Wind power may be stalling a bit, but utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) installations are (pardon the expression) on fire. They’re also expected to account for the lion’s share of the renewable power capacity expansion in the United States through 2028, according to the International Energy Agency’s Renewables 2023 Report, published in January.

Adding more fuel to the mixture, Inflation Reduction Act clean energy tax credits go into effect this year for utilities expanding solar and wind capacity. Solar power generation is also becoming cheaper than other forms of energy, and costs are expected to fall further as federal dollars go toward encouraging the domestic manufacture of solar power generation components.

Amid forces driving an abundance of solar PV installation opportunities, electrical contractors have faced challenges handling the work. Large-scale solar PV projects are labor-intensive and require large numbers of workers.

With a workforce of 7,500, Rosendin Electric Inc., San Jose, Calif., is one of the nation’s largest electrical contractors. The company performs solar installations throughout the country, including in southeast Texas, now considered a hotbed of utility-scale solar PV installations.

In 2020–2021, Rosendin began working with the Southeast Texas Chapter NECA and IBEW 716 to address the labor-retention issue.

Training for solar projects

“Texas was the first pilot for the construction wireman solar (CWS) job classification, because mega solar projects were starting to be plentiful there,” said Steve Eichelberger, director of field operations for Rosendin. “When I first came to the industry eight years ago, we might [have done] 2-megawatt projects. Now we’re doing 100-megawatt projects.”

Serving 19 counties in Southeast Texas, IBEW 716’s EJATC includes solar training in its apprenticeship curriculum. The CWS classification is separate, however, with electrical contractors providing all of the training.

“Basically, solar is like a giant assembly line,” Eichelberger said. “You do one task over and over again, so we teach them portions of the assembly line.”

Rosendin provides one week of training that includes OSHA 10 safety instruction. Besides unpacking materials, assembling frames and attaching solar panels, CWSs dig trenches for pipe. Those who possess a commercial driver’s license can transport materials.

CWSs earn more take-home pay than entry-level apprentices, but that’s only because the benefits are different. Eichelberger said, CWSs receive the NEBF retirement benefit, but not healthcare. They also can apply to the apprenticeship program. 

“There’s not a lot of difference to the work of an entry-level apprentice, but it stays at a low skill level,” said Gene Brinkmeyer, training director for the Southeast Texas Chapter NECA and Local 716 EJATC. “It’s really plug-and-play until it hits the collection box. They run conduit underground to the DC-to-AC converters, but electricians handle the electrical connections.”

IBEW 716 claims 1,369 CWSs. With a ratio of one journeyman for every five CWSs, last May, Rosendin employed about 100 electricians and 500 CWSs on a utility-scale solar installation in Houston.

More projects, thanks to federal dollars

“More of these projects are popping up because of federal dollars,” Brinkmeyer said. “The tie with the federal money is you have to have apprentices registered with the Department of Labor.”

Inflation Reduction Act tax credits apply to solar and wind projects sited in “an energy community, low-income community or qualifying low-income residential building project of economic benefit,” the IEA’s Renewables 2023 Report said. The credits also require payment of prevailing local wages.

Having to use DOL-registered apprentices works in favor of electrical contractors who would be employing them anyway. Paying local people prevailing wages to work on local projects can attract new blood into apprentice pipelines.

 “The CWS classification enables us to retain entry-level workers and safely compete for large projects,” Eichelberger said. “Those projects provide work for apprentices and electricians.”

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