Ohio Electrical Workers unite to support solar jobs, federal tax credits
Of all the changes to the solar tax credits currently in the “Big Beautiful Bill,” the most immediate and impactful are the cuts to the residential solar tax credits. So, we are sharing the perspectives of residential solar installers to convey how truly devastating these changes will be on small businesses and homeowners.
Union trades unite behind Wombat Solar and clean energy tax credits amid mounting political pushback
Ohio’s electrical workers are speaking out this week in defense of clean energy jobs, as federal tax credit cuts and local politics threaten to derail major solar investments across the state.
In a new ad campaign launched jointly by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the NRDC Action Fund, union electricians are urging Ohio Senators to protect the Inflation Reduction Act’s clean energy tax credits. The message is clear: These incentives are driving real job creation—and cutting them now would send Ohio’s economic momentum backward.
“Clean energy tax credits are putting IBEW members to work in every state—and there are still hundreds of billions of dollars in projects ahead,” said IBEW International President Kenneth W. Cooper. “Stripping these investments now hands the advantage to foreign competitors, particularly China, and tells American workers their jobs don’t matter.”
The ads arrive as Congress debates a Republican-led reconciliation bill that would roll back clean energy credits enacted under the IRA. Alexandra Adams, chief policy advocacy officer at the NRDC Action Fund, put it bluntly: “Every lawmaker supporting this bill is voting for higher energy bills, fewer jobs, and bigger tax burdens on everyday Americans—drivers, homeowners, manufacturers.”
Local solar efforts face headwinds in Crawford County
While federal incentives hang in the balance, union leaders are also fighting for clean energy development at the local level. In Crawford County, Commissioners this week voted to ban all solar development, effectively blocking the proposed 400-MW Wombat Solar project—despite overwhelming public support at the meeting.
Attendees in favor of the project outnumbered opponents by more than three to one, including representatives from Ohio LECET, the Laborers’ union, and multiple IBEW locals. The commissioners issued no formal explanation for their decision.
“Wombat Solar represents a major commitment to Crawford County’s working families,” said Brian McPeek, business manager of IBEW Local 688. “This development will allow our workers to stay in their community and raise their families here instead of having to leave for opportunities elsewhere. It’s frustrating to see politicians trying to take this away from us.”
Wombat Solar had signed onto the Ohio Three Trades Solar Agreement—an alliance between IBEW, the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE), and the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA)—which commits developers to fair wages, safety standards, and community benefits.
Long-term economic security for labor
Labor leaders argue that Wombat Solar offers a rare opportunity to build enduring economic strength in the region. If completed, the project would generate millions in annual tax revenue, potentially becoming the largest taxpayer in Crawford County. In addition to hundreds of union jobs during construction, developers have already supported local programs and schools during early development.
“We’re not giving up. This decision makes it harder for Wombat to succeed, but it doesn’t stop our support,” said Kip Siesel, business representative for IUOE Local 18. “We’ll keep fighting for this project and others like it, because they give our community a better chance at building long-term stability for our members and their families.”
Jeff Sellers, business manager of LiUNA Local 1216, emphasized what’s at stake for working families: “Wombat Solar gives us a chance to build the kind of future that lets our community stay strong and self-reliant. It means our members can earn a good living without leaving town. And it means our kids can look ahead and actually see a life for themselves right here.”
As political headwinds pick up in Washington and across rural Ohio, union voices are becoming an increasingly central force in the fight for solar energy’s future. From the halls of Congress to the backroads of Crawford County, the message from Ohio’s trades is consistent: Protect the clean energy jobs that are already building a stronger economy—and don’t pull the plug on progress.
