The official publication of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers & Helpers, AFL-CIO/CLC THE REPORTER JULY-SEPTEMBER 2019 AF FILI CLC Volume 58 | Number 3 ATED ~ AFL-CIO, Massive ethane cracker facility defines PA skyline and economy MENTORS.MENTORS. I honor those who came before me, my mentors. I honor their struggle to provide me with a union opportunity. I respect their knowledge, leadership and integrity. I live the code. LIVE THE CODE. TToo lleearnarn momorree aboutabout TThehe BBoilermaoilermakkerer CCododee,, visitvisit BBoilermaoilermakkererCCododee..ccomom THE contents JULY-SEPTEMBER 2019 Volume 58, Number 3 NEWTON B. JONES features: International President and Editor-in-Chief WILLIAM T. CREEDEN International Secretary-Treasurer ISO conference inspires learning INTERNATIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS Lawrence McManamon, Great Lakes J. Tom Baca, Western States Warren Fairley, Southeast John T. Fultz, Northeast Arnie Stadnick, Canada EDITORIAL STAFF Amy Wiser 4 Managing Editor Take a peek behind the passing Cynthia Stapp of ESHB 1817 Marketing Manager Emily Allen Writer-Editor Mary Echols Lead Designer Shae Jones Graphic Designer 14 Timothy Canon Local 374 mother and daughter Manager of Digital and Web Communications find common ground at work and play The Boilermaker Reporter ISSN No. 1078-4101 is the official publication of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers, 34 and Helpers, AFL-CIO/CLC. It is published quarterly to disseminate information of use and interest to its members. Submissions from members, local lodges and subordinate or affiliated bodies are welcomed and encouraged. This publication is mailed free of charge to active members and retired members holding a Retired departments: Members Card. Others may subscribe for the price of $10 for three years. Standard Mail (A) postage paid at COMMENTARY ............................................. 2 Kansas City, Kan., and additional mailing offices. M.O.R.E. WORK INVESTMENT FUND ........ 14 Web site: www.boilermakers.org LOCAL NEWS ...............................................34 CanadaPost Agreement: PM 41892512 IN MEMORIAM............................................38 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: [email protected] The Boilermaker Reporter 753 State Avenue, Suite 565 Kansas City, KS 66101 on the cover: (913) 371-2640; FAX (913) 281-8110 The Pennsylvania Chemicals ethane cracker facility is one of the largest For more articles, photos, video and active construction sites in the U.S., resources, visit us online at and L-154 and NTD Boilermakers are www.boilermakers.org building it. SEE STORY 18 LIKE US FOLLOW US SUBSCRIBE TO US THE REPORTER © 1 COMMENTARY BOILERMAKERS.ORG CLIMATE SOLUTIONS SHOULD © (AND CAN) SAVE OUR PLANET AND OUR JOBS JULY-SEPTEMBER 2019 JULY-SEPTEMBER NEWTON B. JONES International President Editor’s Note: The following article by making, hundreds of pharmaceutical products, kerosene International President Newton B. Jones for portable heaters, propane for backyard barbecues or was published September 10, 2019, in a home heating, or hundreds of other products. Special Energy Report by the Imagine the impact on the U.S. economy and society. Washington Times. Closing all coal mines, oil fields and refineries. Shutting down or retooling factories. Scrapping planes, ships, locomotives, and semis and other vehicles running on THE URGENCY TO mitigate climate change has fossil fuels. And shuttering U.S. power plants fueled pushed many to propose radical alterations to how by natural gas, coal and oil (currently 63 percent of all humans exist on the planet. Some see the rapid power generation). abandonment of fossil fuels as essential to climate Such an upheaval would throw millions out of work or goals. This opinion certainly is at the core of the Green push them into retraining for “green” jobs envisioned by New Deal proposed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio- the proposal. Those theoretical green jobs likely would Cortez (D-NY 14th) and Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) earlier not exist in sufficient quantity or offer wages and benefits this year—and supported by some Democratic presiden- comparable to what displaced workers were earning. tial candidates. Using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, we In addition to the fact that they would indeed estimate that up to 9.2 million direct and indirect jobs in fail to achieve any significant impact on global just 14 energy-intensive industries would be severely at climate change, such proposals do not adequately risk under the Green New Deal. take into account the millions of jobs that would be A rational, practical approach is needed lost in the resulting economic upheaval. It is a lose- lose proposition. Rather than adopting a reckless knee-jerk policy that Consider: The Green New Deal requires an end to destroys U.S. industries and kills jobs, we should seek fossil fuel use and a shift to 100 percent renewables in a rational, practical approach to climate change that just 10 years. embraces a portfolio of solutions. Renewable energy, Think about