Calico Solar promises construction jobs to union

Calico Solar announced that unions will provide the labor for the solar project 37 miles east of Barstow.

California Unions for Reliable Energy, a coalition of energy unions, announced last week that Calico Solar will use the coalition’s members in the construction of the utility-scale solar project. The union members will fill the more than 700 construction jobs required to build the project that will serve almost 500,000 homes.

William Kriegel, CEO of the project’s owner K-Power, in a statement that the agreement will “further the interests of project developers, contractors, workers and local communities.”

K-Road became the owner of Calico Solar as of 2011, when the ownership was transferred from Tessera Solar.

Sandy Brittian, President of the Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce, said Tessera had appeared more willing to hire locals before working through unions. But Brittian said K-Road had been clear in a February community meeting that most of the jobs would indeed be allotted to unions.

Brittian said she thinks some labor jobs will be made available to locals regardless.

“People will not want to come all the way out here,” she said. “I hope they will have to hire some locally.”

Tanya Gullesserian, CURE spokeswoman, said she anticipates that almost all of the union workers will come from San Bernardino County.

Construction on 660-megawatt project is set to begin in 2012.

Community college to start renewable fuel training

Barstow Community College has started a training program for employees who work with vehicles that use alternative fuels.

The training program will teach general practices in the alternative fuel field but will also allow for students to focus on specific alternative fuel systems like hybrid-electric, electric, and compressed natural gas. The curriculum includes maintenance and repair of alternative fuel vehicles.

BCC started the program through support from the California Employment Training Panel and the California Energy Commission. It is part of a statewide effort to transition from petroleum-based fuel to alternative and renewable fuels, according to a statement from the college.

Ken Eaves, BCC’s dean of workforce and economic development, did not return calls for comment.

Non-profit, city, county or private employees can apply as long as their job is related to alternative and renewable fuel. Those interested in the program can contact Eaves at 760-252-2411 ext. 7383 or keaves@barstow.edu.

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(760) 256-4126 or smitchell@desertdispatch.com