Powering Chicago Joins the Conversation on Workforce Development

As U.S. cities strive to turn ambitious climate goals into reality, a new initiative is stepping in to help unlock critical federal funding for transformat...

Powering Chicago Reaches 10,000 YouTube Subscribers, Fueled by The Power of Better Series

Powering Chicago is thrilled to announce that our YouTube channel has surpassed 10,000 subscribers! This incredible milestone reflects the success and impa...

Recognizing Our Heroes: Powering Chicago Partners with Honor Flight Chicago

Powering Chicago was honored to sponsor this year’s Honor Flight Chicago, a meaningful event that flies senior war veterans to Washington, D.C., for a da...

Powering Chicago Returns as Sponsor to Cooperator Expo Chicagoland 2024

Powering Chicago returned as a sponsor for this year's Cooperator Expo Chicagoland on October 17. It was a day filled wit...

How Powering Chicago Contractor Energized St. James Community Farm

An urban agriculture revolution is taking root in the heart of Chicago thanks to an organization called, Just Roots...

Hispanic Electrical Contractor Leads Chicago Innovation

This Hispanic Heritage Month, Powering Chicago proudly shines a light on member contractor JM Polcurr, Inc. JM Pol...

Powering Chicago Prepares Next Generation of Skilled Electricians

At the heart of Powering Chicago's workforce development is its robust apprenticeship program. Powering Chicago’s Executive Director, Elbert Walters III,...

Powering Chicago Sponsors the Fifth Annual Infraday Midwest Event

With the rapid expansion of electric vehicles (EVs) and Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) charging infrastructure in the Midwest, Powering Chicago, ...

Download Powering Chicago’s fact sheet as your guide to Industrial Renewable Energy Projects

Industrial facilities in Chicago are starting to realize the major cost savings and environmental benefits of upgrading to renewable energy sources like so...

Powering Chicago Members Go Above and Beyond for South Side Homeowner

When Meade Electric and IBEW Local 134 electricians signed up for "

BT Electric Provides Expert Solar Solutions in Chicago

In the rapidly advancing field of renewable energy, Powering Chicago member contractor BT Electric has proudly ser...

Powering Chicago Sponsors Green Drives Conference 2024

Powering Chicago proudly sponsored the 2024 Green Drives Conferen...

IBEW 134 Business Representative Beatrice Thompson Nominated for Crain’s 2024 Notable Leader in Sustainability Award

As Chicago and Cook County face the daunting challenge of achieving hefty clean energy goals in the decades ahead, IBEW Local 134 Business Representative B...

NECA Safety Awards Recognize Powering Chicago Contractors

Powering Chicago member contractors have been recognized by NECA as part of their Safety Recognition Program for their commitment to maintaining health...

Hardt Electric Celebrates 50 Years: A Journey of Family and Dedication

In 1935, Carl Hardt opened a motor rewinding company from their three-flat home that eventually became an electrical contracting business, called C&H E...

Father Inspires Daughter’s Bright Future with IBEW Local 134

21-year IBEW Local 134 member Jose Gonzalez inspired his daughter to follow his path. Discover the benefits of a union career and family legacy. ...

Powering Chicago is Returning as a Host Sponsor For The 2024 Midwest Solar Expo

Powering Chicago is a host sponsor for the 2024 Midwest Solar Expo for the second consecutive year. ...

Construction Safety Awareness Week: Proper Training Saves Lives

While the construction industry is essential for economic growth, technological advancements, and urbanization, working in it can be dangerous. ...

Powering Chicago: Expertly Trained Electricians for Your EV Charging Station Needs

While the push to increase electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure is relatively recent, the IBEW/NECA Technical Institute (IN-Tech) in Alsip, IL, has been training members on this specialized work for decades....

Maximize Your EVSE Investment: The Benefits of Working with Qualified Electrical Contractors

Once you’ve decided to pursue Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE), commonly called charging stations or charging docks, you need to start planning your approach....

Act Now: Illinois is Offering Substantial Rebates and Incentives for Electric Vehicles and Charging Station Installations

Illinois is Offering Substantial Rebates and Incentives for Electric Vehicles and Charging Station Installations...

The Benefits of Installing EVSE Charging Infrastructure at Your Business

While the tax incentives are plentiful, installing EVSE has many benefits to businesses, both in the long and short-term. ...

Now Is The Time To Consider Electric Vehicles 

Consumer incentives like the federal Clean Vehicle Tax Credits and Illinois’s $4,000 rebate for those buying select electric vehicles (EVs) will help to increase the number of EVs on the road. ...

Transform Your Commercial Building with Retrofitting for Maximum Energy Efficiency

In today's fast-paced world, the quest for energy efficiency has never been more critical. One powerful solution that has been gaining traction is retrofitting your commercial building's electrical infrastructure....

Horizon Contractor’s CEO Tina Chung: Celebrating Over 25 Years of Success and Advocacy for Women in Construction

With over 25 years of industry experience, Tina Chung, CEO and President of Horizon Contractors, advocates for women in the construction industry. ...

100 Black Men of Chicago and IBEW Local 134 Partner to Empower Young African Americans to Join The Electrical Industry

100 Black Men of Chicago and IBEW Local 134 host an event at the IBEW-NECA Technical Institute for 30 mentees, showcasing opportunities in the electrical industry. ...

The Chicago Chapter of the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus (EWMC) Celebrates 20 Years of Inclusion

Positive change doesn’t happen by accident. That’s why the Chicago EWMC has worked diligently to create more opportunities for minorities and women....

Premier Sponsor Powering Chicago Showcases EV Charging Expertise at Chicago Auto Show

For the third consecutive year, Powering Chicago is sponsoring the show’s indoor EV test track, Chicago Drives Electric....

Kelso-Burnett: 115 Years as a Pioneering ESOP Electrical Contractor

Kelso-Burnett - Chicago's pioneering ESOP electrical contractor celebrates 115 years in business....

Illinois Invests $27 Million in Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

Illinois is investing $27 million from the Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan to install 675 new electric vehicle charging stations across the state. ...

Powering Chicago Lights Up Millennium Park with Presentation of 110th Annual Chicago Tree

Experience the enchantment of the 110th Annual City of Chicago Christmas Tree lighting in Millennium Park on November 17....

Powering Chicago’s Guide to Safe Holiday Light Installation

...

Local 134’s Susan Allen Reflects on Her Trailblazing Military and Electrical Career

Susan Allen, an Army veteran and trailblazing IBEW Local 134 wirewoman, reflects on being one of the first women in Chicago's electrical trade and how it shaped her groundbreaking career....

IBEW Local 134 Member Hosts Free Music Fest for Community

IBEW member Andre Hodges hosts a free, family-friendly music festival called Black and Brown Get Down in Elgin, IL. This year's fest featured hip-hop group Crucial Conflict....

Hy-Power Electric Receives 2023 NECA Project Excellence Award

Hy-Power Electric's award-winning project at Maine West High School earned them the NECA Project Excellence Award 2023, shaping the future of Powering Chicago's electrical contracting industry....

