Whitmer signs new law to boost wages for clean energy workers

State legislation signed into law by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will help ensure Michiganders are paid competitive wages while working to build out renewable energy projects. 

MICHIGAN—Legislation signed into law last week by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will help ensure Michigan workers are paid fairly as the state transitions to cleaner, renewable energy.

Senate Bill 571—introduced by state Sen. John Cherry (D-Flint)—will officially expand the state’s prevailing wage law to include contractors for solar and wind energy projects, ensuring workers are paid at the same, competitive wages as other industries covered by the state law.

“This legislation isn’t just about fair compensation; it’s about safeguarding the skills and safety of our workforce,” Cherry said in a statement. “This law will be instrumental in supporting our state’s transition to clean energy and it’ll ultimately save us more money in the long run.”

Last year, Whitmer signed legislation to restore the state’s prevailing wage rates for the construction industry—effectively requiring workers on state-supported projects to be paid at (or above) standardized industry rates, which typically translate to the rates negotiated by local labor unions. 

Cherry’s bill extends that law to include the construction of clean energy projects—specifically to support the transition to renewable energy like solar, wind, and battery storage facilities.

“Michiganders across the state deserve competitive wages to help them get ahead,” Whitmer said in a statement, noting that the “common-sense” legislation will help to “put more money in the pockets of hardworking Michiganders, ensuring that they are well paid for good work.”

The changes coincide with additional legislation that Whitmer signed last year, which established a goal of transitioning the state to 100% clean energy production by 2040, as well as the Community and Worker Economic Transition Office to support workers along the way.

The new law will also require contractors bidding on clean energy construction projects to register with the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, as well as maintain and submit payroll and benefit information for workers, reports the Detroit Free Press. 

In a release, Whitmer’s office said those changes will help foster a “more competitive and equitable process for state projects” that prioritizes “local manufacturing and development.”

“I’m incredibly proud to have worked alongside my Senate colleagues to build a more sustainable and just future for the state and all those who call it home,” Cherry added.

READ MORE: What do Michigan workers think about repealing ‘right-to-work’ laws?

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