Strickland Announces Ohio Industry Energy Efficiency Awards
Monday, February 08, 2010
Governor Ted Strickland, Lisa Patt-McDaniel, Director of
the Ohio Department of Development, and Mark Shanahan, energy advisor to
Governor Strickland, today announced that 18 Ohio projects will receive
more than $11.8 million in industry efficiency grant awards funded
through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's State Energy
Program. The awards were announced today at Kovatch Castings, which will
receive a $1 million grant for its project.
"We continue to make strategic Recovery Act investments in the industries that will grow Ohio's economy," Strickland said. "Ohio has made a commitment to leading the new energy economy and we are seeing results by empowering companies to make smart, responsible investments that create jobs and drive down energy costs."
These industry efficiency awards are funded through Ohio's $96 million
State Energy Program, which was accepted by the U.S. Department of
Energy on June 26th. Private companies that are part of Ohio's targeted
industries, such as advanced energy, aerospace and aviation, agriculture
and food processing, bioscience and bio-products, instruments, controls
and electronics, motor vehicles and parts manufacturing, and polymers
and advanced materials, will use the funds for energy efficiency
improvements in their manufacturing facilities.
"The State of Ohio and the Ohio Department of Development are committed
to using every available resource to strengthen Ohio companies,"
Patt-McDaniel said. "Our industry efficiency initiative of the State
Energy Program enables manufacturers and industrial producers to realize
significant energy savings and operate more efficiently, thereby making
them more competitive."
Proposals for the Targeting Industry Efficiency component of the program
were accepted beginning September 14, 2009. Projects submitted were
selected through a competitive review process based on several criteria:
project readiness and ability to be complete within 12 months, a
matching investment of at least 50 percent, and direct economic impacts
in Ohio to create and retain jobs.
"Renewable and advanced energy strategies are positioning Ohio for
sustainable, long-term, and efficient growth," Shanahan said. "Utilizing
these Recovery Act resources to build upon Ohio's industry strengths
will help our state's businesses conserve energy while creating jobs."
Awarded projects exemplify the goals of the Recovery Act's State Energy
Program to sustain Ohio's industry by saving energy and reducing
greenhouse gas emissions and to create or preserve jobs.
"Today's announcement about industrial, energy-efficiency grants for our
manufacturers in Northeast Ohio and across the state is great news,"
said Rep. Betty Sutton (OH-13). "These grants will improve energy
efficiency within our manufacturing sector -- an industry that our
country heavily relies upon for jobs. They will create jobs for laborers
who install the new equipment, as well as jobs for those who will make
the new, more-efficient products. Improving energy efficiency within the
industrial industry will lower energy costs for manufacturers and allow
them to hire additional workers and recover from this recession with
new tools to compete. And according to the Alliance of American
Manufacturing, for every manufacturing job that is created, an
additional four jobs are created down the line. With today's
announcement, our manufacturing base will become stronger, our work
force will be larger, and our economic future will be brighter."
"Today's announcement for the Timken Company, Shearer's Foods and
Republic Storage Systems proves a strong national energy policy can
create jobs that cannot be outsourced and make our manufacturers more
energy efficient at the same time," said Congressman John Boccieri
(OH-16). "We know the cheapest energy is the energy we never use. These
stimulus dollars invest in our local manufacturers by helping them save
jobs and save money by becoming energy efficient."
An Ashtabula County company was among the recipients:
WEK Industries, Inc (Jefferson, Ashtabula County) - $250,000 to install
variable frequency drives on motors and water pumps, install capacitors
to improve power factor, and replace inefficient lighting. The project
will save 4,992 million BTUs and create 31 new full-time jobs.
To see a complete list of recipients visit: http://recovery.ohio.gov/news/2010/02/#020810