Pearl Road Auto Parts Proves Investment in Wind Energy is Viable for Region
Dave Graneto, owner of Electrical Design Consultants, joined project manager Stefanie Penn Spear when she flipped the switch to officially connect the Pearl Road Auto Parts wind turbine to the grid.
Thousands of motorists on Interstate 480 can now see the new 140-foot wind turnbine that towers over the roadway from the scrap yard of Pearl Road Auto Parts in Cleveland. The 120 kW turbine was put into service in November, helping to set the stage for other businesses in Northeast Ohio to make similar investments in renewable energy—which is viewed as not only good for the environment but for a company’s bottom line.
Thanks to the forward thinking of Jon Kaplan, vice president of the fourth-generation car recycling yard at 5000 Pearl Rd. Cleveland continues to pave the way to become the world’s hub for the renewable energy industry. It is projects such as Kaplan’s that will create green jobs, plus stabilize electricity costs and reduce Northeast Ohio’s carbon footprint through reliance on cleaner energy sources.
Since nearly 90 percent of Ohio’s electricity comes from the burning of coal, renewable energy provides an excellent alternative to the reliance on nonrenewable resources that release significant amounts of carbon dioxide, contributing to global warming and climate change. “This project will reduce demand for carbon-based energy production, increase regional renewable energy generation and create an economic model that proves the investment in wind energy makes good business sense,” Kaplan said.
Pearl Road Auto Parts is Cleveland's first business to harvest the wind to generate its electricity.
Ohio has become a leader in encouraging the investment in renewable energy. The Advanced Energy Fund Program through the Ohio Department of Development’s Ohio Energy Office, which provided a $147,000 grant to Pearl Road Auto Parts for its investment in renewable energy. In addition to grants, there are many other incentives, including tax credits and accelerated depreciation, in place to help create the drive for this industry.
The wind project, under the direction of EcoWatch Executive Director Stefanie Penn Spear, the project manager, was the catalyst for Cleveland City Council to write wind turbine zoning legislation which passed last March and has become a model for other communities considering similar legislation. Policy plays an important role in the future of renewable energy and it is great to see so many elected officials embracing it.
It is no secret that Ohio is in desperate need for jobs. Fortunately, investment in renewable energy is a major job creator. The Pearl Road Auto Parts wind turbine project has already helped create new jobs in Cleveland through the launching of two new businesses—Pearl Wind and Expedite Renewable Energy—that are set up to help businesses invest in renewable energy. Many Ohio colleges now offer instruction to train students in the skills needed for renewable energy projects.
Investment in renewable energy is increasingly seen as a way to successfully deal with Ohio’s economic woes—as well as a way to bring businesses and policy makers together to create a sustainable future for the state.
For more information, visit www.PearlWind.com and www.ExpediteRenewableEnergy.com.