Maximizing Your Solar Investment: A Comprehensive Guide to Selecting the Right Solar Contractor

To ensure the success of your solar project, begin by finding an experienced electrical contractor with expertise in design, engineering, procurement, inst...

Powering Chicago celebrates Latino industry leaders during Hispanic Heritage Month

This Hispanic Heritage Month, we're excited to highlight two inspirational leaders whose work is powering Chicago and empowering their communities.

Choosing the Right EVSE Contractor: Essential Tips for a Seamless and Reliable Experience

Discover essential tips for selecting the right EVSE installer and ensuring a reliable charging experience....

Powering Chicago’s Apprenticeship Program prepares electricians for careers in the renewable energy sector

As the school year commences for Chicagoland students, Powering Chicago, an advocate for the union electrical construction industry in Chicago and Cook Cou...

Considering Solar Power for Your Facilities? Here’s What You Need to Know

When considering transitioning to solar power, it's important to weigh the potential advantages and disadvantages. One benefit solar electric systems have ...

A Legacy of Service: Preferred Electric’s 50 Years of Powering Chicagoland

This year marks a major milestone for Powering Chicago member Prefer...

Efficiently install your EVSE in 7 key steps

Are you thinking about transitioning to electric vehicles (EVs)? Whether you're an individual or an organization, establishing Electric Vehicle Supply Equi...

Unlocking the Power of Solar: How Rebates and Incentives Make Solar Energy Affordable and Accessible

While the benefits of solar energy are well-known, the initial costs of installing solar systems can be a barrier for some. However, several programs and i...

Waddell Green’s journey as an electrician, Black business owner, and business school graduate is fueled by constant growth and strategic planning

Waddell Green’s career as a Chicago union electrician started the same way as countless others — applying for the apprenticeship in a long line at the ...

Big Savings Ahead: How Illinois Residents Can Save Up to 80% on EV Charging Station Installations and Get $4,000 Off EV Purchases

Get up to 80% savings on EV charging station installations and $4,000 rebates for electric vehicle purchases in Illinois through incentives provided by the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act....

Uncover the Latest Electric Vehicle (EV) Rebates and Incentives

The demand for green transportation options is continuously growing, and electric vehicles (EVs) have become a top choice for eco-conscious business. Not o...

Powering Illinois with Solar Energy: Incentives, Efficiency, and Environmental Impact

Solar electric systems, also known as photovoltaic (PV) systems, are quickly gaining popularity in Illinois due to wide-ranging federal and state incentive...

Powering Chicago partners with CISCO for annual trades fair

Learn about the benefits of joining the trades from CISCO’s Union Construction Trades Fair, designed to inspire the next generation of professionals. ...

Catch Powering Chicago on the Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) electric buses along Route 66 bus routes this summer

Learn more about Powering Chicago members’ expertise in renewable energy installation on CTA electric buses running along Route 66....

The Benefits of Installing EVSE for Your Business and the Importance of Acting Now

There are numerous state and federal consumer incentives available for individuals and organizations interested in transitioning from gas-powered vehicles ...

Important resources to help your business transition to solar

There’s a lot of information online about solar power. Why you should install it, who should handle the installation, solar rebates and incentives and mo...

How to find a qualified solar contractor

Switching to solar power is an excellent way for homeowners and businesses to reduce their carbon footprint and save money on energy costs. However, choosi...

Solar power finances: costs, rebates and incentives

Solar power has become an increasingly popular choice for homeowners and businesses looking to reduce their carbon footprint and save money on energy costs...

Tony Sage built his nearly 40-year career in the electrical construction industry, inspiring family to follow in the industry

In 1986 when Tony Sage graduated from St. Rita High School on Chicago’s South Side, he wasn’t sure what path to take. Now almost 40 years later, he’s...

How to bring solar power to your business

Solar power is an excellent way for businesses to reduce their carbon footprint, save money on energy costs, and demonstrate their commitment to sustainabi...

Exploring solar power’s pros and cons

Are you curious about photovoltaic (PV) energy, commonly known as solar energy? As a business owner, facilities manager, civic leader, or homeowner, you wa...

Powering Chicago e-book offers guidance on how properly installed solar electric systems can benefit your business or community

New guide empowers business leaders to confidently transition to solar electric (CHIC...

How tech-savvy contractors are using robots to revolutionize the construction industry

The newest episode of The Power of Better brings viewers to a South Loop high-rise building to learn how robotic dogs and Robotic Total Stations (RTS) are ...

New e-book answers common questions about switching to solar

Fifteen years ago, driving past a solar panel-equipped building might have been a surprising sight. These days, renewable energy is everywhere—from spraw...

Solving the solar equation: how photovoltaic systems work

The logic behind photovoltaic (PV) energy, commonly known as solar energy, makes sense. But how do PV systems work in a business context? Are they reliable...

With almost four decades of experience, IBEW Local 134 electrician Shirley Williams-Mayes is leaving a legacy of encouragement

For 36-year electrician Shirley Williams-Mayes, working in construction and following in the footsteps of her father, a union carpenter, was a no-brainer.

Powering Chicago Signatory Contractors recognized for their Commitment to Safety

We are pleased to congratulate over two dozen Powering Chicago Electrical Contractors who were honored last week for their commitment to safety in construc...

Go behind the scenes at Oracle Industry Lab to see how drones are improving efficiency and saving money for construction projects

It’s a bird, it’s a plane,.. No, it’s a drone. As contractors aim to increase efficiency and decrease project costs, drones are becoming commonplace ...

Karen Burton: CEO at Nesko Electric and A Female Leader in Chicago’s Electrical Industry

Karen Burton started her career in the electrical industry at Nesko Electric Company, a Design-Build Electrical Contractor based in Broadview, Illinois.

The Power of Better episode 4 showcases how robots and drones are making work safer, more efficient and more profitable

Episode 4 of The Power of Better series brings viewers to

Nonprofit organization, Toy Box Connection, impacts families with the help of volunteers and local unions

In 2008, Michelle Maxia founded Toy Box Connection with the prima...

For Black-owned electrical contractor Simply E&C, business success and community involvement go hand in hand

Brenda Payne wasn’t surprised when her son Calvin Payne, a union electrician, expressed interest in starting a signatory electrical contracting business....

Powering Chicago Returns as Premier Sponsor of the 2023 Chicago Auto Show

Visit the Powering Chicago EV Learning Center for expert answers on all EV-charging questions plus a chance to win an EV charger

From innovative technology to new electrical code initiatives, Episode 3 of The Power of Better sets its sights on the future

Episode three of The Power of Better, Powering Chicago’s YouTube series, focuses on the future of the electrical industry. Viewers follow along as the Po...

IBEW Local 134 joins Lakeside Alliance to host a hands-on ‘day in the trades’ for high school students at the Obama Presidential Center Project Site

Showing their dedication to building better communities and better careers for Chicago’s youth, Powering Chicago’s members recently teamed up with

Army Infantryman to Vice President of Operations at John Burns: Shane Higgins’s Story

Training, discipline, and accountability are important attributes for those in the electrical industry. They're also foundational attributes for those serv...

