What Energy Companies Don't Want You To Know

The U.S. government has allocated billions of dollars to transition to a clean energy economy.

There’s just one problem: workers are being exploited and some even have to pay to be considered for these jobs.

For a real green transition, clean energy jobs have to be union jobs.

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[cliveklg]

Paying to get a job should be illegal.

[DonC]

Unions, Unions, Unions. No Matter the country, if you want good working conditions and pay then you need strong unions. I really hope that our western world can get back to a place where unions are big and strong and we have institutions that crush cartels and hold companies that abuse their workers (wage theft, etc.) actually accountable. That's an integral part of reestablishing a middle class in western countries. And politicians that tell people that Unions are bad and that we should just unregulate and untax big companies are literally grooming you into slavery.

[gardenboots]

In a nutshell - big corporations tend to exploit workers. "Profits Over People" business model.
Firing the entire crew after 2.5 weeks, knowing they relocated for the job, and leaving them stranded is EVIL.

[andrewrockwell]

If the government is paying for it, maybe they should employ the workers themselves. Oversee the construction so you know you are getting what you want and no middleman taking profit out of the system.

[azndemonlord]

Sounds like, doesn't matter how good you are, capitalism will never fail to abuse you.

[notapplicable-znus]

This story can be about any American industrial jobs like the oil & agricultural industry; the problem is not unique to the solar industry. Solar is the new kid on the block. One solution is Unions to offer worker protection & fair wages

[SLEsquire]

Is there any industry left that hasn’t been corrupted by the American Oligarch Class???

[waxo]

I live in Puerto Rico and the solar industry is filled with these door to door salesmen scammers and it sucks. From what I understand they also got rid of the union which has really affected a lot of people. Imo utilities shouldn't be a for profit industry.

[JeffreyGreeb]

Sounds like solar workers need to organize into a larger trade union and reduce the need for the temp agencies while providing better pay, fight for better conditions, and more :)

[bobcornwell]

I would like to see a story on how a typical Washington DC lobbyist works an how much they are usually paid.

[LizzieWoolley]

First comment!! Thanks for all of your hard work that actually teaches people about workers and

[tedr]

Why isn’t the IBEW organizing these workers?

[VulcanData]

This reminds me of the cell phone tower workers.

[eric]

This could be GREAT. Alliances between workers and between workers and environmentalists working together for a better life on this planet. *But only if there is FAIRNESS - decent pay AND decent benefits, AND DECENT WORKING HOURS AND CONDITIONS.*

[NAC_Exec]

I feel states and cities should start banning use of temp agencies. They cause nothing but trouble.

[pedrolopes]

This issue of unstable jobs has nothing to do with renewable energy, as the thumbnail implied, this is an issue of bad worklaws that should apply to all construction workers...

[MarsMellow]

Ugh! We just cant have anything nice can we? 😢

[DianeLee]

Thank you! This area is key to whether the USA remains a good place to work and live. Companies that do not see far enough ahead to invest in training and development, won’t have the workforce needed for the future.

[Gamingpandacat]

remember that anything the big companies dump infinite amounts of money on, is actually bad, no matter what it is

[TheZombieButler]

The International Brotherhood of Electrical workers has a robust traveling system. I'm shocked I didn't see that touched on in the story.