New Bill Guarantees Union Jobs in Clean Energy Projects

When Martin Heinrich's dad worked as a union lineman, that single job powered more than electric grids. It bought a home, raised a family, and opened doors his own parents never had.

Now the Senator is leading legislation to guarantee those same opportunities for the next generation of American energy workers. Representatives Nikki Budzinski and Paul Tonko joined Heinrich this month to introduce the Good Energy Jobs Act, a bill ensuring every federal dollar spent on energy projects creates quality union jobs.

The legislation makes permanent the labor standards the Department of Energy has already been using to guide its investments. These requirements have helped trigger significant private investment in energy projects nationwide while protecting workers and communities.

Under the bill, any project receiving DOE funding must pay prevailing wages and use registered apprenticeships for construction and maintenance work. Companies would need to partner with unions, invest in workforce training, and commit to hiring locally.

The law would also keep manufacturing jobs in America. Any product developed or commercialized with DOE assistance couldn't be offshored, keeping innovation and production on U.S. soil.

Representative Budzinski sees the bill as essential for building America's energy future. "If we want to build the next generation of American energy infrastructure, we need to empower the union men and women who are going to build it," she said.

The legislation requires developers to create community benefit plans before receiving funding. These plans must show how projects will support nearby residents through training programs, local hiring commitments, and direct community investments.

A significant portion of federal energy funding would be directed specifically to small and disadvantaged communities under the bill. This ensures the clean energy transition doesn't leave behind the places that need economic opportunity most.

The Ripple Effect

More than a dozen major unions and environmental organizations have already endorsed the legislation, a rare coalition spanning labor and climate advocates. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, representing 900,000 members, praised the bill for making federal spending accountable to taxpayers.

IBEW President Kenneth Cooper noted that standards like Project Labor Agreements and wage protections ensure workers building energy infrastructure can actually support their families. The Laborers' International Union echoed this support, calling the bill essential for creating family-sustaining union careers.

The legislation builds on momentum from the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which included similar labor protections. Those laws have already demonstrated that strong worker standards and clean energy investments can go hand in hand.

As America invests billions in its energy future, this bill ensures those investments power not just the grid, but the American dream itself.