Midwest Interstate Electrical Construction Co. brightens the holiday season for families of fallen Chicago Police Department officers

Each year the Chicago Police Memorial

Powering Chicago Members Help Medical Center Achieve Sustainability Goals

In the second episode of The Power of Better — the new YouT...

IBEW Local 134 apprentice Alyssa Cruz is breaking barriers for women in the electrical trade

It’s not everyday you get a call from the White House inviting you to introduce the President of the United States. But that’s exactly what happened fo...

Powering Chicago Holiday Lights Campaign to Brighten the Holidays for The Andrew Weishar Foundation

As the presenting sponsor for the City of Chicago’s Christmas Tree in Millennium Park, we know how much a stunning holiday lights display can fill all wh...

Powering Chicago Lights Up the Holidays with Presentation of the 109th Chicago Tree Lighting Ceremony

‘Tis the season of giving: Powering Chicago also launches Holiday Lights campaign on Giving Tuesday, benefiting local families battling cancer

Supporting Those Who Serve: IBEW Local 134 Recognizes Jack Campbell

Many young boys want to be firemen, astronauts or race car drivers when they grow up. Not Jack Campbell — now a IBEW Local 134 organizer/business represe...

The Second Episode of Powering Chicago’s YouTube Show, “The Power of Better” Launching on Nov. 16

Episode two of Powering Chicago’s new YouTub...

First Episode of “The Power of Better” Explores Advances in Prefabrication

In the first episode of "The Power of Better," Powering Chicago’s new YouTube series, we explore prefabrication, or prefab, and how local electrical cont...

iPower Electric’s inspiring path to becoming the first Arab American-owned IBEW Local 134 signatory contractor

“Anything negative, or bad, or hard that happens… try to see the positive of it, because it’ll motivate you to fulfill your dreams.” For as long as...

Gov. J.B. Pritzker Shares Congratulations for Taylor Electric at Recent Centennial Celebration

At a recent event to celebrate Taylor Electric Company’s 100 years in business, Gov. J.B. Pritzker commended ...

Powering Chicago teams up with Chicago Builds to train the next generation of apprentices 

With school, work and family pressures to contend with, for many Chicago Public Schools (CPS) students, pursuing a position in industries like construction...

Powering Chicago Launching New YouTube Show, The Power of Better

Powering Chicago is launching a new YouTube series called The Power of Better on Monday, October 17. Hosted by Powering Chicago’s Executive Director, Elb...

Back to Trade School: Powering Chicago Prepares Students to Fill In-Demand Renewable Energy Careers

CHICAGO (September 29, 2022) – As Chicagoland students settle into their back-to-school routines, Powering Chica...

Powering Chicago Executive Director Elbert Walters III to talk recruitment and retention at RE+ energy show

For employers who work in the unionized electrical industry and other clean energy sectors, hiring and retaining top-tier talent can be a challenge. To add...

Chicago Automobile Trade Association Names Powering Chicago as Premier Sponsor of Its First-Ever “Chicago Drives Electric” EV Test Drive and Educational Event

OAKBROOK TERRACE, ILL. (September 14, 2022) – The Chicago Automobile Trade Ass...

Is the “EV Boom” Here? Predicting When Electric Cars Will Take Over

Five percent. That’s the portion of the public that owned a smartphone before mass market adoption became inevitable. Now, electric vehicles (EV) are rea...

Finding an Electrical Contractor with the Highest Commitment to Safety

When it’s your job to source electrical contractors, you know that safety is a top priority. But how do you find a safe electrical contractor that has th...

Powering Chicago is included in initial cohort of US Department of Labor Apprenticeship Ambassadors

Powering Chicago is proud to be included in the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) initial cohort of 207

How to Determine an Electrical Contractor’s Quality and Value

While some contractors promise the moon and the stars, not all deliver on their promises. One of the most difficult parts is assessing the quality of work ...

The First Step to Finding a Qualified Electrical Contractor

If you’re reading this, you know that finding a qualified, reliable, specialty electric contractor in Chicago can be tricky and time consuming. If you’...

Simplify Finding Expert Electrical Contractors in Chicago and Cook County

Are you struggling with electrical contractors that are resistant to sharing budget details? Maybe a contractor is insisting that you provide a large depos...

Powering Chicago Executive Director Elbert Walters III is speaking on panel about the future of mobility and EV charging

On Tuesday, June 7 from 10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Powering Chicago’s Executive Director Elbert Walters III is representing the region’s union electrical co...

Powering Chicago Earns Three Stevie Awards® For Marketing Success

Powering Chicago is proud to announce its recognition for advancing the unionized electrical industry through its acquisition of three silver

President and CEO of The BarTech Group, Crain’s Chicago Recognizes Dwayne Barlow as Notable Executive Of Color

It’s no secret that Dwayne Barlow was born with an entrepreneurial spirit. From starting an independent DJ business in college to buying out an independe...

From Headstrong Daughter To Dedicated Mother: Leading Hard Rock Concrete Cutters Toward Success

Growing up in and around her family’s company, the new president of Chicago concrete cutting company,

EC&M Podcast Hosts In-Tech Director Gene Kent and Apprentice Vickie Svoboda to Discuss How the Program is Preparing Skilled Tradespeople for Renewable Energy Careers

In the latest episode of its “On Air” podcast, IBEW-NECA Technical Institute (IN-Tech) Director Gene Kent and Vickie Svoboda, a fourth-year apprentice ...

Powering Chicago Q1 Recap: Electric Vehicles Fuel Growing EV Charging Infrastructure Demand

The end of 2021 saw Illinoisans recognizing the growing demand for e...

Creating Community with the Sisters of IBEW Local 134

When asked how she’d describe her association with the

From Barber to Chief Operating Officer: Carrie Liberio of High Voltage Electric Inspires Women to Follow Their Dreams

With a background as a barber and as a groundsman electrician, Chief Operating Officer of

Powering Chicago is an Official Partner of the Chicago Red Stars Professional Women’s Soccer Team

Powering Chicago is proud to announce its official partnership with the

Low Voltage Solutions Offers One-Stop-Shop Solutions with a Family-Oriented Approach

For some contractors, their team of tradesmen and industry professionals are like family. For others, their colleagues are family. Over the past t...

5 Featured EV Charging Station Installation Projects

Powering Chicago’s member contractors have been installing public and private electric vehicle (EV) chargers throughout Chicago since 2008.

The Top Two Reasons Why Powering Chicago Excels at EV Charger Installation

Are you starting to think about Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) – also known as EV charging stations or charging docks – for your business or ...

A Step-by-Step Guide to Install Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

Before installing Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE), commonly called charging stations or charging docks, it’s important to plan your approach.&nb...

EV Charging Stations Provide Key Business Benefits

A combination of federal and state tax breaks are aimed at incentivizing consumers to purchase more electric vehicles (EVs) and install EV charging station...

