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Carpenters building for energy independence Ray Cordero, Local 713, and Paul Daciuk, Local 217. It’s nothing fancy-really just a huge concrete box. Like really huge-600,000 square feet, shaped by 30,000 linear feet of forms. But it’s providing work for up to 50 Bay Area carpenters on any given day, and showing the way toward increased commercial use of clean technology for the entire country. The Solyndra "Fab 2" plant in Fremont, scheduled to open in about a year, will "give the U.S. economy the clean tech alternatives it needs to recover, and give our planet the energy alternatives it needs to survive," says Chris Gronet, founder and CEO of the Fremont-based company. The ongoing operation of the facility will create over 1,000 jobs building Solyndra’s innovative solar cells. The installation of Solyndra PV systems will generate hundreds of additional jobs in the community.  Project safety coordinator Frank Cordero, Local 713.  Retiree Fred Glenz, Local 505, who has more than 30 years in the union, works with third-year apprentice Matthew Valdolivar, Local 22. "I think all of us are proud to be a part of this process, from the point of view of the environment and from the point of view of the economy," says Ray Cordero, Local 713, assistant project superintendent for general contractor Rudolph & Sletten. "And it’s going along very quickly, despite the rains. Rudolph & Sletten is a very solid operation, very concerned with safety." The new plant is also an example of the best possible use of federal stimulus money, financed in part by a $535 million loan guarantee from the Obama administration. Last fall’s groundbreaking ceremony featured appearances by Vice-President Joe Biden, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu.  Wallace Benard, Local 22.  Royce Farris, Local 180.  Paul Leppke, Local 405.
 Kevin Drosc, Local 713.  Raul Romero, Local 713, and Robert Atkinson, Local 405. "The investment is part of President Obama’s aggressive strategy to put Americans back to work and reduce our dependence on foreign oil by developing clean, renewable sources of energy," Energy Secretary Steven Chu said in spring 2009, as the federal government began issuing the funding. At the Solyndra plant in Fremont, Cordero says, "With our skills and hard work, we can make it happen."  Ken Williams, Local 152, and John Muraira, Local 405.  Don Price, Local 22.  Carpenter foreman Eric Lowen, Local 152.
 Miguel Rangel, Local 713.  Jose Marin, Local 405. |
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