Lee County asks staff to research national solar ‘tri-trade’ agreements and local ordinance implications

A board member asked county staff to research a national trade agreement affecting solar projects and whether county ordinances could or should require broader local-contractor participation.

Staff said the issue centers on national "tri-trade" arrangements among some unions and on state requirements in solar project submittals. The board requested an examination of national agreements and whether the county needs ordinance language to address contractor selection and local participation.

Details from the meeting: a presenter said Mr. Olsson Wilson had asked the county to look into a national trade agreement specific to solar projects and unions. Zoning administrator Hinkle reported that solar project submittals typically include a project labor agreement or similar documentation showing who will work on the project, and said some of those requirements come from state statute and could limit what the county can impose. The presenter and board members discussed that the national agreement the staff found involved the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Laborers, and an operators' union, and noted that the agreement does not list every trade (for example, carpenters were not included), raising questions about equitable access for local contractors.

Why it matters: if national or state-level agreements effectively narrow which unions or contractors are considered for projects, county officials said they want to understand whether local ordinance language or procurement practices can protect opportunities for local firms while complying with state and federal rules.

Provenance: the item was raised as new business and discussed across multiple segments; staff committed to continued investigation and potential ordinance language changes if permitted by higher authority.