Various Forces Enabling Electric Vehicle Charging Growth

If you look around Chicago, you may notice more electric vehicles (EVs) driving on the streets, EV charging stations being installed, and Chicago Transit A...

New E-book Explores Electrical Vehicle Charging Station Installation

You may have noticed the increase of electrical vehicles driving around lately, and as a result the increase of electrical vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) ...

Powering Chicago is Premier Sponsor of the Chicago Auto Show

For more than a century, the Chicago Auto Show has showcased countless innovations that push the...

Providing Power For A Family In Need: Powering Chicago’s 2022 MLK Day of Service

Every year, Cook County’s unionized electrical industry looks to recognize the legacy and contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by hosting a commu...

Powering Chicago to Discuss Development Trends at Chicago 2022 Forecast

Powering Chicago Executive Director Elbert Walters III will speak during a Bisnow panel discussion on the promising development and investment trends that ...

Malko Communications Services Prioritizes Service and Innovation to Address Customer Needs

Spending the first 13 years of his career at a wireless design and management company, where he interfaced with electrical contractors to implement communi...

Hard Work Pays Off as IBEW Local 134 Apprentice Chris Brieschke Wins 2021 IDEAL Team Competition

You’d be hard-pressed to find an electrical apprentice that’s more dedicated to professional excellence than second-year IN-Tech apprentice Chris Bries...

Powering Chicago Q4 Recap: Industry Caps 2021 with Chicago Christmas Tree Lighting

This past year brought familiar challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as new opportunities for Powering Chicago to build upon its better co...

IN-Tech Shows Dr. Jill Biden, Governor Pritzker, and Mayor Lightfoot How It Trains Apprentices for the Workforce

Chicago and the state of Illinois are in need of more skilled workers, including electricians.

Powering Chicago Holiday Lights Campaign to Brighten the Holidays for Connections for Abused Women and their Children Families (CAWC)

As the presenting sponsor for the City of Chicago’s Christmas Tree in Millennium Park, we know how much a stunning holiday lights display can fill all wh...

M.T. Kelley Electric and Powering Chicago Help Light the Millennium Park and Michigan Avenue Christmas Trees

Vince Kelley’s family has been part of the union since the 1950s. Starting as a “bungalow buster” electrician, Vince’s dad founded M.T. Kelley Elec...

Powering Chicago a Presenting Sponsor for City of Chicago’s 2021 Christmas Tree

Chicago’s “official” Christmas tree, the 108th Annual City of Chicago Christmas Tree in Millennium Park, will shine brightly near ...

Powering Chicago Q3 Recap: Industry’s Commitment to Better Communities on Full Display

At the heart of Cook County’s unionized electrical industry are three key principles that drive the day-to-day operations of Powering Chicago and its mem...

Powering Chicago Sponsors STEM Competition at IN-Tech

The STEM Competition at In-Tech will be held on Tuesday, September 14. The event, developed by IN-Tech, sponsored by Powering Chicago and in conjunction wi...

Powering Chicago Featured on Electrical Construction & Maintenance (EC&M) Podcast

Powering Chicago Executive Director Elbert Walters III and Executive Vice President of the Electrical Contractor Association of Chicago and Cook County Mar...

Elbert Walters III Discusses the Future of the Chicago Suburbs at Recent Bisnow Panel

Powering Chicago’s Executive Director Elbert Walters III recently spoke on a panel titled “Back to the Suburbs,” discussing trends that happened due ...

Q&A With John Keenor of Global Experience Specialists at the Renowned Chicago Auto Show

When the Chicago Auto Show announced their reopening in 2021, no one knew what that was going to look like. What safety protocols would there be? Would ven...

Join the We Are Powering Chicago Social Media Campaign for a Chance to Be Featured in a Chicago Sun-Times Ad

To show Chicago and Cook County the faces of union electrical members who have kept Chicago moving forward before, during, and after the pandemic, today we...

Powering Chicago Executive Director Elbert Walters III to be Featured Panelist in Bisnow’s Future of the Chicago Suburbs Event

Powering Chicago Executive Director Elbert Walters III will be a featured panelist in the Bisnow Future of the Chicago Suburbs event on July 22. Register f...

How touchless technologies will help get Chicagoans back to work in-person

Between March 2020 and today, so much has changed. We now understand how COVID-19 spreads and how we mitigate that risk. Initially, we were feverishly wash...

The Contactless Office: Powering Chicago to a Safer Workplace in the COVID-19 World

At the beginning of 2020, the local commercial real estate market was booming. There were

Jamerson & Bauwens Donates Their Time and Talents to Lincoln Square Non-Profit Organization

Located in Lincoln Square, Gateway to Learning is a community day service for adults with intellectual challenges and developmental disabilities. With the ...

Two ECA Members Recognized as 2021 Crain’s Notable Women in Construction and Design

Powering Chicago congratulates Katie Canino, President of Canino Electric, and Kendra Dinkins, President and CEO ...

Mother’s Day Feature: Bea Thompson is Paying it Forward for the Future

Bea Thompson has never been uncomfortable being one of the only women in the room, in fact, she often is. She’s a mother to two grown stepsons and was th...

ECA Members Honored With 2021 NECA Safety Awards

Kicking off National Electrical Safety Month, Powering Chicago congratulates the Electrical Contractors Association of City of Chicago members who are bein...

John Burns Construction Company Leads First-of-its-Kind Project, Upgrading Chicago to LED Street Lighting

Powering Chicago contractors deliver better construction throughout the City of Chicago and suburban Cook County day in and day out, 365 days per year. An ...

Solutions for Restaurant Owners to Improve the Safety of Indoor Dining

With restaurants reopening with limited capacity, now is the time to invest in health and safety electrical modifications to prepare for a gradually increa...

Powering Chicago Supports Vaccination Clinic Partnership for Critical Union Essential Workers

April 16, 2021 (Chicago, IL) - Powering Chicago, which represents a partnership of the Electric...

One Year Later: Powering Chicago’s Commitment to Building Back Chicago Remains Strong

Last year brought unprecedented challenges and upheaval to nearly every sector of the economy, including the construction and union electrical industry in ...

Carole Pollitz on Breaking Barriers and Training Future Female Leaders

Breaking barriers wasn’t always in Carole Pollitz’s DNA. Before she became one of very few female apprentices at IBEW Local 134, she tried a more tradi...

Expanding Access to Vocational Training Must Start in Schools

Crain’s recently published a story (“Not every job require...

Moran Electrical Contracting Celebrates Almost Three Decades of Female Leadership in a Competitive Industry

Eileen Moran and her husband, Jim, didn’t start out wanting to be entrepreneurs in the electrical construction industry. However, when the opportunity pr...

IBEW Local 134 Helping Hand Fund Featured on ABC 7 Chicago

The “Brotherhood” in International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) reminds all members, brothers and sisters alike, that if they are a member,...

A Look Back on How The Paddy’s Day Luncheon Started

It was the early 1950s when a group of seven electrical industry salesmen got together to celebrate their friend Frank Cummins’ birthday. Frank’s birth...

