Solar Lockout and the IBEW's need for a huge jug of prune juice [RE-wrench

[Jeff Clearwater, Ecovillage Design]

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Wrenches and all,

No doubt the union/IBEW folks could really make things difficult in 
the PV industry.  But I think that possibility is increased if we 
"polarize" against them.  I don't doubt their motivations are 
probably less than virtuous but I think we need to keep our integrity 
and approach them a win/win attitude and with benefit-of-the-doubt if 
at all possible.  Perhaps we should check out their real concerns 
(even if they are mixed with some other agendas).  If it's simply the 
line-feedback issue that should be a pretty easy one to bring to the 
table openly as it's already "solved".  If they have other hidden 
agendas then only by dealing with them openly and with integrity will 
those agendas be exposed for what they are.  We need to call it like 
it is - but let's not get personal and negative along the way!

jc


>I may be inviting some stinging diatribes, but this IBEW attitude 
>and behavior toward grid-tied PV reminds me of why union involvement 
>with anything solar, regarding installations, makes me more than a 
>bit uncomfortable.  Back in the hey day of solar thermal (late 
>1970s-early 1980s), I can remember being in a meeting with solar 
>reps/installers and union reps as the guys from the plumbing union 
>were stating:  "If it's (solar thermal installations)not done by 
>union members, it's crap."  Those kind of comments have colored my 
>attitudes toward unions ever since.  And, just to be even more 
>inflammatory, anyone heard of any horror stories of a botched PV 
>installation done by a union electrician?
>
>marco
>ProVision Technologies, Inc.
>hilo, hawai'i
>www.provisiontechnologies.com
>
>
>>From Joel D.:
>
>LADWP IBEW has a new use for the PV system locking disconnect switch.
>IBEW union workers have turned off and locked out private PV systems and
>are using the lockout as a labor contract negotiation issue.
>
>Turning people's solar power systems off is anti-consumer and does not
>build support for the union cause. It is only a matter of time before
>news reporters tell the world that the IBEW has switched off the sun.
>
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-- 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jeff Clearwater
Ecovillage Design Associates
Home, Community and Village Scale Renewable Energy Systems

2525 Arapahoe Ave, Suite E4, #280
Boulder, CO 80302
1-800-440-2523 PIN7071
Fax:  720-528-7813
clrwater at earthlink.net
jeffc at ic.org

Council Member - Ecovillage Network of the Americas - http://www.ecovillage.org
Founder:  Ecovillage Research, Development, and Demonstration Program:
http://www.home.earthlink.net/~clrwater/RDD/rdd.html
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