New Federal Funding Available to Put Union Members to Work Building Carbon Free & Healthy Schools

UA Local 716 member Michael Pierce.

At a time when too many students go to schools with bad ventilation, leaky roofs, broken air conditioners, mold and lead pipes, Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 716 has set an example of the potential for building trades union members to build the schools our children, teachers and school support staff deserve. With new federal funding available we have the opportunity to not only create healthier learning environments, improve energy efficiency and cut climate pollution, but also to support thousands of good union jobs in our communities.

Members of Plumbers & Pipefitters (UA) Local 716 have long provided HVAC installation and maintenance services for more than 80 percent of the public schools in Maine. This critical work involves updating and installing heating systems, ventilation, boiler plants and automation controls to improve air quality, reduce carbon pollution and improve efficiency.

“We do the work at a higher level,” explained Mike Winchenbach, Business Agent for Local 716. “Taxpayers don’t want the project to have any issues down the line so we make sure it’s built to last.”

Winchenbach said that a lot of schools in Maine are very old and if a contractor isn’t familiar with the system, it’s easy to make mistakes. Most contractors only warrantee the project for a year, but with a maintenance contract union contractors like Siemens will continue to ensure it runs smoothly long into the future.

“We’re still going to look at the customer in the face every day after the project is over,” he said. “We want the stuff to last 25-30 years and we stand behind the product.”

In recent years, there has been a surge in school projects for Local 716 thanks to the federal CARES Act. The pandemic relief package provided an injection of federal funding to upgrade HVAC systems to create better air flow for students returning to in-person learning after schools were reopened.

The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act also included funding for schools to reduce carbon emissions by covering up to 20 percent of the cost of energy efficiency investments, including HVAC, water heaters, and building improvements. Under the IRA, schools can also get up to 40 percent of the cost of putting up solar panels, installing LED lighting, and making other energy efficient upgrades. There’s also federal money for public schools under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, EPA Clean Bus Program, and more.

UA Local 716 is one of fourteen unions in theMaine Labor Climate Council, which is organizing a campaign to urge our state and federal leaders to make critical energy upgrades to public school buildings like retrofitting school facilities, electrifying school buses, and installing solar on buildings. If school districts take advantage of this funding, it will result in a reduction of carbon emissions and put more union members to work, including IBEW electricians, Carpenters, Plumbers and Pipefitters, Laborers and more.

“Upgrading and retrofitting these buildings will create thousands of good union construction jobs and improve the health and safety of our union teachers and educational support staff and the students they serve – all while slashing air pollution," said Kristin Campbell, Maine Labor Climate Council’s Organizing Director. "This campaign is a beautiful opportunity to demonstrate strong solidarity across the Maine labor movement."

“The pandemic raised greater awareness about the condition of many of our school buildings. Educators’ primary focus is, naturally, on educating and caring for students,” said Grace Leavitt, President of the 23,000-member Maine Education Association, which represents teachers, educators and school staff. "But up-to-date, safe, energy efficient buildings are an important part of the learning and working environment our students and staff should have. The funding is available now to make these improvements with the work of our fellow members in the Maine Labor Climate Council. This will benefit our students, our educators, and our communities.”

Want to join the movement to build a new clean energy economy with good union jobs!Sign up here to get action alerts and updates from the Maine Labor Climate Council.