Aldridge Electric Installs Charging Systems for Chicago’s All-Electric Buses

The City of Chicago made a commitment in 2019 for all Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) buses to be electric vehicles by 2040. Three new charging sta...

Black History Month Feature: Michael Evans & Evans Electric

Michael Evans, the managing member of Evans Electric, LLC, never thought...

An Abridged History of Black Membership in IBEW Local 134

In his thesis while attending the National Labor College, now retired IBEW Local 134 Vice President Russell Ponder wrote about Michael Boyle, one of Local ...

Black History Month Feature: LiveWire Construction’s Shon Harris & Angela Drexel

Shon Harris and Angela Drexel decided to take a leap of faith when they stopped working for others and founded

Powering Chicago Tackles New Rush University Hospital Cancer Center

Just east of Rush University Hospital between Congress and Harrison Streets, ...

Living Smart: Building the Cities of Tomorrow Webinar Recap

As the world begins to negotiate a world in which COVID-19 is less of a threat, it is undeniable that the effect the global pandemic has had on every indus...

How Dave D’Amico and ICT are Powering Sustainable Properties & Better Careers Through Building Automation

In 1995, Integrated Control Technologies, LLC (ICT) Vice President Dave D’Amico didn’t know...

Powering Chicago Member Completes Major Office Buildout at Chicago’s Northern Trust Building

When Northern Trust called Powering Chicago member KB Advanced Technologies (KBAT), a Newport Industries company, about a massive building overhaul, KBAT P...

Powering Chicago to Host Panel Discussion During Midwest Build Week Online

COVID-19 has demonstrated the limitations of the current built environment in managing health and safety, and one of the responses has been to embrace tech...

Chatham Walmart Reopens Thanks to Powering Chicago Members

Back in May, during the unrest following the murder of George Floyd, a Chicagoland Walmart on the city’s South Side was set ablaze. The

Powering Chicago to Speak at Bisnow’s Chicago 2021 Economic and Political Forecast

Like many of the country's largest cities, Chicago has been hit hard by the pandemic. With most companies still working from home and virtually no tourism,...

Taylor Electric Company President/CEO Kendra Dinkins Joins NECA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force

On December 18, 2020, the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) announced the formation of a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) Task F...

Powering Chicago Director Elbert Walters III to Speak at RE Journals’ 19th Annual Commercial Real Estate Forecast Conference

On Thursday, January 7, Powering Chicago Director Elbert Walters III will join a panel at RE Journals' 19th Annual Commercial Real Estate Forecast Conferen...

Powering Chicago Campaign Lights Up the Holidays for Chicago-area Ronald McDonald House Families

It’s just not Christmas without the lights. Unfortunately, not everyone is able to decorate their own home or get out to enjoy others’ holiday lights. ...

Powering Chicago Members Recognized for Work on CISCO’s Top 2020 Construction Projects

Each year, the Construction Service Industry Corporation (CISCO) recognizes the top construction in the Chicago area with its

Contractor Spotlight: Tom Rivi and G&M Electrical Contractors

G&M Electrical Contractors is celebrating its 75th year in busines...

Powering Chicago Partners with Other Members of Electrical Industry to Brighten Holidays for Chicago Families Experiencing Homelessness

Powering Chicago and its partners in the electrical industry helped brighten the holiday season in recent days for families experiencing homelessness w...

‘Socks for Soldiers’ Program Donates Essentials to Jesse Brown VA Medical Center

Despite the unique challenges posed by COVID-19 this year, IBEW Local 134 me...

Powering Chicago Delivers Year-End Message to its Membership

Powering Chicago members from IBEW Local 134 and the

Powering Chicago Launches Holiday Lights Campaign to Brighten the Holiday Season for Ronald McDonald House Families

As the presenting sponsor for the City of Chicago’s Christmas Tree in Millennium Park, we know well the potential of a stunning holiday lights display to...

From Stocks and Bonds to a Hard Hat and Wire: Lynn Meersman’s Pursuit of a Better Career in Metro Chicago’s Unionized Electrical Industry

As the Vice President of Estimating and Procurement for Libertyville, Illinois-based

All Tech Energy Powers 107th Chicago Christmas Tree

Over the past 106 years, the official City of Chicago Christmas tree has undergone a number of changes. In the early years, like Christmas Eve 1913 when Ch...

Powering Chicago Member Joins Climate Jobs Illinois Coalition

IBEW Local 134 Business Representative and IREC Certified Master Trainer ™ PV Bob Hattier joins coalition advocating for a pro-worker, pro-climate ag...

Chicago’s Unionized Electrical Industry Continues Outreach to Minority Communities During National Apprenticeship Week

Powering Chicago, the labor-management partnership between the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)

Frank Cunningham’s Lifelong Appreciation for Service: From the U.S. Army to IBEW Local 134

In 1972, the Vietnam War was winding down after close to 10 years of active conflict, but it wasn’t over yet and an 18-year-old Frank Cunningham had seen...

Honoring Those Who Served for Veterans Day 2020: Joseph Wells

As a high school football player, Joseph Wells harbored ambitions of athletic stardom but had an appreciation for blue collar work as a student at Simeon V...

From the Vietnam War to the Unionized Electrical Industry: The Career Path of Dave Runnells

In the spring of 1968, the USS America CVA 66 departed Norfolk, Virginia en route to Vietnam to assist American troops who were fighting during the Vietnam...

Powering Chicago Celebrates National Apprenticeship Week 2020

Powering Chicago is proud to celebrate Nati...

Powering Chicago a Presenting Sponsor for City of Chicago’s 2020 Christmas Tree

Though holiday festivities this year will be different than in year's past because of the pandemic, one thing is certain: the 107th "official" Christmas tr...

Powering Chicago Participates in Roundtable on Contactless Office Campaign

Powering Chicago Director, Elbert Walters III, recently participated in a roundtable discussion on the

Better Careers in the Unionized Electrical Industry Featured in Crain’s Chicago Business’ Special Section

For

Powering Chicago Featured in Fall 2020 Edition of Design Develop Construct Journal

Powering Chicago is featured in the current edition of DDC Journal in a...

How a Google Search Led to a Better Career in the Union Electrical Industry: Emma Williams’ Story

In the years after graduating from Chicago’s Lane Tech High School, Emma Williams was at loose ends and unsure of what she wanted to do with her life. By...

New Card Readers Could Help with COVID-19 Contact Tracing

At the Blue Cross Blue Shield building d...

Hometown Heroes: Jamerson & Bauwens

With little capacity to provide clients with intellectual challenges and developmental disabilities with critical services in a virtual setting, the nonpro...

The Future of Work Webinar Recap

While it remains to be seen what the ultimate impact of COVID-19 on the construction and real estate industries will be, it is undeniable that it has broug...

Windy City Electrified: Engine Company 115 Fire Station

Powering Chicago contractors deliver better construction throughout the City of Chicago and suburban Cook County day in and day out, 365 days per year. Sev...

Windy City Electrified: Countryside Municipal Complex

Powering Chicago contractors deliver better construction throughout the City of Chicago and suburban Cook County day in and day out, 365 days per year. Sev...

