Despite intense lobbying and premature boasting by the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), the Board of the Northern California Power Agency (NCPA) voted overwhelmingly today in favor of a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) and maintenance agreement for construction of a $432 million power plant in Lodi, CA.

In approving the PLA for this project, the NCPA Board rejected the “race to the bottom” business model that rewards contractors who can simply assemble the cheapest, and often times most vulnerable and exploitable, workforce possible – without regard to the ramifications that has on the industry and the surrounding communities.  Instead, the NCPA chose the high-road approach of a PLA, which will provide greater jobsite efficiencies and a guarantee of skilled, high-quality, on-time work for the power agency and its customers.

The 255-megawatt natural gas power plant in Lodi will provide power throughout the central California region when it goes on line in 2012.
 
The ABC had boasted in press reports that they would defeat the PLA, but thanks to the enlightened members of the NCPA Board, it was approved by a lopsided 9-2 vote.