BEACON • October 11, 2022
My fellow lineworkers and I are also on the front lines of the most significant energy transition since perhaps the industrial revolution. With aggressive state climate goals and transformative federal legislation, Maine is beginning to rapidly electrify vehicles, buildings, and appliances along with constructing thousands of megawatts of renewable energy projects to meet this new demand. This transition is necessary. But without investments to significantly expand and modernize our regional electric grid – and comparable investments in growing the next generation of highly skilled, unionized workers to build and maintain it – keeping the lights on will become increasingly challenging. Projects like the MPRP, NECEC, and the future Northern Maine Transmission Projects all create the opportunity for new workers, and at the same time allow those who have had long careers to transition into retirement. We have a lot of building and rebuilding to do. ~ Tim Burgess, IBEW Local 104