Windy City Electrified: Navy Pier

Powering Chicago contractors deliver better construction throughout the City of Chicago and suburban Cook County day in and day out, 365 days per year. Sev...

‘Power to the People’ is Far More Than a Tagline for Chicago-Based Electrical Contractor Spurlock and Son

In 1998, after getting out of the Army and learning how to perform electrical work in a subsequent job, Terrell Spurlock had a vision and the skills needed...

Powering Chicago Director Elbert Walters III to Speak at Chicagoland Asset, Property, Facility Management Virtual Summit

In a rapidly changing environment caused by COVID-19, property managers are faced with a host of new challenges every day. Among the most pressing is what ...

Linear Electric’s Robert Fimbianti to Speak at RE Journals’ 17th Annual CIP Industrial Summit

A Fascination with Electrical Work and a Desire for Professional Freedom Leads to the Creation of RTG Electric Corporation

Growing up, Randy Green knew he wanted to have the chance to control his own destiny instead of spending his life working for other people. He also had two...

Taylor Electric’s Fourth Generation Carries on the Legacy of a Name You Can Trust in Electrical Construction

According to a Harvard Business Review

The Future of Work: Leveraging Technology for Safer Built Environments in the COVID-19 Era

While it remains to be seen what the ultimate impact of COVID-19 on the construction and real estate industries will be, it is undeniable that it has broug...

An Entrepreneurial Spirit Helps Power The BarTech Group’s Growth in Chicagoland’s Electrical Construction Industry

For more than five years, Dwayne Barlow put to...

Chicago Fire Department’s Engine Company 115 Turns to Powering Chicago for Solar Energy Safety Training

Solar energy offers a variety of benefits, not least of which is an environmentally friendly and renewable source of power. Thanks to a statewide renewable...

Powering Chicago to Participate in Crain’s Chicago Business Discussion on Post-COVID-19 Workplace Safety

As people begin to return to their offices post-COVID-19, there will be a new normal. Social distancing and other precautions will likely be mandatory in w...

The Post-COVID-19 Workplace: Safety and Productivity in a New Normal

As people begin to return to their offices post-COVID-19, there will be a new normal. Social distancing and other precautions will likely be mandatory in w...

Diversifying the Workload

Written by William Atkinson, this story was originally published in the July 2020 issue of Electrical Contractor Magazine

Chicago Deep Dish: The Construction Labor Shortage – What Can Be Done About Skilled Labor Shortages and Rising Construction Costs?

On Thursday, July 30, Powering Chicago's Director, Elbert Walters, will join leaders from skilled labor to discuss the construction labor shortage and what...

The Contactless Office: Powering Chicago to a Better Workplace in the COVID-19 World

At the beginning of this year, the local commercial real estate market was booming. There were

Powering Chicago Contractor Provides Pro Bono Electrical Work to Expand Self-Help Closet & Pantry of Des Plaines

With elevated unemployment rates and a host of economic challenges caused by COVID-19, food pantries around the country are serving as a critical stop-gap ...

Powering Chicago Quarterly Recap: Metro Chicago’s Unionized Electrical Industry Steps Up in Response to COVID-19

Powering Chicago’s second quarter saw the industry weather significant challenges brought about by the COVID-19 outbreak, while still providing Chicago a...

How Offices Can be Adapted to Safely Reopen and Power a Resurgence in Chicago’s Commercial Real Estate Market

Absent a vaccine or effective treatment method for COVID-19, a resurgence in the commercial real estate market in urban centers like Chicagoland depends up...

Powering Chicago’s Apprenticeship Implements New Protocols to Keep Industry Safe

Much of the state’s economy ground to a halt in March and April due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the exception of health care workers, police and fire,...

Two Powering Chicago Contractors Inducted into 2020 Academy of Electrical Contracting

NECA has announced the inductees for the 2020

Super Electric’s Industrial Troubleshooting Expertise at Core of Multi-Decade Partnership with Wheatland Tube

Wheatland Tube began manufacturing steel pipe and tube in 1931, and for almost half of its time in existence, the company’s Chicago plant has relied on Powering Chicago member Super Electric to meet its electrical needs....

Multiple Generations of Cruz Family Help Power Chicago’s Unionized Electrical Industry

In 1988, Italian writer and philosopher Umberto Eco wrote, “what we become depends on what our fathers teach us.” While this may be somewhat oversimpli...

Powering Chicago to Host Webinar Examining CRE Adaptations Amid COVID-19

Absent a vaccine or effective treatment method for COVID-19, a resurgence in the commercial real estate market amidst the pandemic in urban centers like Ch...

Industrial Spotlight: How Sharlen Electric Keeps One of the United States’ Largest Water Treatment Plants Running Smoothly

Tens of billions of gallons of water are processed at treatment facilities in the United States each day, providing businesses and consumers with water tha...

Powering Chicago Member Aldridge Electric Helps Maintain Metro Chicago’s Power Grid with Better Construction at Electrical Substations

In recent months as millions of Americans have sheltered in place, the importance of a stable power supply has become crystal clear. With the vast majority...

Maintaining Chicagoland’s Food Supply: How DualTemp Clauger’s Electrical Services Keep Industrial Plants and Distribution Centers Running Smoothly

In the past week, troubling news reports have surfaced about

Powering Chicago Celebrates Mother’s Day: Jessica Laudando’s Story

For many years, careers in the trades were predominantly filled by men and, while women on the front lines have long contributed to the electrical industry...

IBEW Local 134 Fourth-Year Apprentice Uses 3D Printer to Make Protective Masks

Powering Chicago fourth-year apprentice Sammy Cozzo wanted to try something different with his 3D printer when he saw there was a local and national shorta...

IBEW Local 134 Electrician Highlighted in Al Jazeera America Story About Essential Workers

IBEW Local 134 electrician Beatrice Thompson was recently featured in an

Powering Chicago Featured in Chicago Sun-Times ‘Working Through’ Series

Powering Chicago Director Elbert Walters was featured in the

IBEW Local 134’s Don Finn Interviews on WVON and WGN Radio

IBEW Local 134 Business Manager Don Finn recently interviewed on Chicago radio stations

Powering Chicago Members Provide Much Needed PPE to Frontline COVID-19 Responders

Across the United States and in Chicagoland, those on the frontlines in the fight against COVID-19 are in need of personal protective equipment (PPE) to he...

Quick Work by Gus Berthold Electric and Powering Chicago Electricians Ensures McCormick Place Power Needs are Met

As the COVID-19 outbreak spread across the country in March, it became increasingly clear that Illinois’ hospitals would not be capable of sustaining a m...

‘NECA Safety Stand Down’ Set for April 29

NECA is inviting all member contractors and personnel to participate in a Safety Stand Down for the COVID-19 Pandemic. How can you help? Keep workers safe ...

Staying Power: Taylor Electric’s Methods for Continuing Success

As one of Chicago’s oldest family-owned electrical contractors, Taylor...