what this would mean. nuclear energy, reforestation and afforestation, energy- No more natural gas, oil or coal. No cars, trucks, SUVs or efficient buildings, agricultural modifications, lifestyle farm equipment that run on gasoline or diesel. No diesel- changes and carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS) all powered trains or ships. No aircraft that use jet fuel. No should be part of that approach. gasoline motors for fishing or leisure boats. No gas stoves, CCUS technologies have been largely ignored, but they hot water heaters or furnaces. No products derived from are vital for several reasons. First, they offer the potential to or that use petroleum: asphalt for roads, coke for steel- slash carbon emissions in industries dependent on fossil 2 © THE REPORTER FROM OUR INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT JULY-SEPTEMBER 2019 JULY-SEPTEMBER “When environmental radicals insist on a myopic focus on renewables as the only solution to climate change— ignoring CCUS as the bridge to a cleaner energy future— © their only achievement is further delaying any solution.” BOILERMAKERS.ORG fuels, especially power generation and oil refining. Sec- The cost of CCUS technologies has already come ond, these technologies offer the only way to decarbonize down as systems are proven, improved and reach com- high-emitting industrial processes like cement making and mercial scale. Canada is already seeing cost-reduction and aluminum smelting. increased CO2 capture on one of its coal-fired energy These industries offer some of the best-paid blue-collar stations where the technology went online in 2014. jobs in North America, and many communities depend on Government policies and incentives can expedite indus- industry employers for the tax base they provide. CCUS try CCUS investments, as Canada has proven. technologies can help ensure that these industries remain In the United States, the federal government has viable—with a much lower carbon footprint—until expanded a tax credit known as 45Q that holds great major new technologies, perhaps hydrogen-based energy, promise. When fully in place, 45Q will provide a $50 tax become commercially available. credit per ton of CO2 captured and stored and $35 per CCUS addresses the real culprit behind climate change: ton for CO2 captured and used (for example, in enhanced greenhouse gases—not fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are only oil recovery). one of many emission sources. Meanwhile, California has modified its low carbon fuel Moreover, when environmental radicals insist on a standard to allow tax credits for CCUS, which can run as myopic focus on renewables as the only solution to cli- high at $200 per ton of carbon captured. mate change—ignoring CCUS as the bridge to a cleaner Such policies are critical to promote more rapid deploy- energy future—their only achievement is further delaying ment of CCUS in the United States. any solution. Bridge to a cleaner energy future CCUS is good for the environment—and jobs and the economy Climate change mitigation becomes more urgent every day. But killing jobs and destroying industries is not Widespread adoption of CCUS would be a powerful job the answer. creator. Installing carbon capture, use and storage systems CCUS technologies can help preserve good jobs and is labor intensive and requires hundreds or thousands of create new ones. And those technologies can do so while skilled trades on each major project. Those are excellent reducing carbon emissions from essential industries that job opportunities not only for those who construct the ensure our economic health and global competitiveness. facilities but also for those who operate and maintain Carbon capture, use and storage can be our bridge to them and for those who manufacture the components. a cleaner energy future. CCUS projects are also capital intensive. But according to the International Panel on Climate Change, meeting climate warming targets without carbon capture would be prohibitively expensive. And renewables cannot do it alone. Despite years of subsidies and favorable policy Visit www.CleanerFutureCCUS.org support, wind and solar accounted for less than 9 percent for more information on of utility-scale electricity generation in 2018 according to U.S. Energy Information Administration figures. carbon capture, use and storage. THE REPORTER © 3 HEADLINE NEWS BOILERMAKERS.ORG © JUL 2019 Y-SEPTEMBER Industrial Sector leaders energized at ISO conference FROM INSPIRING STORIES about Boilermakers win- “We know there is a lot of work ahead of us when it ning more work in shipyards to negotiating contracts comes to recruiting, retaining and advancing women in our that add back benefits corporations wrenched away from industries,” IP Jones said. “We want to be proactive leaders members, Industrial Sector Operations lodge leaders were when it comes to promoting opportunities for women and inspired and equipped at the ISO Conference July 9-11 addressing the unique issues facing women in the trades.” in Las Vegas. He said that the first Women At Work caucus would take In addition to plenary sessions featuring storied labor place that week.