Changing Energies, Changing Opinions

The shift from traditional energy sources such as oil and gas to more ecofriendly, renewable
energy has been a slow-going but necessary process. Today, Local 63 members employed by Borea Construction ULC, PCL Builders Inc., and PCL Energy Inc. are playing an important role in the recent solar and wind energy boom being felt across Alberta.

Employing hundreds of members across dozens of positions, these companies are working to bring the province closer to its ambitious energy goals: Alberta’s Renewable Electricity Act dictates that 30 percent of the province’s electricity come from renewable sources by 2030. Not only are these members finding meaningful and gainful employment, they are also contributing to projects that will change the landscape of Canadian industry for decades to come.

IN THIS AREA OF THE COUNTRY, renewable energy can be a topic of debate, as the local economy has long depended on oil. There is also some discussion as to how beneficial so­lar and wind farms truly are. The process in­volved in farming solar power, for instance, isn’t without its own energy costs, giving off more CO2 and using more power than wind turbines. (See “The Highs and Lows of Renew­able Energy” on page 32 for more insights.)

Members on these sites are proud to have a hand in developing a sustainable future. And the stories as to how these workers found themselves on solar and wind projects, espe­cially after decades in more traditional energy industries, are as varied as they are intriguing.

Equipment operator and steward Cayleb Rieg­er, who is currently working for Borea on the Strathmore solar project, previously spent time in Bow Island, Alberta, for his heavy-du­ty mechanic apprenticeship. Due to COVID, he decided to shift his career and head out­side, working under and with the sun.

Prior to Strathmore, Cayleb worked on an­other solar project in Jenner, Alberta, mak­ing this his second experience on a project of this type. He admits that he was at first hes­itant to make the jump from working on tra­ditional energy projects to a solar project.

“I was a little iffy about it,” he says. “I come from an oil and gas background, born and raised in small town southern Alberta. That’s all we know. But it was work in the region at the time of COVID, and I just couldn’t de­cline that.”

Sean Ursulak, a carpenter and solar tech lead 1 for PCL Builders on the Travers solar farm project, has a 20-year history in oil patches. But his time with PCL, where he has worked since 2016, has by far been his favourite, in part due to their high safety standards.

“I love it,” he says. “On the oil patch, there were lots of rules. Lots. And that’s what I love about PCL. They have lots as well. They’re out to help us, to make sure we go home safe to our families every night.”

Sean had previously worked on two other so­lar projects that used stationary solar panels, which are fairly basic to install. The panels at Travers, on the other hand, are adjustable so that their faces follow the sun, much like a sunflower. This approach ensures that more energy will be captured and stored.

“It costs more money, but I think it’s actual­ly a better system because you get more of the sun,” explains Sean. “That’s what it’s re­ally about.”

ELECTRICIAN AND STEWARD WILL KAPASI has worked on two renewable energy projects for PCL Energy, the Claresholm solar project and now the Travers solar project. Over time, he has developed ongoing relationships with many of his fellow workers, especially since many move between local projects together.

“People in the trades take pride in their work,” says Will. “The substation is good work, and the project is keeping lots of people employed.”

William Big Bull’s varied work background includes hard months spent on oil rigs and years of scaffolding experience. Though he believes in the value of the solar power that will be generated at Travers, he has come up against some resistance to the shift in ener­gy sources.

“It’s really a step in the right direction,” says William, formerly with PCL Builders. “It’s not going to replace oil and gas, and the in­tent isn’t to put people out of work. If any­thing, you could look at it as supplemental energy, and even supplemental income for some people.

“When these projects are finally put to their full abilities, I think the naysayers will see the benefit.”

Devon Bordignon, an employee for Borea on Whitla Wind 2 and the nearby Forty Mile wind project and a CLAC steward, also sees the value in renewable energy and is eager to spread the word.

“I would implore those who are question­ing why we need wind power to do their re­search,” he says. “Times are changing, and people need to learn to change with it.

“I understand some people think turbines can be an eyesore. But I would ask them what they would prefer: more extreme weather events due to climate change, or a few wind turbines.”

ONCE YOU GET PAST THE initial reluctance to embrace wind and solar energy, the hard part starts: getting the job done, and on time.

Most of the members we spoke with agree that it isn’t COVID or project-related delays like scheduling issues that make these proj­ects tough work—it’s the ongoing threat of poor weather.

“When the winter hits, you’re constantly touching steel out in the cold,” says Will. “It’s physically tough. Dealing with the wind is a whole other challenge.”

Another issue at the Strathmore site is navi­gating around the location’s high water table.

“Every time we dig, water comes up and then we’ve got to deal with sloppy mud,” says Cay­leb. “Then there’s bedrock, so we can’t get our piles to embedment depth. It’s a whole ordeal.”

In the end, Cayleb believes that the minor headaches are worth it, since problem solving through setbacks helps contribute to his exper­tise, as well as the expertise of his coworkers.

The forest fires that plagued British Colum­bia this summer also contributed to delays on these Prairie projects. The flatlands pro­vided little shelter from drifting smoke, and supplies shipped from Vancouver sometimes couldn’t arrive on schedule.

On a positive note, one often-overlooked benefit to selecting this area of southern Al­berta for a solar project is that, despite its sometimes-frigid reputation, it receives some of the largest amounts of sunlight in North America. Take that, Miami!

LARGE-SCALE PROJECTS LIKE THESE also have the fringe benefit of offering those new to the trades an entry point into construction.

The number of workers needed to complete these jobs is staggering. With so many mov­ing parts, there are plenty of opportunities for young, hungry, and ambitious tradespeo­ple to learn new skills. A few short months on a site like the Whitla Wind 2 project or the Strathmore solar project can introduce work­ers to opportunities they never dreamed of.

