Western States Tripartite focuses on energy future, manpower

Possible legislation and new energy technologies both threaten and offer opportunities for Boilermakers in the Western States Section. At the 2025 Western States Tripartite conference April 28-29 in Napa Valley, California, Boilermakers, owners and contractors delved together into the region’s political and energy environment, new work opportunities and initiatives to address Boilermaker manpower and other challenges.

IVP-Western States J. Tom Baca described the tripartite conference, which began in the Western States in 2005, as a three-legged stool with owners, contractors and Boilermakers working together to ultimately ensure the vital success of owners.

“Make no mistake: This is for our owners,” he said in opening remarks. “We expect our owners to tell us what they need from us—the contractors and the Boilermakers—whether that’s additional training, legislation or manpower. Whatever we can do. If they’re not successful, we’re out of business.”

Said International President Timothy Simmons: “As a representative of labor, I am keenly aware of the struggles that our industries face. Your struggles, owners and contractors, are our struggles.

“We keep this nation running. We don’t just build communities, we build nations. Labor, working with contractors, working with owners, we built this nation.”

California State Assembly District 48 assemblymember Blanca Rubio made a special appearance at the event, challenging Boilermakers to rally with her in the fight for common sense in California’s energy policy legislation. She talked passionately and bluntly about possible environmental requirements that would have harmful consequences to working people, and she pointed to pending legislation that would drive already-high gas prices well beyond affordability. With energy companies bearing the brunt of possible environmental protection costs, they have no choice but to pass those costs along to end-user customers—or close or move out of state. She emphasized the consequences of Valero’s potential shuttering due to the restrictive and cost-prohibitive measures.

“They call me ‘Big Oil Blanca,’” she said. “It’s not about big oil; it’s about what it provides for all of us collectively. When Valero closes, people don’t have jobs and gas prices go up. I can’t afford $10/gallon gas and neither can my community, especially the poor community.”

She said it’s hard for legislators (and those who champion short-sighted “solutions”) to understand the long-term impact of policies that might look good on paper. The key to effectively fighting for common sense is for working people, like Boilermakers, to collectively and individually engage with legislators.

“Tell them the effects on you—how it’s devastating you,” she said. “When we hear from people, it’s real, not just a news story. We need to understand these are real people we’re affecting. It’s people’s lives we’re affecting—your family, long term.”

 

Conference keynote speakers were EPRI Technical Leader Pat Becker, who discussed the role of welding codes and standards, and author Steve Goreham of the Climate Science Coalition of America, who addressed the fluctuating energy environment relative to net-zero emissions and industry.

Becker explained that EPRI (the Electric Power Research Institute) was created in 1972 after a major blackout power outage exposed the energy grid’s vulnerability. As a nonprofit, they conduct global industry and company agnostic research with a goal to help “shape a reliable, affordable and resilient energy future.” (See more information on EPRI: www.epri.com.)

“I’m not here to sell anything,” she said. “The idea is to try to support what the Boilermakers are doing to try to support what everybody else in the industry needs.”

She went on to talk about research and empirical testing EPRI conducts to inform current safety standards and codes. Codes for boilers and boilermaking, she said, date back to 1865, born of the need for safety when the Sultana steamboat exploded and sank, killing 1,864 people.

“With codes, safety is the first priority,” she said.

In his discussion, “Energy in Flux,” Goreham focused on energy’s environmental impact. He argued that today’s temperatures are not abnormally warm, and that mankind is only responsibly for 1% to 2% of greenhouse effect. He said that six common pollutants have declined 80% since 1970, there has been no increase in global cyclones since 1970 and that sea levels have been rising for 20,000 years at a rate of seven to eight inches per century.

Goreham pointed out that in the push for net-zero emissions and increased “green” energy production, wind and solar energy both require a great deal of land, are expensive and provide only intermittent availability. He said that with the rise in artificial intelligence, the energy demand will jump from the current 4% power demand from today’s data servers to 20% needed for upgraded AI servers in the next ten years. That’s 6 to 10 times more energy production required.

“Certainly, it’s not going to come from wind and solar. There’s just not enough there,” he said, noting that with coal production shuttering and the demand for energy increasing, costs will rise. He believes this will lead to less pressure to cut carbon dioxide emissions and a renewed focus on coal, nuclear and natural gas, but also cuts in carbon capture and hydrogen funding.

“The big winner is going to be natural gas in terms of extending or restarting,” he said.

Others providing updates and new initiatives during the conference included Mike Hulst, P.E., President of Harbor Project Management (and Western States Joint Apprenticeship Committee Trustee) and Ed McWhorter, B&W General Manager, Western Operations (and Western States Contractor Chairman), providing an overview of the Readiness for Work program preparing to launch to ensure Boilermakers are trained and ready to man jobs. Johnny Baca, Director, M.O.R.E. Work Investment Fund Initiatives talked about Boilermaker recruiting and about manning work through a nationwide dispatch system. (See “CSO highlights increased demand for union Boilermakers.”) Collin Keisling, WSJAP Coordinator, and Mark Wertz, Boilermakers National Apprenticeship Program National Coordinator, gave an update on the Western States and national apprenticeship programs. Keisling  presented the latest Western States stats: 435 active apprentices, with 168 indentured in 2024. He said 64% are of a minority race and 17% are female and that 124 apprentices are certified in at least one welding process.

Steve Giffin, Maintenance, Turnaround & Construction Manager at PBF Martinez Refinery (and Western States Owner Chairman) discussed the importance of health and safety, and MOST Programs Administrator Mark Garrett gave an update on Boilermaker safety and MOST.

“Our business involves people. It depends on people, and it can affect people,” Giffin said. “That’s where safety starts—with care and attention to people to make sure they have their craft skills, understand hazards inherent in our facilities and make sure they know procedures. And that we create an environment where people follow procedures. We can rebuild the equipment, but we can’t put our workers back together.”

Additionally, Chris Hannan, President of the State Building Construction trades Council of California discussed the latest building trades initiatives, Western States political consultant Erin Lehane shared her thoughts on the 2025 California legislative outlook and Director of Political and Legislative Affairs, Cecile Conroy gave her 2025 federal legislative outlook.

Owners, contractors and Boilermakers also met in separate caucus sessions to discuss their biggest concerns, challenges and ideas. Each reported back to the larger group so that progress may be made toward identifying improvements together.

Said Giffin in his report out from owners: 

 

The conversation starts here. Let’s keep it going.