Powering Chicago Quarterly Recap

Powering Chicago electricians and contractors were hard at work in 2019 investing in better construction to reimagine Chicago’s iconic skyline and help p...

Hypower Electric Helps Achieve Area’s First Net Zero Municipal Building

Earlier this year, city officials in Countryside celebrated the opening of the

Chicagoland’s Unionized Electrical Industry Steps Up Efforts to Support Community During COVID-19 Outbreak

CHICAGO, IL -- As the Chicago metro area mounts an increasingly aggressive response to contain the spread of COVID-19 and mitigate its effect on the regio...

Powering Chicago Members Help IBEW Local 134 Retirees During COVID-19 Outbreak

There’s a reason that when someone joins a union like IBEW Local 134 they ...

Addressing Underrepresentation in Trade Apprenticeships Requires Industrywide Action

In February, Crain's Chicago Business posted

30+ Years of Better Construction as One of the Trailblazing Women in the Chicago Electrical Industry

In 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed a series of executive orders designed to promote equal employment opportunity. While these official actions led in...

Powering Chicago Provides Free Training on Solar Panel Safety to Chicago Area Fire Departments

Provided as a community service for first responders, firefighters from 12 suburban municipalities have co...

Powering Chicago Donates $25,000 to Ronald McDonald House Charities Hit Hard by COVID-19

COVID-19 has forced nearly every industry to adjust and adapt as the world works to fight off a global pandemic that has impacted everyone’s daily life i...

Roundtable on Commercial Real Estate

Emerging technologies such as drones, cloud services and artificial intelligence (AI) are transforming the construction process via reduced costs, increase...

Powering Chicago Members Proudly Display Their Irish Heritage

In the mid-1800s following the great famine, millions of Irish immigrants settled in North America in the hopes of finding good-paying, steady jobs. This l...

Leveraging Technology Innovation to Deliver Better Construction

It’s undeniable that the unionized electrical industry in Chicago and across the country is changing rapidly. New tools and technologies are shaping the ...

New Gallup Poll Shows Increased Support for Labor Unions

A new Gallup poll shows Americans have a 64 pe...

Powering Chicago Provides Path to Electrical Industry Through Chicago Builds Program

This program is fully funded by Powering Chicago's unionized contractors and electricians and aims to introduce CPS students all across Chicago to the electrical industry....

Better Construction. Better Careers. Better Communities. Redefining Powering Chicago’s Core Values for 2020 and Beyond

The past 12 months have been marked by exponential growth for the unionized electrical industry in metro Chicago. From soaring high-rises downtown to spraw...

IBEW Local 134 Union Hall Wins Two Design Awards

The IBEW Local 134 Union Hall has won two design awards from the American Institute of Architects Northeast Illinois Chapter 2019 Design Awards. The Hall t...

Powering Chicago Hosts Technology Demos at Electric Association Trade Show

Powering Chicago attended last week's Electric Association Trade Show and provide attendees with live technology demonstrations from Trimble, Milwaukee Too...

Powering Chicago Brings Together Industry Experts for Technology Demonstrations at 2020 EA Trade Show

Powering Chicago has brought together leading experts within the electrical technology field to provide demonstrations to attendees at the

Powering Chicago to Host Tech Demos at Electric Association’s Annual Conference

Powering Chicago is sponsoring the Electric Association’s 2020 Conference and Trade show and will have an exhibit space in the trade show running January...

Powering Chicago Opens its Doors to Host SOS Children’s Village Holiday Party

There might not be snow on the ground, but the holiday season was in full swing last week as nearly 60 children from the SOS Children’s Village had their...

Electrical Industry Comes Together for Christmas Party for Homeless Children

For the last 27 years, the Chicagoland electrical industry has joined forces in December to give homeless families a Christmas to remember through the Chic...

Powering Chicago Enters Partnership with U.S. Dept. of Labor to Promote Worker Safety

As part of OSHA’s Strategic Partnership Program, the partnersh...

It’s National Apprenticeship Week!

This week marks the Department of Labor's 5th annual National Apprenticeship Week (NAW), held November 11-17, 2019. ...

Powering Chicago Partners with Northwestern University Basketball for FUSE Donations

Powering Chicago, IBEW 134, and the Electrical Contractors’ Association of the City of Chicago will donate $10 to Fuse every time the Northwestern Men’s Basketball team records a defensive steal during the 2019-2020 season....

Powering Chicago Partners with Northwestern University Basketball for FUSE Donations

Powering Chicago, IBEW 134, and the Electrical Contractors’ Association of the City of Chicago will donate $10 to Fuse every time the Northwestern Men’s Basketball team records a defensive steal during the 2019-2020 season....

Powering Chicago Participates in Crain’s Chicago Business Facebook Live Event

Powering Chicago Executive Director, John Donahue, recently participated in a Facebook Live discussion hosted by Crain's Chicago Business....

Linear Electric’s Robert Fimbianti Honored with Electric Association Hall of Fame Induction

On Thursday night, the Chicagoland Electric Association will introduce two new members to its Hall of Fame: Mich...

Aldridge Electric Uses BIM Technology to Increase Project Efficiency

Utilizing BIM (Building Information Modeling) technologies and ...

Powering Chicago and Northwestern University Hold STEM Competition for High School Students

Roughly 160 students from 10 Chicagoland high schools competed in the all-day challenge...

Ronald McDonald House Reopens Thanks to Donations from Powering Chicago and Others

Powering Chicago members were proud to be on hand for Tuesday’s reopening ceremony and present the Ronald McDonald House with a check for nearly $85,000 to help cover a portion of the bills not covered by insurance....

Ronald McDonald House Reopens Thanks to Donations from Powering Chicago and Others

Powering Chicago members were proud to be on hand for Tuesday’s reopening ceremony and present the Ronald McDonald House with a check for nearly $85,000 to help cover a portion of the bills not covered by insurance. ...

St. Rita High School Starts Partnership With IBEW 134

On Wednesday, September 18, St. Rita High School partnered up with the

Lincoln Common Opens on Site of Former Lurie Children’s Hospital

When Lurie Children’s, formerly Children’s Memorial Hospital, left its post after 75 years in Chica...

Two Hundred Apprentices Graduate from IBEW-NECA Training Facility

Congratulations to the Class of 2019! The Apprenticeship Graduation and Dinner Dance was held Saturday at the IBEW 134 /...

James J. McGlynn Awarded 2019 Abraham Lincoln Leadership Award

The National El...

Chicago’s Third Tallest High-Rise Tops Out, On Schedule for 2020 Completion

It was nearly three years in the making, but in Spring 2019, some 1,191 feet high in the sky, the 101st and final floor at Chicago’s soaring

IIT Student Chapter Takes Second in Green Energy Challenge

The IIT Student Chapter took home second place at the 2019

Powering Chicago Hosts SOS Children’s Village at Chicago White Sox Game

On Saturday, July 27, Powering Chicago hosted 50 children and foster parents from SOS Children's Village a...

Temporary Powerhouse: Taylor Electric Provides Temporary Power for Events

Every summer season, Taylor Electric Co. provides the power—all supplied by generators—that enable these events at northerly Island....

