This article was originally published in the Kenbridge Victoria Dispatch.

Union leaders and developers of Lunenburg County’s Laurel Branch Solar project are launching a recruitment drive to ensure the jobs created during construction of the 80-megawatt operation stay in the county and Southside Virginia. 

The project is the first in the area to operate under a tri-trade agreement involving multiple unions, a model International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 80 Business Manager Dennis Floyd said is designed to streamline construction while prioritizing local labor. Under the National Tri-Trade Solar Agreement, developer Dominion Energy has committed to partnering with three of the largest labor unions in the country – IBEW Local 80, the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 147, and the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA) Local 980.

In addition to the jobs for electricians, the job will also provide additional positions for equipment operators and laborers through partnerships with other unions.

DEMAND FOR SKILLED TRADES

Floyd said the goal is to develop a local workforce capable of filling positions not only for this project, but for future work across Southside Virginia.

Floyd said he recalls coming to an IBEW jobsite and noticing that there were out-of-state licence plates everywhere — Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Arizona and all across the southwest and south.

“Our goal is to avoid that,” Floyd said.

They were coming here doing a job and nothing stayed here, he said. There wasn’t training for local people and it wasn’t creating jobs in Virginia. 

“And it wasn’t creating additional tax revenue,” Floyd said.

Currently, IBEW Local 80 has 10-12 members who live in Lunenburg County, he noted. However, the project will be needing between 80 and 100 electricians when it begins sometime early next year.

With this lead time ahead of the project, he hopes licensed electricians in the county will have time to connect with the IBEW if they are interested in working on the solar project.

Brady Horne, business manager for IUOE Local 147, said that by choosing to invest in local infrastructure, the county is helping members stay rooted right here in the community they grew up in, highlighting the stability the project brings to skilled operators.

“Our heavy equipment operators have the specialized training to build this facility efficiently while maintaining the highest safety standards for Virginia,” Horne said. He estimates it will require 15-30 skilled operators on the job.

Horne didn’t have access Tuesday to the database with membership numbers, but said he knows they have some members in Lunenburg County and the region. They are hoping to expand that with a push to hire from the county by adding new union members here.

“I represent all of Virginia, except for the seven counties in northern Virginia, and we have 1,400 members,” he said. “So we have members in every part of the state.”

The union, which represents operating engineers who work as heavy equipment operators and mechanics, wants to expand membership by finding local people who are interested in such a career.

If they have the right skill set and everything, Horne said they would love to have them as part of the union and to work on the job.

“We’re always looking to increase our numbers and put local people to work,” he said. “It’s beneficial for us because we can gain membership. It’s beneficial to whatever contractor comes in too, that gets awarded the work, because they save them money in the long run by not having to book hotel rooms and pay per diem for their traveling members.”

EARN WHILE YOU LEARN

Floyd said the union has already taken steps to build that workforce by opening a satellite office in La Crosse and the availability of its apprenticeship program in the area. The current apprenticeship class includes seven apprentices, with 10 more already lined up for next year.

“As far as getting manpower, we’re trying,” he said. “My goal is to develop a workforce down there.”

Floyd said prospective workers can apply to join the union or enroll in its four-year apprenticeship program, which combines paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction.

“We’re going to teach them,” he said. “They’re going to work with the contractor during the day and go to school at night.”

The program costs $1,250 per year for tuition and books, and graduates can earn strong wages upon completion, he said. Once an apprentice graduates, their employment package would be about $100,000 a year and those in the program graduate with no debt.

Classes in the apprenticeship program are held twice-weekly at the La Crosse union office in the evenings, allowing those who are in the program to work during the day. They will also have homework as part of the program that they will do outside of work and the classes.

While the IBEW Local 80 website’s apprentice page shows it is closed to applications, Floyd said there is still potential to join. “If somebody’s interested out there, they can give a call here at the hall and I can help work that for a little while longer this year,” he explained. “Otherwise they can start working. We could still get them working without being in school.”

Floyd said this is something the union has been working on in the area for a number of years.

“At one point we had apprentices driving into Norfolk, which is to be honest, disingenuous to tell somebody to drive two-hours plus to go to get your education and work at the same time,” he said. “But we’re making an effort. I’m making a very big effort to make sure to keep training there local.”

He said that while the training isn’t local in Lunenburg County, he said it is now closer by in Southside, comparing it to how Southside Virginia Community College, serves the region but does not have a campus in every county.

“They’re going to come to La Crosse and get that training, get the hands-on training in the classroom setting and get the books side of things,” Floyd said. “But I’m making an effort in concert with our contractors as well to work on getting more work because outside of the big projects, solar farms and data centers. There’s infrastructure that needs to go with that and that goes to grocery stores, banks, pharmacies, entertainment, restaurants.”

