 
Ontario Local Riding Green Wave with
Wind Turbines, Solar Panels
April 2008, Electrical Worker
Hamilton, Ontario, Local 105 scored a hat trick last October when three new wind turbines went online at their training center.
In addition to powering the center and serving as a large spinning virtual billboard that says that the IBEW is the place to go for wind power, the turbines provide hands-on practice material for Local 105 journeymen and apprentices who want to learn about renewable energy.
“It’s the one of the few facilities in Canada that is capable of training skilled workers in renewable energy technology,” said Local 105 Business Manager John Grimshaw.
The three turbines come in different sizes to give members experience working with different models. The largest turbine is more than 80 feet, the average size for industrial sites, while the smallest is 30 feet, which is used for residential power.
Local 105 Training Director Clarke Hurley said he hopes to start classes in the fall.
Local 105’s renewable energy system is the result of a partnership between the federal government and the local. The former Liberal government of Prime Minister Paul Martin had earmarked $25 million for the development of union-run training centers across Canada. The local applied for a grant, but it was Hurley who brought up the possibility of using the money for renewable energy.
“I saw a future for the IBEW in installation and maintenance in the sector,” Hurley said.
The provincial Liberal government of Premier Dalton McGuinty came into office more than four years ago with a promise to dramatically increase the use of green power. Major projects involving wind, solar and hydro were announced, and in 2006, one of Ontario’s largest wind farms, Erie Shores, was opened, thanks to the work of more than 50 members of Local 105 and London Local 120, with additional assistance from linemen from Toronto Local 353 and Sudbury Local 1687. Members of St. Catharines Local 303 have also been involved in the project.
Located on the northern shore of Lake Erie, Erie Shores’ approximately 90 turbines generate enough electricity to power more than 30,000 homes.
“It’s been a boon to job creation, and we’re talking about good-paying union jobs,” Grimshaw said.
The local is also looking to get into the growing solar energy market. On the roof of the center’s office is a 52-panel solar array. That, along with a two-panel array on a nearby residential tower, can provide enough power to keep the office running for up to four hours at a time.
The government paid for a little under half of the $1-million wind turbine installation, which began construction in the fall of 2006. The turbines help the local save on its electrical bill, but they also serve as great advertising for the IBEW. “They’re hard to miss,” Grimshaw said. “They let people know that Local 105 is the place to come for workers skilled in renewable energy.”
“We get a parade of people every day coming into the center to ask about them,” Hurley said. “And our members haven’t stopped asking about when classes are going to start.”
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