International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) President Lonnie Stephenson said in a press release that IBEW approves of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s plan to modernize the implementation of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) of 1978.
“America’s energy industry has dramatically changed since Congress first passed PURPA more than 40 years ago,” said Stephenson. “Renewables, for example, now account for more than 17% of U.S. electrical generation, and they keep growing as costs continue to decline.
“This makes modernizing PURPA to meet the demands of our changing energy system more vital than ever. Under PURPA’s current rules, developers have figured out ways to game the existing system in order to crowd out less expensive renewable projects, which hurts workers and customers alike.
“FERC Chairman Neil Chatterjee’s move will introduce more competition into renewable power projects, slashing prices for energy consumers while encouraging more opportunities for IBEW members to modernize the energy grid. It’s a win for workers, consumers and the environment, and we commend it.”