Member Highlight: Eric Algrim

Eric Algrim (Local 1260 – Iowa City, IA) brings over two decades of experience to his craft. His career, rooted in traditional construction, has evolved in recent years as he’s found new purpose and opportunity in the fast-growing solar energy industry. Recruited into the union early on, Eric quickly saw the value of membership with better wages, job security, and reliable health benefits that supported both his professional and personal life.

Before stepping into the solar sector, Eric held significant leadership roles, including serving as general superintendent on a major water treatment plant and overseeing complex bridge construction projects. His transition into solar began when a large-scale project broke ground in Weaver, Iowa—just three miles from his home. The location was ideal, and so was the chance to expand his skills into a new and impactful field. Despite having no prior experience in solar, Algrim embraced the challenge with curiosity and confidence.

On the Weaver site, Eric joined a team of nearly 100 union carpenters, working together to meet the rigorous demands of solar infrastructure. The job required meticulous planning and coordination especially when it came to laying out over 100,000 piles for solar panel foundations, a task that became one of Eric’s primary responsibilities.

“It’s awesome when everything starts going. It all just falls into place,” he said. “I get to meet a lot of awesome people and work with some of the same guys from site to site. That sense of teamwork really carries through.”

The success of the Weaver project opened doors for Algrim to continue working with AZCO on additional solar builds across the region. The work has offered Eric both stability and satisfaction.

“I’ve been fortunate in my career,” Eric shared. “Solar work is great work. It’s structured. It’s safe. I hope to do solar work until I retire.”