Oregon Unions Launch Plan to Create 200,000 Clean Energy Jobs

Oregon's construction unions just unveiled a roadmap that turns the state's clean energy goals into hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs.

Ten major unions, representing over 300,000 workers, gathered this week along a rural highway lined with wind turbines and solar panels to announce Climate Jobs Oregon. The coalition aims to triple Oregon's clean energy production and nearly double its energy storage capacity by 2040.

The math is striking. Meeting Oregon's pledge for 100% clean electricity within 15 years could create up to 200,000 direct jobs, including 40,000 construction positions in the next five years alone. Graham Trainor, president of Oregon AFL-CIO, says the key is matching ambitious climate targets with quality training, fair wages, and career pathways that keep families stable.

The coalition partnered with Cornell University's Climate Jobs Institute for over a year to develop 18 policy recommendations. These include expanding union apprenticeship programs, streamlining site permits for clean energy projects, and installing union-built solar panels on public buildings and housing.

Tiffany Wilkins, an equipment operator from Arlington in eastern Oregon, knows this future firsthand. Every wind turbine and solar array in Gilliam County was built with union labor. "You can turn around to all these windmills, the solar, and say 'I helped build that,'" she told the crowd.

Ivan Maldonado's journey shows what's possible. He started his construction career on oil projects in Texas and now works as a foreman on solar installations. "Joining a union and learning a trade changes lives," he said. "I see it in younger workers every day."

The timing matters. Governor Tina Kotek recently signed executive orders to fast-track clean energy project approvals. While federal clean energy tax credits face uncertainty under changing national policies, Oregon is pushing forward with state-level solutions that prioritize both environmental goals and worker prosperity.

Currently, solar and wind projects employ about half the proportion of union workers compared to fossil fuel industries. Climate Jobs Oregon wants to flip that equation while making clean energy more affordable for everyone.

The Ripple Effect

This isn't just about construction jobs. When workers earn stable wages with benefits and retirement plans, entire communities thrive. Local businesses grow, families build savings, and young people see viable career paths without leaving their hometowns. The coalition's approach proves that fighting climate change and strengthening the middle class aren't competing priorities—they're the same goal.

Oregon's bet is simple: the fastest way to meet climate targets is to make clean energy jobs better than the alternative.