Solar energy proponents hope for bill veto
Monday, June 29th, 2009
By: Phil Gregory
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A coalition of solar energy businesses and independent electricians is calling on Governor Corzine to veto legislation that would require union wages to be paid on commercial solar projects in New Jersey.
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The Mid Atlantic Solar Energy Industries Association says more than four thousand solar energy projects have been installed in New Jersey. The group's Vice President Dennis Wilson says the legislation they oppose would increase labor costs by requiring so-called prevailing wages to be paid for solar projects authorized by the State Board of Public Utilities.
Wilson: It's going to increase the cost of solar installations somewhere between 10 and 30 percent depending on the type of installation and because the solar industry is already having a challenging time meeting New Jersey's goals this will make it even more difficult.
The trade group says higher costs would hurt the growth of the solar industry and is considering a legal challenge to the wage requirements if the Governor signs the measure into law.
Either "prevailing wage" works in our society or it doesn't. Our nation led the world in this in the past 100 years, and it has grown to define and respect workers rights and a system for ruling upon & applying them.
What rationale might apply narrowly to "solar power" that wouldn't also apply to buildings, manufacturing plants, etc?
It will affect their solar biz if they increase the cost of solar installations somewhere between 10 and 30 percent .
This legislation would increase the cost of a commercial system by hundreds-of-thousands of dollars, depending on the size of the project. Why make it more difficult for both good corporate citizens and solar power companies to install solar systems? New Jersey is one of the most aggressive states in promoting renewable energy and this legislation would severely stunt the growth of the industry, as well as make it less attractive to companies that would otherwise convert to solar. Why doesn't this legislation include paying union wages for the offshore wind projects and geothermal? Why punish a growing industry and the entrepreneurs that are dedicated to clean energy?