Report: Turning Multi-billion-dollar Energy Vision into Reality

Leaders from some of Ohio’s largest corporations, emerging companies, and research institutions today released Powering Ohio: A Path Forward for Energy and Transportation Transformation. The report outlines nine common-sense, concrete action steps recommended to achieve the benefits of energy innovation now and over the next five years, creating a projected 20,000 jobs and capturing $25 billion in investment.

The report is the second in a series issued by Synapse Energy Economics and follows the May release of Powering Ohio: A Vision for Growth and Innovative Energy Investment.

“Through the Powering Ohio process, we have come to believe that all Ohioans will benefit from acting on common sense ideas that promote the growth and transformations occurring in the energy and transportation sectors,” said Asa Hopkins, Principal Associate with Synapse Energy Economics, the primary researchers for the Powering Ohio reports. “These actions can begin immediately, and when sustained will allow Ohio to become a competitor for investment and then a leader in energy innovation and economic growth.”

The initial report presents a pro-growth vision for Ohio and the scale of opportunities through energy innovation. The next phase of Powering Ohio depends on engaging business, community, education, and government leaders to act, earn wins for the state, and build greater confidence and momentum for further action.

Researchers and advisors have identified three broad categories of actions to turn Ohio’s vision for energy innovation into reality:

· Strengthening Ohio’s manufacturing future, with a focus on expanding Ohio’s electric vehicle and clean energy workforce and supporting manufacturing excellence and innovation.

· Building for the long term by developing and acting upon a strong state clean energy policy, enhancing innovation on the electric grid to lower costs, and expanding smart transportation infrastructure.

· Helping businesses succeed by recognizing leaders who commit to using clean energy to attract investment and enabling businesses to benefit by leveraging public-private partnerships.

Powering Ohio encourages Ohio to develop its electric grid and transportation infrastructure to support the next generation of energy and transportation technologies.

“Electrified transportation creates huge benefits for all electricity consumers, utilities, the grid, and motorists. In order to leverage these benefits, Ohio utilities must make smart investments in charging infrastructure,” said Sam Spofforth, Executive Director of Clean Fuels Ohio. “The new off-peak load from EVs will drive down rates for all electricity customers, make the grid more resilient, and facilitate integration of lower cost renewables. This will be great for electricity consumers regardless of income, but we need these infrastructure investments to realize the benefits. Everyone can win.”

Global Cooling’s Stirling Ultracold freezer business employs Ohioans in both a manufacturing facility in Athens and a sales, marketing, and development office in Columbus. Stirling Ultracold fueled its growth with state grants and loans, combined with investments from private sources.

“Stirling Ultracold is a high-growth company that manufactures an innovative line of very energy-efficient ultra-low temperature freezers in Athens, Ohio. Developing products based on our own proprietary technology, the state of Ohio has been essential to starting and growing our business,” said Neill Lane, President and CEO, Stirling Ultracold. “Initially, we received guidance and help in writing our business plan from TechGROWTH Ohio, who subsequently became an investor in each of our financing rounds. More recently, the Ohio Innovation Fund participated in our funding and has become a vital investment partner. We are grateful for this local support in early-stage funding, and simply would not have succeeded without it.”

By late 2019, leading U.S. manufacturer First Solar will be capable of manufacturing 1.8 GW of solar modules annually at its Perrysburg facilities.

“First Solar is excited to be in the process of tripling its Perrysburg manufacturing capabilities. As an Ohio-born company and the largest U.S.-based solar panel manufacturer, we support Powering Ohio’s vision which not only lays a path for supporting the development of skills that are critical to our growing workforce, but also encourages the development of in-state renewable energy projects,” said Becky Campbell, Manager of Government Affairs, First Solar, Inc. “Deploying solar projects in Ohio will further increase employment opportunities for Ohioans while supporting local economic growth and leveraging Ohio’s robust advanced energy supply chain.”

While governmental leadership will be a key component of such success, leaders from across Ohio’s strong foundation in manufacturing, innovation, education, business and finance all have important roles to play.

"What I found particularly compelling in the Powering Ohio report was to see how Ohio-based companies are already looking outside of Ohio to buy renewable energy because they can't meet their demand with the current supply available from within the state,” said Grant Goodrich, Director, Great Lakes Energy Institute, Case Western Reserve University. “If Ohio is to continue to retain and attract companies that have targets for renewable energy - a list that already includes several of our largest employers - then we need a state energy strategy that understands this demand for renewable energy and embraces it."

Read the latest report and detailed action steps on the Powering Ohio website.