SACRAMENTO, CA. – Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law AB 2143 (Carrillo), which ensures that California’s energy transition away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy and a green economy aligns labor standards with prevailing wage for large scale commercial solar. AB 2143 would also require the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to produce an annual report that links Census tracts with residential rooftop solar installation so that the CPUC and the legislature have the data needed to address inequities, and create opportunities for resources and parity between homeowners, renters and low income households.
“As California has charted a pathway to create 100% renewable energy by 2045, AB 2143 requiring prevailing wage for large scale commercial solar projects aligns energy transition plans with worker protections and a much needed energy workforce transition away from fossil fuels,” said Assemblymember Carrillo. “AB 2143 offers our state an opportunity to continue leading and align California goals with President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to strengthen America’s solar workforce. This new law will also ensure that Census driven data delivers equity for residential rooftop solar policy discussions, and that transparency and accountability are at the heart of a sustainable clean, green economy in which climate change, environmental goals and worker protections go hand-in-hand.”
“California must continue to produce more renewable energy,” said Joel Barton, Secretary Treasurer for the California State Association of Electrical Workers. “And that production must uplift electrical workers with family-sustaining wages and benefits. Both renewable energy and workers must be prioritized. This bill helps us meet those goals. Thank you to Assembly member Wendy Carrillo for writing this important legislation and Governor Newsom for signing it.”
AB 2143 is a landmark, timely piece of legislation that aligns California energy transition and goals with that of the federal government. Earlier this year, the Biden Administration, through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act), announced more than $65 billion investments in clean energy transmission and grid upgrades, the largest in American history. Additionally, the plan will fund new programs to support the development, demonstration, and deployment of cutting-edge clean energy technologies to accelerate our transition to a zero-emission economy. Related to the future of solar, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the Advancing Equity Through Workforce Partnerships funding opportunity, which will award $10 million for the development of collaborative workforce programs that will facilitate the rapid deployment of solar energy technologies while supporting an inclusive workforce with opportunities for union membership.
The full text of the bill can be found here: Bill Text - AB-2143
Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo was elected as the representative of the 51st Assembly District in December of 2017. She is currently the Chair of Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on State Administration, and a member of the Assembly Committees on Appropriations, Budget, Health, Housing and Community Development, and Utilities and Energy.
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