Chamber VP Says Solar Will be a “Major Part” of Region’s Economic Future

First Solar, located in the Greater Toledo Region, broke ground this month on a project expected to become what has been described as “the largest solar factory, by capacity, in the Western Hemisphere.”

And that, says Toledo Chamber Vice President Brian Dicken, represents “a strong vote of confidence in Toledo as a major U.S. hub for advanced technology solar manufacturing."

The $400 million plant in Lake Township, slated to reach full capacity in 2019, will bring 500 new jobs to the Toledo region.  

It also points the way to an essential element in the region’s future prosperity, Dicken says. "For northwest Ohio, researching, developing, and producing the next generation of solar technology is a major part of our economic future," he said.

Ohio currently ranks 11th in the nation for solar energy jobs, according to the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA)—with an estimated 5,831 Ohioans employed in the industry in 2017. This reflects people engaged in solar installation as well as the manufacturing of solar technologies.

In Ohio, an estimated $529 million has been invested in the growing industry to date--$53 million in 2017 alone, according to SEIA. One reason for this growth: The price of solar energy has declined 53 percent over the past five years.

Read more in Toledo Blade

Ohio Local Chamber Leaders in the News on the Economic Benefits of Newly Resumed Clean Energy Standards

Brian Dicken, VP of Advocacy and Public Policy, Toledo Regional Chamber

“If you want to know the facts about how clean energy affects local businesses, you need to know what local chambers of commerce have witnessed over the past several years,” chamber executives Brian Dicken and Susan Munroe wrote in a Dec. 24, 2016 op-ed published in the Toledo Blade.

“And we can tell you: From Toledo to Van Wert, clean energy has delivered jobs, investments, and savings to consumers—all of which is good news for our businesses, schools, communities, and the economy of this great state.”

Dicken is Vice President of Advocacy and Public Policy for the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, and Munroe is President and CEO of the Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber executives went onto encourage Gov. John Kasich to veto H.B. 554, a bill that would have essentially extended the freeze on Ohio’s renewable energy and energy efficiency standards for three more years.

Gov. Vetoes HB 554, Standards Back in Effect Jan. 1, 2017.

Susan Munroe, President and CEO, Van Wert Area Chamber

On Dec. 27, Gov. Kasich vetoed HB 554, saying Ohio’s wide range of energy generation helped grow jobs over the past six years, and the bill risked “undermining this progress by taking away some of those energy generation options, particularly the very options most prized by the companies poised to create many jobs in Ohio in the coming years, such as high technology firms.”

Hundreds of companies are either already involved in the development of wind or solar energy in Ohio or are suppliers to those businesses, reported Cleveland.com. The editorial board also praised Kasich’s veto and the restoration of the clean energy standards, saying: “HB 554 would have taken Ohio further backward. Kasich’s veto moves Ohio forward.”

The state’s clean energy standards came back into effect on Jan. 1, 2017—requiring energy suppliers and utilities to provide more renewable energy and energy efficiency to Ohio customers in 2017.

Read the Toledo Blade op-ed here: “Let Ohio’s Businesses Benefit from Clean Energy” 

Read the Cleveland.com editorial here: Gov. Kasich wields his veto pen wisely for Ohio’s future: editorial

Ohio Local Chamber CEOs & Economic Development Directors Say Clean Energy Benefits Local Economies

Eleven local chamber CEOs and Economic Development Directors—representing more than 5,000 business and 11 cities and counties from Toledo to Van Wert—called on Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Senate and House leaders this week to reinstate Ohio’s clean energy standards.

In a letter delivered to the Statehouse, they wrote: “As chamber and economic development leaders, we have seen clean energy projects deliver significant economic benefits that are good for our businesses, schools, communities, and the economy of this great state.”

See Gongwer coverage here.

In calling for the reinstatement of clean energy standards, the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce joins three of its largest member businesses– Owens Corning, Rudolph Libbe, and First Solar—which were among more than 70 Ohio businesses that over the past month called on the Governor and Senate and House leadership to do the same.

Among the other businesses that want good clean energy standards: Whirlpool Corporation, Owens Corning, United Technologies, Jones Lang LaSalle, Campbell Soup Company, Nestle, Gap Inc., Schneider Electric, United Technologies, Edison Solar, Starwood Energy Group, Replex Plastics, Everpower and many more—  collectively employ more than 25,000 people in Ohio.

In 2014, Ohio was the first state in the nation to put a two-year-freeze on its clean energy standards. The standards are scheduled to revert back into place at the end of 2016 unless the legislature takes action to extend the freeze or modify the standards. Gov. Kasich has publicly declared that he would veto any attempt to extend the freeze. Many local chambers support the Governor on this.

“To enable Ohio to take full advantage of this fast-growing sector that has already delivered more than $1.4 billion worth of investments, 9,000 jobs, and $4.6 million in payments to landowners and local governments, we believe there is a need for a clear and consistent roadmap on this issue.”

Read the chamber letter here.

Read the statements from major Ohio employers here.

Read statement from 68 additional businesses here.

Ohio Chambers Talk Wind Energy During Capitol Visit

From a Columbus suburb (home to a new wind-powered Amazon data center) to the small village of Paulding (where a new wind farm will begin generating electricity in 2017) local chamber leaders trekked to Ohio’s capitol this month to tell Gov. Kasich and lawmakers how their communities have benefited from wind energy.

“For businesses, school districts, and taxpayers in rural communities like ours, wind power is an absolute blessing,” said Peggy Emerson, Executive Director of the Paulding Chamber of Commerce.

“Wind energy has been one of the biggest investments in Ohio and has the potential to contribute much more to Ohio’s future economic prosperity,” said Susan Munroe, President and CEO of the Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce. “We want to work with legislators to encourage further investment and job growth created with wind energy development.”

To date, wind energy has resulted in investments of more than $775 million in Ohio. This new “cash crop” delivers significant tax benefits to schools and other institutions, income to landowners and local supply chain businesses while supporting county services in communities able to host these wind farms.

This was the second visit by local chamber leaders to the state’s capitol in the past year. In a related trend, a growing number of businesses have encouraged lawmakers to establish reasonable “setback” provisions, which determine how far a wind turbine must be situated from the nearest property line.

In 2014, the Ohio legislature tripled the required distance for turbines — resulting in a near moratorium on wind farm development and investment. Meanwhile, corporations such as Amazon have announced increased demand for wind energy to power data centers in the state. And the Toledo-based Owens Corning in 2015 signed the largest wind power purchase agreement by an industrial company in the world—but had to source wind energy from Texas.

Amazon Wireless Services, Panasonic, Apex Clean Energy, First Solar, and other businesses also sent a letter to Gov. Kasich this month encouraging more reasonable rules.

The local chamber leaders took a more personal approach, sharing their stories in meetings with the Governor’s Office; Speaker Cliff Rosenberger’s Office, a half-dozen representatives, including Rep. Shaffer, Chair of the House Public Utilities Commission; and Senators Cliff Hite and Jay Hottinger.

Pictured above from left to right: Susan Munroe, President & CEO, Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce; Former Ohio Rep. Jim Hoops; Eric Germann, President, Lincolnview Schools; Peggy Emerson, Executive Director, Paulding Chamber of Commerce; Brian Dicken, VP of Advocacy & Public Policy, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce.