How To Keep Solar Workers Safe In Extreme Heat
Originally published by Union of Concerned Scientists, The Equation.
By Adenike Adeyeye
Climate change-induced heat waves have been brutal across the country this summer, and perhaps paradoxically, the workers who are helping us avoid the worst of climate change are particularly at risk in this heat. Clean energy workers who are installing solar panels work outdoors and face high risk of heat stress when temperatures climb. At the same time, many of these workers are not a part of any union and do not have bargaining power to make sure they receive the workplace protections they deserve by law. Let’s take a look at how greater workplace protections, like unionization, would help these workers stay safe in extreme heat.
Outdoor solar workers make up the majority of a growing industry
The solar industry is growing across the board, given solar energy is one of the key tools in our race to blunt the effects of climate change. In 2020, 231,474 people were employed in the solar industry, and just 10% of those workers were part of a union. (This is similar to the economy-wide union rate: in 2019, 10.3% of all workers were union members.) The industry is projected to employ 400,000 workers by 2030. The Biden administration has prioritized clean energy jobs to revitalize a sluggish economy while mitigating the effects of climate change, and the Solar Foundation has estimated that reaching the goals of the Biden Administration’s clean energy standard would require 900,000 solar workers by 2035.
To narrow our focus down to outdoor workers, let’s look at the stats for workers in installation or construction related jobs in the solar industry. They make up 67% of all workers in the industry, or an estimated 154,610 jobs in 2020, and 11.7% of them were members of a union. If the industry grows to 900,000 workers by 2035 as the Solar Foundation estimates, that means more than 600,000 people in the solar industry will be working outdoors. If the proportion of unionized workers stays the same, approximately 70,500 outdoor workers will be unionized and over 530,000 outdoor workers will not be unionized.
While this blog assumes that installation and construction jobs are outdoors, they are not the only jobs that might take place outside. Some solar marketing jobs require workers to go door to door to sell homeowners on installing rooftop solar. There were 25,663 sales and distribution workers in 2020, but it is unclear what proportion of those people worked outdoors. Those door-to-door workers would also benefit from heat safety protections. Similarly, outdoor workers in other clean energy industries would also benefit from stronger workplace protections.
What outdoor heat protections do solar workers need?
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, lists extreme heat as one of the green job hazards that solar workers experience. As summer weather gets more and more extreme in the West and across the country, employers need to provide outdoor workers with schedule changes, personal protective equipment, hydration, and breaks necessary to keep them healthy. And shockingly, there are no federal laws requiring employers to offer these protections to workers. OSHA recommends, but does not require, limiting sun exposure during the most intense periods for UV radiation — from 10 am to 4pm — as well as working in the shade, taking frequent short breaks, and staying hydrated by drinking water frequently. Public health and workplace safety officials also recommend employers to give workers time to adjust to rising temperatures. This process is called acclimatization and it allows workers to work shorter or less intense shifts while their bodies get used to the heat.
Following the OSHA guidelines could be easier said than done for some outdoor solar workers, depending on their employers. To comply with these guidelines, employers will need to allow their employees to take breaks often. They will need to shift the workday to minimize the amount of work happening at the hottest times of day. They may need additional labor while workers acclimatize — the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health states that new workers should have no more than 20% exposure to heat (relative to a normal workday) on their first day at work, and the exposure can increase no more than 20% per day after that.
Employers’ responsibilities to keep the work environment safe grow as the heat index rises. When the heat index ranges from 103 to 115 degrees, OSHA categorizes the risk level as high and calls for employers to provide water, encourage employees to drink water frequently, have medical personnel on site or available within 3-4 minutes, and actively enforce frequent breaks to prevent heat stress. When the heat index is above 115 degrees, the OSHA risk level rises to “very high to extreme” and employers are supposed to reschedule any nonessential work to a cooler day. These precautions are necessary to protect workers’ health but also come at a cost to the employer and are not federally mandated. Safeguards are needed to make sure employers comply with their duty to protect workers, particularly when temperatures rise. There is a bill before Congress now, the Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness and Prevention Act, that would require OSHA to adopt true, enforceable heat protection standards — passage of this bill would go a long way toward protecting outdoor workers.
Adequate protection for solar workers is no small matter: heat stress is a dangerous, even deadly, job hazard for outdoor workers. There are dozens of fatalities every year due to heat stress or heat stroke from working in extreme heat, according to OSHA. Construction workers, like those who work to install solar panels, account for a significant portion of heat-related fatalities, as the infographic below shows.
Unionization and prevailing wage standards create safer workplaces
One way to protect workers across the board is unionization. Unions advocate on behalf of workers to ensure safe workplaces as well as fair compensation and benefits. Almost 90% of solar workers, however, are not unionized, as described above. Making unionization more widespread would require new approaches, such as incentives for project developers or policy changes like the PRO Act which was passed in the US House of Representatives in March.
Increased unionization in the solar industry could improve the quality of solar industry jobs in a variety of ways. Unionizing provides workers with bargaining power. That often translates to more accountability for employers, which can lead to safer workplaces. Say, for example, it’s a blisteringly hot day and the heat index is 105 degrees. According to OSHA, the supervisor at a job site installing solar panels should be actively encouraging workers to take frequent breaks when the heat index is that high. But these breaks are only mandated by law in a handful of states. And people aren’t perfect: even in states where breaks are required, the supervisor on that day may not be telling workers to take frequent breaks. Who is more likely to speak up and ask for the break they are legally entitled to? A worker who has the protection of a union or a worker who feels as if they could be replaced or let go?
In addition to unionization, there are other policies that can be used to improve job quality and safety for outdoor clean energy workers. A UC Berkeley report found that smaller scale, residential solar projects offer lower wages and fewer paths for career advancement than large-scale solar projects. The difference between the smaller scale and larger scale projects is that the larger scale projects are often required to use project labor agreements (PLAs). State law can direct or require PLAs for large-scale clean energy projects. PLAs are negotiated to provide livable wages, benefits, and safer workspaces. Like PLAs, community workforce agreements (CWAs) can help ensure that workers receive high quality, safe jobs and that employers prioritize local hiring and hiring from disadvantaged communities. Workers benefit when large scale solar projects use PLAs and CWAs, and smaller scale projects that typically are not held to PLAs and CWAs might be able to produce higher quality jobs by adopting similar standards for livable wages and benefits.
Lastly, prevailing wage standards also help empower workers and create higher quality jobs. Prevailing wage “establishes a wage floor for each occupation that all contractors on a project must pay at or above — typically set to reflect the average or market average for a given type of work in a given area.” Prevailing wage standards may also “require contributions to workers’ benefits such as healthcare, paid time off, retirement funds, and apprenticeship training.” Research from the UC Berkeley Labor Center has found that prevailing wage has minimal impacts on project cost while offering significant benefits via improved worksite productivity. While higher pay and better benefits is not directly tied to workplace safety, research suggests that states with prevailing wage laws report fewer construction injuries than those without prevailing wage laws. PLAs, CWAs, and prevailing wage agreements have helped make jobs safer and more lucrative for workers.
The solar industry is a critical sector in transitioning our economy from its reliance on fossil fuels to clean energy. The industry should serve as a model in how it protects its workers, especially as its ranks continue to grow and our summers get hotter and hotter. Policies designed to give outdoor workers the job protections they deserve should become the norm, rather than the exception, in the solar industry.
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In a record-setting deal worth billions, Chinese heavy equipment manufacturer XCMG has agreed to deliver more than 200 of its 240-tonne electric haul trucks to Australian mining giants Fortescue in one of the biggest moves yet to decarbonize mining.
From pioneering its “world’s first” best-practice model for smart mining at China Huaneng’s Yimin Mine and winning the 2025 Decarbonizing Mining Award to ranking among the world’s top four open-pit heavy equipment makers, XCMG is rapidly building a reputation for building high-quality electric equipment options that can do all the work without any of the emissions.
Earlier this week, XCMG joined Fortescue, one of the world’s largest iron ore producers, at a grand signing ceremony in Beijing for a strategic cooperation agreement on green mining equipment solutions. Under the terms of the new deal, XCMG will deliver up to 200 of its massive, 240T battery-electric haul trucks to Fortescue, beating a similar deal posted last year and marking China’s largest-ever export order for green mining machinery.
It’s also one of the largest-ever EV sales, period.
Big deal
Fortescue believes the deal isn’t just significant for its size and scope, but for building new global bridges in the quest for full decarbonization.
