GWA turns five and hits the road!

GWA is celebrating its fifth birthday this month! Founded in the midst of a global pandemic and domestic political crisis, we are no strangers to challenging times like these. We respond by moving forward and taking action. Members hit the road this month to defend renewable energy jobs in Ohio and to join hundreds of fellow activists in Chicago who are organizing for workplace safety and health.

Hundreds of solar workers in Ohio have joined GWA, and I was fortunate to join organizer Nico Ries and meet with them earlier this month. We shared a meal with a bilingual group of 10 solar workers in London, Ohio, near their worksite. GWA member and emerging leader Nick Gammon did a great job turning out his co-workers. We introduced them to GWA and provided materials in English and Spanish for them to share with the rest of the workers at their site. I even got to be serenaded for my birthday, wearing a giant sombrero! (Sorry, no picture was taken!)

Nico also organized a cookout with another 10 workers and their families in Galloway, Ohio. We had a great mix of longtime activists and new members. Members wrote letters supporting a solar project in a nearby county while kids ran around and painted pumpkins (including a special GWA edition!)

GWA is ramping up work in the state to help solar projects overcome local opposition and to advocate for utility companies to use more renewable energy. Nico and I had some productive meetings in Columbus with allies working on these issues.

Meanwhile, Arlo Nichols and Patrick Foeday, GWA leaders and wind technicians from Texas, joined hundreds of activists at the COSHCON conference in Chicago. Alongside GWA organizer Maria Garza, they learned about exciting workplace safety and health campaigns and got some great ideas for our wind safety campaign. They also met with organizers working on temp agencies —a major issue for GWA solar members. Finally, they met with groups offering free OSHA training —something many GWA members pay hundreds of dollars for— and collaboration opportunities to help identify workplace hazards.

GWA is going strong, and as we turn 5, we are so grateful for the support from our funders and allies as we continue to grow!