Ohio on the charge for renewable energy business


Ohio has emerged as the No.1 state in the US Midwest for advanced energy manufacturing, according to a report published today by the Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC).

"Renewable energy is one of the fastest-growing business sectors for job creation" in Ohio, the ELPC report notes, and the increasing demand for wind turbines places it behind only California in terms of job growth.

The Ohio Business Development Coalition, a nonprofit organization that markets the state for capital investment, believes thatOhio is the perfect home for renewable energy manufacturers. "Ohio offers a complete advanced energy supply chain infrastructure for businesses in renewable energy," said Richard Stuebi, Fellow for Energy and Environmental Advancement at the Cleveland Foundation. "The state's manufacturing strengths, skilled workforce and central location make Ohio a preferred location for advanced energy manufacturing businesses."

A typical utility-sized wind turbine requires something like 8,000 components, which can cause complexity in the supply chain leading to quality issues, delivery delays, excess safety stock and extended cycle times. Where manufacturing operations are located close to critical suppliers, these issues can be minimized.  

The Ohio Business Development Coalition is quick to point out that Ohio-based companies are involved in the manufacture of all aspects of the advanced energy industry, including the production of wind turbines and component parts, solar panels, fuel cells, hydroelectric components, biomass products, geothermal parts and storage facilities to promote better utilization of advanced energy resources.

Over 7,500 people are employed in Ohio making the gears, bearings and windmill blades used in wind turbines, and more than 1,500 in state’s solar power industry.There are around 675 established and emerging companies in the Ohio wind supply chain.

Some of Ohio's best-known manufacturers, including Avon Bearings, Lubrizol, Owens-Corning, Parker Hannifin, Sherwin-Williams and Timken, are now key suppliers to the nation's wind industry, the OBDC observes.

The state’s location within 600 miles of 60 percent of the US and Canadian population and within a one-day drive of 70 percent of North America's manufacturing capacity is another advantage the organization is keen to point out.