He said he believes Lunenburg County can see growth out of the Laurel Branch project, along with increased tax income from Dominion Energy.

IUOE Local 147 also has an apprenticeship program, Horne said, noting that it is how he got his start.

“It’s a state of the art program. We’re working with a lot of workforce development boards and local communities, job fairs and things like that right now,” Horne said. “… We’re always definitely trying to push folks through the apprenticeship.”

The IUOE program has one location in Sussex County where the bulk of the membership goes for the apprenticeship training. Plus it is used for journeymen who need to hone a skill.

If someone is interested and is already skilled, the union also has a permit program that works like a probationary period where a potential member can demonstrate their knowledge on the job.

While he said their membership is lower in the region, they are looking to build their workforce here with all of the solar projects and battery storage operations that are located in the Southside.

“We’re trying to get out there and get more of these projects, get a little more high profile,” Horne said, noting they want more members from rural communities.

“It’s definitely where we’re interested in pulling members from these more rural communities and providing them with a better way of life. Not just a job, a career, sustainable wages, building on something. It’s just slow work and progress is going to be one project at a time.”

LIUNA Local 980 Business Manager John Weaver that while Lunenburg County is a smaller, rural area, they do have members who reside in and around the county, including the Kenbridge and Victoria areas. 

“That said, our local covers a broad jurisdiction of 74 counties in Virginia and 100 in North Carolina, so our workforce is regional by nature. For a project of this size, we anticipate utilizing both existing members and bringing in additional workers as needed,” Weaver said. “Importantly, we are actively working to ensure that residents of Lunenburg County have a real opportunity to participate in this project.”

He added that their goal is always to maximize local participation wherever possible. 

“While hiring decisions are ultimately driven by contractor needs, skill requirements, and project timelines, we strongly encourage contractors to consider qualified local residents first,” Weaver said. “We see projects like Laurel Branch as an opportunity not only to complete important infrastructure, but also to invest in the local workforce. In addition to core construction roles, there are often support and ancillary positions associated with large-scale solar projects. These can include logistics, material handling, and other site- related work.”

Weaver said the union understands the concerns from residents about jobs going to workers from outside the area.

“Our commitment is to provide a pathway for local individuals t o access these jobs while ensuring that all workers receive fair wages, healthcare benefits, pension, and annuity contributions-standards that help strengthen not just individual households, but the broader community as well, he said. 

COMMUNITY IMPACT

There has been no timeline provided on how long the Laurel Branch project will take to complete. However, those who join the union will have opportunities for many other jobs across Southside Virginia.

John Weaver, business manager for LiUNA Local 980, emphasized the long-term impact on the local workforce. 

“This project isn’t just about temporary jobs; it’s about providing the training and stability our members need to build lifelong careers close to home” Weaver said. “It provides the opportunity to build our own future with our own hands in our own town, while providing the tax revenue Lunenburg can use to improve our schools and public safety.”

Floyd said local hiring not only benefits workers, but also strengthens the broader community by allowing residents to remain close to their families.

“None of us want to have to go travel out of town or out of state to go to work,” he said. “So if we can create a good workforce that’s making good wages here locally.”

He added that keeping workers local has ripple effects beyond the job site.

“You know, somebody was a coach for a sports team or a scout leader or something of that nature, and they’re not able to be home … it takes a toll on the family, takes a toll on the community,” Floyd said. “So having a local workforce development and skilled workforce developed is essential.”

All of the unions stated in a news release that the project will offer an entry point for residents interested in skilled trades, even if they do not have prior experience. 

With construction expected to begin as soon as regulatory approvals come through, Floyd said the unions are eager to connect with residents interested in the work.

“Quite frankly, the unions kind of feel a lot of times like we’re the best kept secret,” he said. “We don’t want to be.”

HOW TO APPLY

With the project now approved, Laurel Branch Solar will move into the construction phase once regulators make their final approvals.

Floyd encouraged anyone interested — from experienced workers to those new to the trades — to reach out.

“Whether they’re a skilled journeyman … or they’re looking to get into this industry, there’s a place for them, we can make it happen for them,” Floyd said.

Anyone in the county with an interest in construction craft laborer work is encouraged to apply to join LIUNA Local 980, Weaver said. Individuals can contact the office directly or apply through our established intake process, and we can help guide them through the steps to become a member. 

“No prior union membership is required, and we welcome local applicants who are ready and willing to work,” Weaver said.

Anyone interested in jobs involving construction of the Laurel Branch Solar project can visit the appropriate union website or contact their office.