedratehikes(e.g., “modernization”rateincreaseswithoutclearspendingaccountability). Packagetheseasaffordability,reliability,andsafetywins positionedfor anelection-yearbipartisanlane.
2026PRIORITIES
Transportation Work Group
Chair:WenceValentinIII,UAW
Vice-Chair:RossNicotero,ATU
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MakeV2GandfleetelectrificationeconomicallyviableinPA.Establish statewiderules/tariffsthatenablefaircompensationforexported power(notwholesale-only),resolvenetmeteringbarriers,andclarify ownership/marketrightssotransitagenciescanparticipatewithoutlegal ambiguity.
Secure“criticalload”reliabilityprotectionsfortransitandpublic-serving facilities.DevelopaPA/PJMstrategysotransitdepots(andotheressential infrastructure)aretreatedascritical preventingmulti-daycurtailmentsthat wouldcrippletransportationsystemsandassociatedservices
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Solveinterconnectionandsubstationconstraintswithabuildoutplanand fundingstack Createapracticalpathwayfordepotelectrificationthat addressessubstationaccess/ownershipconstraints,reduce“100% customer-paidsubstation”roadblocks,andleveragesstateeconomic developmentfunding(includingsite-readinessstyleprograms)forenabling infrastructure.
TietransportationelectrificationtoaPAindustrialjobsagendaandscale statewidethroughlaborleadership AlignfleetelectrificationwithPA-first procurement,greensteel,andhydrogen-relatedmanufacturing opportunities thenuseATU’sstatewideinfluence(largestlocaland conferenceboard)toreplicatepilotsacrosstheCommonwealthandlockin unionjobstandards.
UNION ENERGY STEERING COMMITTEES
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
TheUnionEnergySteeringCommitteeswillserveasthecentralcoordinatingbody, providingstructureandstrategicdirectiontoadvanceUnionEnergyprioritieswithin eachtargetedCounty.Thecommitteewillremainstrictlynonpartisanandfocuson educationandadvancingaworker-centeredenergystrategy.
UNION ENERGY’S STEERING COMMITTEE GOALS
ThesepriorityareaswereformallyidentifiedandapprovedbytheUnionEnergy OfficersandBoardduringtheirDecember2025meeting,followingreviewand discussionofpolicyobjectives,workforceimpacts,andstrategicalignmentwithUnion Energy’smission
ProgramGoals
EstablishaSteeringCommitteeineachCountytocoordinatestrategyin coordinationwithUnionEnergyPAandadvanceUnionEnergyprogramsand prioritieswithinitsjurisdiction.
Buildstructuretoadvanceprogrampriorities
TheSteeringCommitteewillbeformallyestablishedthroughafoundingmeetingto launchitswork.
ThepurposeoftheSteeringCommitteeistocreatestructure,coordination,and accountabilitytomoveUnionEnergyprioritiesforward UnionEnergyisandwillremainstrictlynonpartisan.
MOBILIZATION TACTICS
UnionEnergyExpertPanelswillserveasakeyeducationalandstrategicresourceto supporttheworkoftheSteeringCommittees.Thesepanelswillbringtogethersubject matterexpertsfromlabor,industry,academia,andalliedorganizationstoprovide timelyanalysis,technicalguidance,andworkforce-focusedinsightsonpriorityissues
Roundtableswillcreatespaceforrealstoriesandlivedexperiencesfromworkers, communitymembers,students,andfaithleaderstoinformandstrengthenUnion Energy’swork.Theseroundtableswillelevatetheon-the-groundperspectivesonhow energypolicy,infrastructuredecisions,andeconomictransitionsaffectfamiliesand communities
TownHallswillbepublic-facingplatformstoinformthebroadercommunityabout UnionEnergy’spolicyprioritiesandraiseawarenessoftheworkforceandeconomic impactsofenergydecisions.Thesetownhallswillprovideclear,accessibleinformation onkeyenergyissues,highlightlabor’sperspectives,andcreateopportunitiesfor publicdialogue
Communicationswillprioritizebuildingstrong,trust-basedrelationshipsbetween laborandthecommunitiesmostaffectedbyenergypolicydecisions.UnionEnergywill workwithneighborhoodorganizations,faithgroups,educators,students,andlocal advocatestoshareinformation,listentoconcerns,andidentifycommonground throughthefollowingtactics
Podcasts
LetterstotheEditor
SocialMedia
Newsletter
Op-Eds
Radio