The Board of Public Utilities is moving forward with proposed regulations to comply with legislation enacted last summer requiring prevailing wages on Green Energy Projects Including Energy efficient lighting, HVAC and even Insulation projects receiving financial assistance from the agency.
Unions claim it levels the playing field for Contractors using union labor. The Democrat controled Senate and Assemby backed by union money and controlled by Legislators who themselves are union members railroaded the legislation through in the lame duck session after the November election of Governor Chris Christie.
The reality is that excesive union wages and egregious union benefits are responsible for a union contractors inability to compete. An average Merit Shop Solar Installer earns $25 to $30 per hour, but with prevailing wage it could run as high as $94+ per hour including the mandated $36+ per hour benefit portion of the wage. Find Prevailing Wage Rates in your area Here
The requirement does not apply to projects that rely on developer funding and solar energy renewable certificates.
Given the opposition from business interests, it remains to be seen whether the rule, promoted by the failed Corzine administration, will survive the 90-day review period for all pending state regulations Gov. Chris Christie promised during the campaign.
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