New York-based commercial solar developer and installer, EmPower Solar, has laid off 40% of its workforce for 2025 and 2026, one week after employees voted to join the United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 259. The layoffs were part of a dispute over working conditions and safety, as well as job security and equitable compensation. The company filed a charge with the National Labor Relations Board alleging that the union engaged in “coercion, incl’g statements or acts of violence” prior to the union vote, violating Section 8(b)(1)(A), which prohibits employers from retaliating against employees for unionizing. Since the furlough, workers have picketed the company’s facilities. The timing of these announcements was deemed inopportune for the company.
Solar Dominates US Energy Capacity Growth
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has published data showing that solar accounted for over 75% of US electrical generating
