Laborers representing unions from across New Jersey have formed a coalition aiming to advance the state’s clean energy economy and create new union jobs.
Ana Maria Hill, VP and New Jersey State Director of 32BJ SEIU, speaks at a press conference announcing the formation of Climate Jobs New Jersey.
Climate Jobs New Jersey is hoping to address the state’s rising energy costs by implementing a statewide solar and storage program with construction led by union labor. The coalition also will advocate for the state taking control of energy project planning and purchasing to address New Jersey’s immediate energy needs, also “guaranteeing that workers benefit from every new project,” according to a press release.
“New Jersey has a long history of building and innovating, but when it comes to building our own energy, we have lost our way. We import far too much of our energy from out of state, which exacerbates high prices and sends jobs in the energy industry away,” said Charlie Wowkanech, president of New Jersey AFL-CIO and president of Climate Jobs NJ. “With this new agenda from Climate Jobs New Jersey, we can take control of our energy future and get back to building our own energy. This will create local union jobs, bring economic growth to our communities, and give us the clean energy we need to meet rising energy demand and confront the climate crisis.”
Climate Jobs NJ’s mission will be guided by a report published by Cornell University’s Climate Jobs Institute detailing the steps necessary to bolstering the state’s clean energy economy, addressing a warming climate and creating union jobs.
“With labor at the helm, we can build the clean energy and infrastructure the climate crisis demands while lowering energy costs and creating high-quality, family-sustaining careers. A cleaner, more resilient future will generate thousands of good jobs — and we must ensure they come with strong wages and benefits for New Jerseyans. This is what real climate action looks like for working people,” said Ana Maria Hill, VP and New Jersey State Director of 32BJ SEIU. “32BJ members know firsthand that the climate crisis is already here. That’s why we’re fighting to scale up clean energy in New Jersey — and to ensure those projects create union jobs with strong wages and benefits for working people.”