“The world once benefited from open trade and cooperation – now it is divided,” explains Fortescue Executive Chairman and Founder, Dr. Andrew Forrest. “Fortescue is showing that industry can help glue back that multilateral spirit. Not through rhetoric, but through practical alliances that prove heavy industry can follow a new path – one where profits rise as emissions fall.”
“China is scaling and manufacturing green technologies at unprecedented speed,” adds Forrest. “and “Our partnerships give Fortescue access to that capability.”
As for the trucks themselves, the new XCMG 240T electric haul trucks are absolute giants, built to handle payloads over 500,000 lbs., with a gross vehicle weight rating somewhat north of 380 (!) tonnes (that’s almost 420 Imperial tons, to you and me).
There’s enough power on tap from the big haul trucks’ 1,900 kW (2,550 hp) electric drive system to climb 17% grades and hit speeds up to 56 km/h (35 mph). That’s enough to make XCMG’s 240T one of the most powerful and capable EVs on the planet, slashing emissions without sacrificing hauling performance.
With Fortescue already saving hundreds of millions in fuel costs, this deal – big as it – is going to put an absolutely massive dent in global diesel demand.
SOURCES: Fortescue, Yahoo! Finance.
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![The Puckipuppy Labrador Pro is a full-suspension E-bike for everyone [Video]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/puckipuppy-header.jpg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
There are plenty of electric fat tire bikes on the market these days, but few feel as purpose-built and refined as the Puckipuppy Labrador Pro. While the name might sound like a friendly pooch, don’t let it fool you… this is a serious all-terrain machine with enough power to rip through sand, snow, or steep trails. Plus, if it can do all that, it can surely handle your commute, too!
Built for the wild (and the wild commute)
Right out of the gate, the Puckipuppy Labrador Pro feels like it’s aimed at a very specific type of rider – someone who wants the capability of an electric mountain bike, the stability of a fat tire cruiser, and the commuting chops of a Class 3 bike built for the streets.
That hybrid identity is reflected in the bike’s rugged 6061 aluminum frame, which includes internal cable routing for a clean look and a removable 48V 20Ah lithium-ion battery nestled into the downtube. The battery is locking and removable, offering a massive 960Wh of capacity. It claims up to 80 miles of range per charge under optimal conditions.
That’s quite respectable for a nearly 1 kWh battery powering a peak 1,350W hub motor!
Custom-motor muscle with real torque
Puckipuppy’s Labrador Pro isn’t running just any hub motor. This one’s a custom PUCKIPUPPY-branded unit, and it cranks out a claimed 1,350W of peak power. In addition to an extra helping of wattage, this thing delivers serious torque, and it delivers it instantly.
Thanks to the smart torque sensor, the motor responds immediately to how hard you’re pedaling. You don’t get that jarring “kick” from cadence-sensor bikes. Instead, the assist feels intuitive and fluid, even when climbing steep dirt paths or rolling over beach dunes.
It’s the kind of responsive pedaling experience that makes you forget you’re even riding an electric bike, at least until you realize you’re doing a solid 25 mph while barely breaking a sweat.
Suspension and traction dialed in
One of the standout features of the Labrador Pro is its full-suspension setup, which instantly sets it apart from most fat tire e-bikes in this price range. Up front, you’ve got a sturdy hydraulic suspension fork with 130mm of travel, while the rear features its own shock that smooths out bumps, roots, and rough terrain. Whether rolling over rocky trails or dropping curbs in the city, the dual suspension keeps the ride comfortable and under control.
That plush suspension pairs perfectly with the bike’s 26” x 4” all-terrain fat tires, which offer a massive contact patch and plenty of cushion. The bike can float over sand, gravel, and even loose pine-needle trails with zero drama. These tires aren’t limited to only off-road performance either. On pavement, they give the Labrador Pro a smooth, stable feel, especially when aired up to road pressure.
And when it comes time to slow things down, the 180mm hydraulic disc brakes give you reliable, confidence-inspiring stopping power, even on fast descents or in wet conditions.
Drivetrain and speed
Backing up the torque-heavy motor is a Shimano 8-speed drivetrain, which shifts smoothly and gives you enough range to ride comfortably even without assist. That’s especially nice when your battery gets low, or when you want to dial down the motor to extend your range on a long ride.
The Labrador Pro is also a Class 3 e-bike, meaning it provides pedal assist up to 28 mph. There’s also a left-side thumb throttle that can get you moving without pedaling at all, and it’s zippy – topping out around 20 mph on throttle alone. Combined, these modes make the Labrador Pro equally useful as a car-replacing commuter or a weekend trail shredder.
