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International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and
National Electrical Contractors Association to Strengthen
Imperial County Green Energy Economy with Opening of
New Electrical Training Center
August 21, 2009
 Senator
Barbara Boxer, Congressman Bob Filner and Assemblymember Manuel
Perez Applaud Training Center as Critical to Developing a Local,
Skilled Workforce for Imperial County's Green Economy
IMPERIAL, CA ?Today, the International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 569 and the National
Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) joined by elected leaders
hosted a Grand Opening for their new Imperial County Electrical
Training Center.
The facility is training a local, skilled workforce to support
Imperial County's emerging green energy economy and offering
pathways out of poverty by creating family-wage careers with
healthcare, retirement, benefits and lifelong training
opportunities.
Speakers
included Caridad Sanchez, Director, San Diego and Imperial Counties,
U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer; Congressman Bob Filner, United States
House of Representatives, Congressional District 51; Staff
Representative Antonio Ortega, Assemblymember Manuel Perez,
California State Assembly, 80th District; Al Shur,
Business Manager, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
Local 569 and Andrew Berg,
Executive Manager, National Electrical Contractors Association, San
Diego Chapter.
U.S. Senator
Barbara Boxer remarked, "As a Chairman of the Environment and Public
Works, I am pleased to know that the International Brotherhood of
Electrical Workers Local 569 and the National Electrical Contractors
Association are working together to
train Imperial County's workforce to
fill clean energy jobs in Imperial County. People will not only
learn important job skills, but will help to create new, clean
energy technologies that will create economic growth. I applaud IBEW
and NECA on your leadership."
Congressman Bob
Filner noted, "I am thrilled to see IBEW Local 569-NECA opening a
Training Facility here in Imperial County.
This is a win-win for working people,
the local community and green energy businesses. As the green
economy ushers in new career opportunities, I am working to
ensure we are creating good jobs with healthcare, skilled training
and benefits here in Imperial County. IBEW Local 569 will be a great
partner in that endeavor."
The leader of the
State Assembly Economic Recovery Task Force, Assemblymember Manuel
Perez commented, "As billions of dollars in stimulus funds flow into
the state of California and make their way to Imperial County, we
need to ensure we are maximizing opportunities for career pathways
out of poverty and long-term local job creation. IBEW Local 569,
NECA and the skilled trades are essential in that effort. This new
Electrical Training Center is a true asset as we prepare a skilled
workforce to meet the exciting challenges of the green energy
economy here in Imperial County."
IBEW Local 569
Business Manager Al Shur stated, "IBEW Local 569 is proud to be the
first skilled trade to operate a training facility in Imperial
County. More than ever, we are committed to growing a trained, local
workforce and creating careers that pay well and have healthcare and
benefits. From standard electrical work to energy efficiency
retrofits and solar, our members are ready."
Andrew Berg of the
San Diego Chapter of NECA remarked, "IBEW Local 569-NECA's
apprenticeship program develops the best quality people in the
industry, giving our contractors the competitive edge. We look
forward to accelerating the growth of a robust green
economy by adding new NECA contractors here in Imperial County.'
 Caridad
Sanchez, for Barbara Boxer-
As a Chairman of the
Environment and Public Works, I am pleased to know that the
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 559 and the
National Electrical Contractors Association San Diego Chapter are
working together to train Imperial County's workforce to fill
clean energy jobs in Imperial County.
We need to create millions of
clean energy jobs. You are leading the way with this training
program. People will not only learn important job skills, but will
help to create new, clean
energy technologies that will create economic growth. I applaud IBEW
and NECA on your leadership in San Diego and Imperial
Counties.
Providing
incentives for clean energy is a win-win solution for our country --
it helps to address the threat of global warming and it
builds the foundation for long term recovery and prosperity.
 Congressmen
Bob Filner-
I am thrilled to
see the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 569
and the National Electrical
Contractors Association opening a Training Facility here in Imperial
County. This is a win-win for working people, the local
community and green energy businesses.
As the green economy ushers in
new career opportunities, I am working to ensure we are
creating good jobs with healthcare, skilled training and benefits
here in Imperial County. IBEW Local 569 will be a great partner in
that endeavor.
Imperial County is positioned to be not just a
regional leader, but a national model for the clean
energy economy. We can build
economic prosperity here in our community, fight climate change
and create a local, skilled workforce with long-term career
opportunities all at the same time.
Today, with the opening
of this new Imperial County
Electrical Training Center, we are one step closer to meeting
that goal and I'm proud to be a part of today's event.
With the highest
unemployment in the country, Imperial County has a large eager work
force just waiting to go to work. With the Grand Opening of another
training center to help that work force to be ready when it happens.
Imperial County has been slated as the Renewable Energy Capitol of
the world. We have dozens of projects in the planning and
development stages to utilize what the Imperial Valley has to offer
lots of Sun, Wind and Geothermal, Biomass. We can produce it, we can
employee it but we need a way to send it. San Diego Gas & Electric
has been a $2 Billion transmission line to transmit the electricity
that Imperial Valley can produce but is tied up in court battles.
Out of the $2 Billion $200 Million has been spent on legal fees. The
sense is that the nation is talking about becoming a green nation
and I believe that we can. The Grand Opening of the training center
is another step in the right direction. We in Imperial Valley are
ready and willing, please let us.
Imagine a picture of a deserted world with just
a sign left behind saying ?We tried to save the world but we didn?t
want to hurt the lizards.
By Jim Predmore
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