Cypress Creek signs MOU with International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

NIAGARA COUNTY, NY - Cypress Creek Renewables is proud to announce a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, 3rd District for the construction of the Bear Ridge Solar Project. 

The proposed project is a 100 MW solar generation facility located in the towns of Cambria and Pendleton in Niagara County. The on-site construction of this project is anticipated to begin in 2023 and extent to 2024. This MOU means that construction of this project shall be completed by skilled members of IBEW, 3rd District. 

“The labor agreement between Cypress Creek Renewables and IBEW Local 237 is going to provide local well-paying jobs to Niagara County electricians who pay Niagara County taxes and spend their money primarily in Niagara County,” John Scherrer, IBEW Local 237 Business Manager, said. 

Cypress Creek would use this agreement to hire skilled prime contractors to head various portions of the project construction. These contractors would then hire trained craftsmen, journeymen and workers to help construct the project. 

“This agreement is going to provide the opportunity for Niagara County electrical apprentices to learn and further their knowledge of renewable energy work providing the on-the-job training to excel in the quickly developing field of solar energy,” Scherrer said. 

This collaboration highlights Cypress Creek’s “support local” approach to construction of its facilities. It is one of two recently agreed to in New York. The other MOU is with Laborers’ Local 190 for the company’s Oxbow Hill Solar Project in the Town of Fenner, which anticipates filing an application in the state’s 94-c process in fall 2022. 

“Providing opportunities to the local job force in our project areas is an important part of Cypress Creek’s culture,” Marisa Scavo, Associate Director of Development at Cypress Creek Renewables, said. “We look forward to our continued collaboration with Laborer’s Local 190 and IBEW for our upcoming projects in New York State.” For more information about Bear Ridge, visit ccrenew.com/projects/bearridge/.

Cypress Creek Renewables is a leading solar developer and operator across the United States, including in New York. Development and construction have been completed on 35 projects across New York, resulting in the operation 74 mega-watts of power in the state. In every project, Cypress Creek strives to be good neighbors and contribute to the communities where our people and our projects are located. We focus our community engagement efforts on four focus areas: Environmental Sustainability, STEM Education and Workforce Development, Economic Development and Community Investment, and Veterans Initiatives. Learn more about Cypress Creek Renewables at www.ccrenew.com.