Looks and utility of the Puckipuppy Labrador Pro
The Puckipuppy Labrador Pro comes in four different colors, though the orange option here is definitely the brightest and the most fun, at least in our opinion. No matter your color, the integrated headlight and rear brake light are a nice touch for safety to help you be seen, especially for early morning or dusk rides.
It also includes front and rear fenders, which help when you’re splashing through mud or wet pavement, and a heavy-duty rear cargo rack. Plus, the bike supports up to 400 lb of payload. That makes this bike more than just a toy – it’s also a workhorse capable of hauling groceries, gear, or just about anything you can throw at it.
The full-color LCD display mounted on the handlebars gives you real-time readouts of speed, battery level, distance, and assist level. The control pad on the left is intuitive, and gives you all the info you need at a glance.
Final thoughts on the Puckipuppy Labrador Pro
The Puckipuppy Labrador Pro is a seriously capable all-terrain e-bike with great specs at a competitive price of just $1,599. For riders who want a go-anywhere, do-anything machine with torque-sensing pedal assist, fat tires, and real power under the hood, this is a compelling option.
It’s not the cheapest fat tire e-bike out there, but you don’t want the cheapest bike when you’re barrelling down a rocky trail. And when you consider the powerful motor, torque sensor, 960Wh battery, hydraulic brakes, and full commuter-ready features like fenders and a rack, it starts to look like a solid value.
Whether you’re carving through mountain trails, powering across sandy beaches, or just blasting past traffic on your way to work, the Labrador Pro brings its A game every time.
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Super73, the lifestyle e-bike brand known for its moto-inspired designs, just dropped a teaser that has fans buzzing… and scratching their heads. In a cryptic Instagram post, the company shared a silhouetted image of a new two-wheeled electric vehicle alongside the promise of unveiling “an entirely new generation of electric mobility” next month.
The official debut is set for October 11th at the Moto Beach Classic, and while details are scarce, the image and language give us a few key clues.
First, there are the visuals. The teaser image shows a chunky, fat-tire two-wheeler that looks like a departure from Super73’s current lineup. The frame appears heavily stylized with what may be body panels that cover part of the traditional bike silhouette in the rear, or perhaps just extra gussets on the frame. There’s no visible suspension, neither in the fork nor the rear triangle (in fact, there’s no rear triangle at all, opting for a classic mini-bike styled frame instead), suggesting this could be a rigid ride. That could point to a lightweight design or a retro mini-bike platform that ditches extra components in favor of simplicity and affordability.
Pedals are still visible, keeping this squarely in e-bike territory (at least legally), but everything else about the bike leans much more toward electric moto than bicycle. With large off-road tires, a long flat seat, and a minimalist-looking cockpit, it gives off stripped-down dirt bike or electric pit bike vibes.
There’s also a fairly large battery slung under the top tube. If the bike rides on 20″ tires like the rest of Super73’s lineup, then that could be a much bigger battery than we’re used to seeing. I overlaid a Super73-Z Miami on the image below, and you can see that the mystery bike’s battery dwarfs the one on the red Super73-Z. But those could also be smaller-diameter tires, meaning the battery may be a standard Super73 pack.
Then there’s the caption. Super73 says they’re unveiling the “next big thing (figuratively speaking),” which might lend credence to the theory that this will actually be smaller than their usual offerings. Could it be a compact adventure mini-bike? A budget-friendly urban ripper? A youth-focused model? We’ve seen the brand expand into kids’ bikes before, so it wouldn’t be a shocker.
The real wildcard is how much power this thing will pack. Super73 has always leaned into the blurred line between e-bike and moped, and if this new model keeps pedals just for show while cranking serious wattage under the hood, we might be looking at something more akin to a Sur Ron competitor.
With recent shakeups in Super73’s leadership team and the seemingly frozen state of the long-awaited Super73’s C1X electric motorcycle, which only made it partway through development, perhaps this could be the new model replacing the company’s former motorcycle aspirations.
Whatever it is, it’s not just another iteration of the RX. This looks like a whole new category, possibly even a new platform for the brand. And in an industry where yearly innovation often just means a new paint job, it’s refreshing to see a company hint at something different.
Stay tuned – we’ll be watching closely when the curtain lifts next month.
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