Powering Chicago Donates to Loan Fund for Minority Businesses

Powering Chicago donates $50,000 to first-of-its kind, cross-industry loan fund that will guarantee money for minority- and women-owned firms competing for work on The 78 project. ...

Kelso-Burnett Honored for NECA Project Excellence Awards

Powering Chicago member Kelso-Burnett was recognized as one of 17 contractors for the NECA 2019 Project Excellence Awards for its work on the new Rock & Roll McDonald's in Chicago's River North neighborhood....

IIT Students Make ELECTRI International Green Energy Challenge

Congratulations to the NEC...

Hardt Electric Brings the Trade Show to its Employees

Each year the National Electrical Contractors’ Association (NECA) holds its annual trade show and convention....

Huen Electric Set to Light Up Sixth Tallest Building in Chicago

In late March, construction crews began the initial process of preparing the skyline-altering development, known officially as One Chicago, for construction....

Continental Electric Fuels Construction of Largest Data Center in Cook County

When planning a mission-critical, 300,000 square-foot data center in Cook County, more goes into it than just selecting the parcel of land....

Illinois Green Alliance Pushes for Sustainable Future

There’s a push across the country to incorporate more sustainable projects and more green energy into new construction in an effort to fight the growing threat of climate change....

Taylor Electric’s Expansion Fueled by Work at UChicago

Taylor Electric, a South Shore–based, black-owned electrical contracting f...

Powering Chicago Featured on ABC’s Built to Last

Powering Chicago members Gurtz Electric and Lyons & Pinner Electric were both recently featured on ABC-TV's Built to Last program. ...

McHugh Construction Delivers McDonald’s Headquarters That Helped Transform Chicago’s West Loop

The transformation of Chicago’s West Loop and the Fulton Market District has reenergized the city’s west side and provided sleek new offices and residential units for corporations and business professionals alike. ...

Continental Electric Helps Raise Over $1.7m for American Cancer Society

Through the eight years CEI has been around, the organization has raised $1.7 million for the American Cancer Society. Sometimes it takes a bit of bad news to begin years’ worth of good work....

ECA Members Honored with 2019 NECA Safety Recognition Award

Congratulations to the following ECA Members who are being honored with a 2019 NECA...

Special Olympics Use IBEW 134 Union Hall to Distribute Shirts for This Year’s Athletes

Inside the Terry Allen Community Center gymnasium at IBEW Local 134’s Union Hall, hundreds of boxes were sitting waiting to be picked up by coaches for this year’s Special Olym...

Roundtable on Building Chicagoland

Insights from Construction Industry Leaders...

Metal Construction Association honors two Chicago projects

The Metal Construction Association (MCA) acknowledged the IBEW Local 134 Headquarters/Union Hall and ...

See How One Community College Building Achieved the Highest LEED Certification

One would think that a building housing state-of-the-art lasers and technical labs would be the main highlight of the new Science and Engineering Building on the

Working Around the Animals at Lincoln Park Zoo to Build a New Visitors Center

Home to more than 1,100 mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians, over three million people flock to Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo each year....

Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) Prove to Be an Integral Part of Union Electrical Team Service Offerings

Thomas Pedergnana, Director of Wireless Networks, Malko Communication Services of Skokie, Illinois recently offered his insight on the opportunities and challenges of working on wireless construction projects....

West Loop Chicago Neighborhood Elementary School gets Extensive Overhaul

Block Electric, of Niles IL, is proud to have been the electrical contractor responsible for a four-story addition and partial renovation for Skinner West Elementary, located in Ch...

Local Union Electrical Contractor, Taylor Electric, Helps Southside Community at 5K Event

Kendra Dinkins, CEO of Taylor Electric, is thrilled about the company being a platinum sponsor of the 3rd...

Powering Chicago Helps Ensure Another Successful Auto Show

This year’s show had 2,272 light fixtures hanging from the ceiling in the south hall and another 2,174 hanging in the north. In addition, 20 video walls, 229 speakers, and 27,476 feet of lighting trusses hung from the rafters....

Lyons & Pinner Electric Keeps Lake Michigan Free of Asian Carp

During the height of the Chicago summer, as the waters warm and the boats begin to populate Lake Michigan and the surrounding Great Lakes, so too do Asian Carp, a nuisance species ...

LiveWire Vice President, Angela Drexel, Speaks Out About Life as a Woman Contractor in a Male-Dominated Electrical Industry

Speaking candidly, Angela Drexel, Vice President of LiveWire in Chicago, shared her inspiring story of hard work and determination in a male-dominated construction industry. “I ...

IBEW Local 134 Apprentice Joins Sen. Tammy Duckworth at 2019 State of the Union Address

For IBEW Local 134 third-year apprentice, Lily Wu, getting the call was surreal....

Chicago’s Grand Plan for O’Hare Expansion

Over the next eight years – and through $8.5 billion – Chicago is set to thrust O’Hare International Airport into the 21st century....

Building Commissioner Strengthens Chicago’s Construction Industry with New Electrical Code

If you take a walk through Chicago’s downtown streets, one thing is evident right away: the city is in the midst of a construction boom....

Ken Bauwens Inducted into Electric Association’s Hall of Fame

Cooperation and collaboration are two key attributes that have characterized Ken Bauwens’ successful career in the Chicago electrical industry. That’s obvious from the moment y...

Advent Systems Champions Accelerated Security System Integration for McDonald’s Headquarters

Mike Schwarz, Vice President of Operations and Ralph Scavone, Senior Project Manager of Elmhurst Illinois’

Canino Electric Assists with Installation of 25-ton Cyclotron for University of Chicago

Within the sub-basement of the Bernard Mitchell Hospital, encased in a six-foot concrete vault, lies one of the only operational cyclotrons in the United States belonging...

Malko Communication Services Powers Another Successful Lollapalooza

Thirteen years ago, Austin-based C3 Presents decided to plant

IIT Advances in NECA’s Annual Green Energy Challenge

Every August teams of students representing National Electrical Contractors’ Association (NECA) student chap...

Candor Electric Boosts Chicago Public Schools with Byrne Elementary Renovation

For Christopher Garza, IBEW Local 134 electrician and General Foreman for

Local 134 Highlighted in Three Built to Last Segments

Through our partnership with the Carpenter’s union, IBEW Local 134 was offered three segments on ABC’s B...

The Next Great Chicago Neighborhood

Many IBEW Local 134 electricians spend their entire careers bouncing from one jobsite to the next, coming in and...

Leading Engineering Firm Executive: Chicago is Open for Business

At WSP, one of the world’s largest engineering firms, designing and building transportation systems, and ic...

F.H. Paschen is Leading the Charge for the Next Generation of Construction Workers

For a company 100-plus years in the making, there isn’t a sector of the construction industry that F.H. Pasche...

Illinois Institute of Technology Wins 2018 NECA Student Chapter of the Year Award

Student leaders at the National Electrical Contractors Association’s chapter at the Illinois Institute of Technology...