Local 3 members who attended the Solar Summit are (l-r): Chris Duffy, Anthony Scutari and David Temkin.
Monday, June 20th the 10th Annual CUNY “Solar Summit” was held at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY. A gathering of close to 500 participants heard from a wide range of speakers on many topics relating to the expansion of large scale (including community based) photovoltaic (solar) installations across NY State, with an emphasis on NYC.
The leadership of the Joint Industry Board and Local 3, in particular our Business Manager Christopher Erikson have taken an enlightened view of the importance of recognizing the effects of climate change, along with the necessity of developing rational pathways for moving forward in a manner that preserves economic opportunities for the existing skilled workforce, as well as allowing working people to share in the rewards of the emerging and evolving “green economy” of the future.
The Joint Industry Board has been a longtime supporter of this event and the opportunities it presents to introduce our professional contractors and highly skilled workforce to a new market. A Local 3/JIB/NECA table, manned by instructors from our Alternative Energy training group, was set up to exhibit the training materials used in educational programs for both apprentices and journeypersons and to answer questions from participants. Louis Cintron, Chris Duffy, Thomas Macys, David Temkin and lead instructor Anthony Scutari manned the table.
Brother Temkin, representing Local 3/JIB, was given a chance to address the body and took the opportunity to remind them of the importance of a skilled, safe and reliable workforce in making these projects successful, since proper implementation of the first wave of large projects will be critical in their acceptance down the road.
