Union workers at the Revolution Wind offshore project in New London, Connecticut, gathered on August 25, 2025, to discuss a Trump administration order to halt construction. This event highlights the ongoing efforts by labor unions to secure good jobs in the clean energy sector, even as political challenges emerge.
The labor movement, particularly through organizations like the Climate Jobs National Resource Center (CJNRC), has been working for years to ensure unionized careers in clean energy. This initiative gained significant momentum with the Inflation Reduction Act, which provided incentives for clean-energy projects meeting prevailing-wage and apprenticeship requirements. However, the Trump administration has sought to slow the clean energy transition, specifically targeting offshore wind projects and attempting to revive the idea that workers must choose between good jobs and climate action.
Ryan McElroen, a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 3, transitioned from repairing the New York City subway to working on offshore wind projects like Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind. He described the change as welcome, enjoying views of seals and dolphins instead of subway darkness. McElroen completed six one-month rotations on these projects and expressed a desire to continue in the industry for his career. Days after his most recent Empire Wind stint, he received pre-qualification for a mortgage, attributing his financial progress to his work in offshore wind.
The CJNRC originated in New York after Hurricane Sandy in 2012, which served as a wake-up call for the labor movement regarding climate change’s impact on workers. Mike Fishman, president and executive director of the CJNRC, noted that unions initially had little voice in climate policy discussions, which focused primarily on emissions reduction. Lara Skinner, founding executive director of Cornell’s Climate Jobs Institute, observed that climate groups often touted job creation without emphasizing high-quality or unionized positions. Skinner, Fishman, and New York labor leaders developed a blueprint for a worker-centric clean energy transition.
Climate Jobs New York, a coalition including SEIU and building trades chapters, pushed for a nine-gigawatt offshore wind buildout in New York, a vision adopted by the state in 2019 and enshrined in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. In 2021, the coalition secured strong labor and equity provisions for renewable energy, including prevailing wage and project labor agreement requirements. These successes shifted unions’ perception of wind projects, leading them to actively defend offshore wind initiatives.
The CJNRC expanded its efforts, forming coalitions in other states. By the end of 2024, the group had helped launch union coalitions in nine states. Chrissy Lynch, president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO and chair of Climate Jobs Massachusetts, noted that these collaborations solidified alliances between unions and environmental groups. Despite the Trump administration’s attempts to interfere, including ordering work halts on projects like Empire Wind, Revolution Wind, Sunrise Wind, Vineyard Wind, and Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, courts ultimately blocked these orders, allowing projects to continue. McElroen was on the job at Sunrise Wind when a stop-work order came down, noting that electricians were deemed essential to prevent deterioration during the shutdown.
While existing projects like Vineyard Wind and Revolution Wind are now operational or progressing, the Trump administration’s actions have had a chilling effect on future offshore wind development. The administration spent $2.7 billion in taxpayer dollars to cancel 12 offshore wind leases. BloombergNEF’s projections for US offshore wind capacity by 2035 dropped from 39 gigawatts to just 6 gigawatts, indicating a significant loss of potential new projects and jobs. Fishman estimated a loss of 3 billion work hours. Chris Erikson, business manager for IBEW Local 3, observed the collapse of several proposals in New Jersey, leading to zero offshore wind activity there. Despite these setbacks, unions continue to advocate for clean energy jobs, with the CJNRC launching new coalitions in five states and the United Kingdom this year. Fishman believes offshore wind growth is inevitable due to its potential for reliable electricity generation near demand centers.
