Andre Crook, Business Representative for The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 58, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the growing EV infrastructure. Crook also talked about developments with green technology, like solar, and the increasing workforce development in the Detroit area.
Electric Vehicle production has ramped up, which means the support needed to use the EV’s has begun. Right now, dealerships have a waiting list for purchases of new electric vehicles, and for each person on that list, IBEW members have to install a charging station. For older homes, a new breaker needs to be installed as well. The United States and Canada have also announced a Binational EV Charging corridor that will stretch from Kalamazoo, Mich. to Quebec City, Quebec, and IBEW Local 58 will be taking on much of the work through the Detroit area.
Solar technology is another growing energy source in the area. IBEW Local 58’s Union Hall is a netzero facility, with over 600 solar panels and battery units to use at night, they are an example of the growing solar work in the area. Crook believes solar will be the future of energy in cities, with them being made up of independent micro-grids, each powering a separate neighborhood. Not only will these micro-grids take the burden off municipal power generation, but they also prevent city-wide blackouts as each neighborhood will have their own battery back ups.
IBEW Local 58 has 5,000 active members, representing Electrical, Telecommunication, Broadcast, Manufacturing, Maintenance and government workers in Southeast Michigan, including Detroit. The Local is facing so much work, both on the construction and residential sides of the business, that Crook compared it to “drinking water from a fire hose” as they try to not overbook contractors with more work than they can handle. The hope is to use their outreach programs to handle the increasing workload as people return to the area.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more.