“People would be surprised to know that there are at least 10 crews of 5-plus people working concurrently,” says Devon. “Mobile telehandler equipment. Cranes of all sizes. Fabricated metal. Tons of tools. Generators. The list goes on.”

“Many new workers have no experience work­ing with any of this equipment,” adds Sarah Mitchell, a steward employed as a lead hand at Borea’s Forty Mile job site. “It’s great to be able to teach them the right way initially in­stead of having to correct bad habits.”

These jobs attract people from all walks of life, too.

“For a lot of people, it’s their first construction job,” says Sean. “Their last job might have been at McDonald’s, or something else out­side of this industry. That can make it chal­lenging, but it’s also great because we’re bringing people into construction—and we need more peo­ple all the time.”

William agrees. “A lot of people are taking what­ever skills they had in the mar­ket they were working in be­fore—the oil and gas market, the commercial market, the res­idential market, stuff like that—and apply­ing it to this field,” he says. “Even people in the retail service industry are coming out to work. There are opportunities that weren’t available in this area before.”

MANY MEMBERS TRAVEL LONG DISTANCES to work on these sites. Sean’s drive from Medicine Hat to Travers can be an hour and a half or longer, so he stays in Lethbridge, cutting his commute in half.

The good news is that the communities where these job sites are located and where workers like Sean truck in from each day are taking advantage of the industry that is moving into the area.

“Travers is all farmland, and farmers generally don’t work during the wintertime,” notes Sean. “We’ll be employing a lot of farmers. And we’ve already improved some of the local range roads. There was one that was basically two trails, and now it’s three lanes wide.”

One person who recognizes just how much local towns and communities are impacted is Stacey Hovde. Not only is Stacey a proud employee of PCL Builders, he is also the mayor of the Village of Carmangay, a southern Alber­ta community that’s a stone’s throw away from the Tra­vers site.

For those still on the fence about renewable energy, Stac­ey says there is room for everyone and every industry.

“We need oil and gas, we need coal, we need all of the en­ergy we can possibly get,” he says. “Solar and wind sup­plement the other resources that we have. That’s the way I feel about it.

“I see all the steel pilings we are using. I see all the steel components. I see all of the solar panels. All of that is im­possible without oil and gas.”

Nearby businesses are also benefitting from the influx of workers. After all, they still need to eat, sleep, and be en­tertained—and happy workers are efficient workers.

“We’re trying to promote businesses within the village,” says Stacey. “For instance, we do have a bistro that, because of COVID, has re­ally struggled. So as soon as restaurant re­strictions are lifted, they will greatly benefit from the patronage of these remote workers.

“Lomond, which is a 10-minute drive away, also has a little restaurant and grocery store. I’m sure they’re greatly benefitting from the Travers project as well.”

At the Whitla Wind 2 project, Devon has seen first-hand the need for escape from the day-to-day monotony. Local businesses help satis­fy that need.

“Our job is serious stuff,” he says. “We work hard. But in between, we like to keep it light. A lot of us are friends outside of work, so we often plan dinner parties and activities in nearby towns.”

“Since our projects are often away from home, we have really close relationships with our coworkers,” adds Sarah. “We often spend more time on-site than with our family. We know each other personally and do every­thing to keep each other safe.”

One thing is certain: at the speed in which things are moving, there will be plenty of new, exciting, and sustainable opportunities in the future for working and playing hard in Alberta and the surrounding provinces. You need only look to the fields of majestic spinning tur­bines and stoic solar panels for confirmation.

Increasing On-Site Diversity

William Big Bull, formerly employed by PCL Builders Inc., had been using his influence to help neighbouring Indigenous communities find em­ployment, first at the Claresholm solar project and then on the Travers solar project.

“PCL is a very equal opportunity com­pany, and I’m living, walking, talking proof of that,” says William. “I’m happy not only to be a part of this company but also to be in a position where I can help find employment opportunities for our First Nation communities.”

The Blackfoot tribes of the area, in­cluding the Siksika and Piikani, have benefitted from PCL’s information outreach program, which aims to in­troduce the area’s Indigenous popula­tions to job openings at the company.

“I know in their area there aren’t jobs where you can make the kind of wag­es that PCL is offering,” says William. “The company recognizes the value in anyone who is willing to travel out to the job site and give their future over to the solar industry.”

William estimates that, as of Septem­ber 2021, they have reached 60 people from local First Nations communities. Unfortunately, other tribes like the Kainai are located too far away from the current job site for it to be a good fit. But as these types of projects continue to emerge in the region, there is hope that more openings will arise.

William also sees solar energy proj­ects as going hand-in-hand with many of the beliefs his ancestors passed down through the genera­tions.

“I come from a First Nations back­ground, and we’re taught that this planet will provide everything you need and that our life source is the sun,” says William. “Even in a modern context, when you look at what solar farms are, we’re just harnessing the power of the creator.

“I’ve been on fracking crews, I’ve been on production wells, I’ve been on slashing crews and exploration. Every single day I would see the destruction we do to the earth. And there were days it would just break my heart. I feel much better working in this environment now.”

Nothing But NIMBY

When residents object to a project or event happening in their area, it’s referred to as NIMBY syndrome, short for not in my back­yard. NIMBYism can be applied to many things, such as housing developments, but it’s often associated with wind projects like those built by CLAC members.

The good news is that, when it comes to wind power, there is little to worry about. The major complaints of those succumbing to NIMBYism are that the turbines are unat­tractive and that they can be noisy. Of course, many people would argue they are neither.

In the long run, the boost to the local econ­omy created by wind energy projects often outweighs any minor inconveniences. And, on the other hand, there are populations ea­ger for the benefits of wind turbines who cry, “Please in my backyard!”—you guessed it, PIMBY.

Sources: windenergyigert.umass.edu, sierraclub.org