Wind Industry Wants to Invest $2.7 Billion in Ohio
Three major companies that are active wind energy developers around the country recently sought the assistance of Gov. Ted Strickland in passing a strong renewable energy standard that includes benchmarks to help create renewable energy development in the Buckeye State. Legislation recently proposed by Rep. Jim McGregor (R-Gahanna) and Ohio Speaker of the House Jon Husted, HB 487, includes these necessary benchmarks.
The three developers, Horizon Wind Energy, Iberdrola Renewables, and Invenergy Wind, LLC, are the largest developers of wind energy projects in the U.S. Each indicated in a separate letter to Gov. Strickland that it has access to wind turbines and the ability to bring billions of dollars of new investment to Ohio if the legislature acts to create a market. The creation of a wind industry market in the immediate future is a key step to bringing wind-related manufacturing jobs to the state—experts say these jobs will be one of the largest sources of new manufacturing jobs in the 21st century.
In 2007, nearly 30 percent of all new electric generating capacity installed across America was wind generation, representing over $9 billion in new investments just last year. Wind energy trailed only natural gas as the leading source of new generating capacity nationwide, and placed first among all energy sources in new capital investment. Wind manufacturers also announced new facilities creating about 6,000 new jobs. In Ohio, however, no new wind energy projects were built in 2007, and no major new wind manufacturing facilities were announced.
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