8minutenergy Renewables and IBEW Create Jobs in Solar for Los Angeles-Based Homeboy Industries
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) September 12, 2013 -- 8minutenergy Renewables, LLC, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 569, representing San Diego and Imperial Counties, have teamed to create jobs for graduates of Homeboy Industries' solar panel installation training and certification program. Homeboy Industries serves formerly high-risk, gang-involved men and women with a continuum of free services and programs, and operates seven job-training sites. Based in Los Angeles, Calif., 8minutenergy is the nation's leading independent solar PV developer, with 2,000 megawatts (MW) of solar PV farms under development, 320MW in Power Purchase Agreements and over 200MW under construction.
Graduates of Homeboy Industries' solar program are now working as IBEW electrical trainees at 8minutenergy utility-scale solar projects under construction in Southern California. These individuals are gaining entry into a middle-class career in the electrical trades with skilled training, family healthcare and pension retirement contributions, many for the first time in their lives.
"Homeboy Industries arguably offers the nation's most successful model for re-educating incarcerated people, and for providing them with opportunities," said Tom Buttgenbach, president of 8minutenergy Renewables. "We take great pride in partnering with reputable local organizations like IBEW and Homeboy Industries to bring the workforce and environmental benefits of clean, renewable, cost-competitive solar energy to the people of Los Angeles."
"One of our biggest challenges is finding good long-term jobs for our solar program trainees," said Father Gregory "Greg" Joseph Boyle, founder and director of Homeboy Industries. "Due to hard work and the strong collaboration between 8minutenergy Renewables and IBEW, several of our local graduates are now happily employed in a good career track. We look forward to continuing to work with 8minutenergy and IBEW to place more of our members in good paying jobs in solar."
"We have a wonderful relationship with 8minutenergy Renewables, and are pleased that together we are creating good jobs for people in Southern California, including IBEW electrical trainees recruited from Homeboy Industries," said Johnny Simpson, Business Manager and Financial Secretary, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 569. "From day one, IBEW Local 569 has been working to make sure renewable energy projects are creating pathways into middle-class careers. We are proud to partner with 8minutenergy to make these opportunities a reality for graduates of Homeboy Industries."
"Our solar projects are creating thousands of quality construction jobs and opening new career doors for Southern California residents," said Martin Hermann, chief executive officer of 8minutenergy Renewables. "IBEW and Homeboy Industries deserve credit for preparing people for careers in the burgeoning solar industry. As of today, our solar projects are ahead of schedule, in part due to the outstanding workforce."
About Homeboy Industries
Homeboy Industries serves high-risk, formerly gang-involved men and women with a continuum of free services and programs, and operates seven social enterprises that serve as job-training sites. Homeboy Industries is located at 130 W. Bruno Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90012. For more information please call (323) 526-1254, send email to info(at)homeboyindustries(dot)org or visit http://www.homeboyindustries.org.
About IBEW Local 569
Founded in 1891, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) represents approximately 725,000 members working in a variety of fields including utilities, construction, telecommunications, broadcasting, manufacturing, railroads and government. IBEW Local 569 represents nearly 2,800 members in San Diego and Imperial Counties.
About 8minutenergy Renewables, LLC
8minutenergy develops, finances, engineers, constructs, holds, operates and maintains solar projects. To date, 8minutenergy has closed over $1 billion in solar Power Purchase Agreements; been awarded 325MW in PPAs; secured close to 1,000MW in General Interconnection Agreements (GIA); obtained Conditional Use Permits (CUP) for 7,500 acres; and has 15,000 acres under contract. Most recently, 8minutenergy successfully concluded the development of a 260MW solar plant in Imperial Valley, Calif. - Mount Signal Solar - which is now under construction. It represents the first of three phases of an approximately 800MW-dc (600MW-ac) planned solar PV power project - currently the largest in the world.
8minutenergy's proprietary transmission, land and economic analysis process and tools helps select optimal power plant sites for accelerated permitting with counties and utilities. All 8minutenergy solar projects are located on disturbed, low-value farm land. 8minutenergy strives to ensure that its solar power projects provide low cost, clean renewable energy from the sun with low environmental impacts, particularly when compared with public lands projects on pristine desert wild lands. 8minutenergy has offices in Los Angeles, Folsom, San Francisco, San Diego and El Centro, California. For more information, please call (916) 608-9060, send email to info(at)8minutenergy(dot)com or visit http://www.8minutenergy.com.
Kent Streeb, 8minutenergy Renewables, http://www.8minutenergy.com, +1 (530) 908-9225, [email protected]
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