grist.org: Record flooding in northern Michigan pushed aging dams to the brink of failure, with water coming within 5 inches of overtopping Cheboygan Dam, highlighting that the average U.S. dam is 64 years old and most were built for rainfall patterns that no longer reflect a warming climate, at a time when federal funding falls far short of the $165 billion estimated to address the problem.
fox13news.com: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 484 at Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland, making Florida one of the first states in the nation to require that large-scale data centers bear their own electricity and water costs rather than passing them to consumers, while preserving local government authority to reject data center developments.
ibew.org: International President Kenneth W. Cooper urges IBEW members and retirees to consider running for public office at all levels of government, noting more than 700 already hold elected positions across the US and Canada
theguardian.com: The US conflict with Iran is accelerating the global shift away from oil and gas, driving sharp increases in electric vehicle demand across Europe and renewed investment in renewables worldwide despite Trump administration policies favoring fossil fuels
ibew.org: International Secretary Treasurer Paul A. Noble explains the new National Electrical Individual Benefit pension program and encourages local unions to negotiate the employer funded plan as an additional retirement supplement for members
ibew.org: International President Kenneth W. Cooper tours the Atlantic City Convention Center in New Jersey, a 100% union facility where clean energy projects and IBEW labor have come together
ibew.org: Illinois Local 701 Women's Committee drew more than 150 women to an apprenticeship information expo in late March to showcase careers in the union electrical trade and the benefits of IBEW membership
ibew.org: The National Utility Industry Training Fund has launched a new logo and updated website as it expands training programs for IBEW utility members, with new courses in natural gas, drone licensing, and nuclear classifications in development
theguardian.com reports a new Ember analysis found clean power generation grew 887 terawatt hours in 2025 surpassing total global electricity demand growth of 849 terawatt hours pushing fossil fuel power into decline for the first time on record driven largely by record solar growth in China and India.
ibew.org reports the IBEW Founders Scholarship is now open for applications offering awards of up to $32000 to members and their families pursuing post-secondary education with a deadline to apply in the coming weeks.
Copyright © 2026 IBEW Local 488. The Western Connecticut Electricians All Rights Reserved. Union Made Website: Union Web Services