The Truth About Project Labor Agreements

Tomorrow (February 8, 2011) the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors will discuss the environmental objections of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local No. 477 to a 40-megawatt solar photovoltaic generation facility proposed by LightSource Renewables for construction in unincorporated San Bernardino County near Kramer Junction in the Mojave Desert.

Neither the San Bernardino Planning Commission nor the San Bernardino County Land Use Services Department has identified any legitimate reasons why this solar project might harm the environment. Obviously the IBEW is exploiting the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to block this project until the developer and/or its construction contractors succumb to the extortion and sign a Project Labor Agreement or some other union-only agreement with the IBEW.

An article in the February 1, 2011 Barstow Desert-Dispatch newspaper (in San Bernardino County) aptly describes what is going on:

Union Group Protests Kramer Junction Solar Project – Barstow Desert-Dispatch – February 1, 2011.

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors will consider the IBEW appeal of the Planning Commission’s approval of the Solar Photovoltaic Energy Facility at its February 8, 2001 meeting, which starts at 10:00 a.m. at the San Bernardino County Government Center, 385 North Arrowhead Avenue, in San Bernardino, California. Here is the agenda item:

62) CONTINUED FROM TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2011, Item #76 –

Conduct a public hearing to consider an appeal of a Planning Commission approval of a Conditional Use Permit for a 40-megawatt commercial Solar Photovoltaic Energy Facility on a 350-acre portion of a 401.6-acre vacant property, located on State Route 58, approximately one mile west of U.S. Highway 395 in unincorporated San Bernardino County.

2. Deny the appeal and uphold the Planning Commission action to:

Adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration and find that the Initial Study has been completed in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act, that it has been reviewed and considered prior to approving the Project and that the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration reflects the independent judgment of San Bernardino County.

b. Approve a Conditional Use Permit to establish a solar power generation facility on a 350-acre portion of an 401.6-acre parcel.

c. Adopt the Findings as recommended by the Planning Commission.

iv. File a Notice of Determination.

(Affected Districts: First)

(Presenter: James M. Squire, Assistant Director, 387-4131)

Here are links to the relevant government documents:

Staff Report on IBEW Appeal

All Related Documents (except IBEW appeal, which is on file with the county).

Media inquiries: contact ABC of California