Ohio's National Leadership in Solar Energy Showcased at Solar Power
International
Ohio leaders highlight state's business and job growth potential at North
America's largest solar industry event
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Ohio's existing strengths and
significant potential in the solar industry are being showcased to an
international audience at Solar Power International, North America's largest
solar industry event. According to the Ohio Business Development Coalition,
the nonprofit organization that markets the state for capital investment,
Ohio's solar energy growth, especially in the photovoltaic industry, is
evidence of the state's national leadership position and capability to easily
transition to fulfill the jobs of the future.
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Ohio leaders and representatives from the state's solar industry businesses
will tell Ohio's story of solar energy success at the Solar Power
International event, which takes place Oct. 27-29, 2009 in Anaheim California.
"Ohio is working to become a national and international leader in advanced
energy initiatives including the solar industry; we want our advanced energy
industry to have a global reach and a world-class supply chain," said Lisa
Patt-McDaniel, director of the Ohio Department of Development. "Ohio's long
history as a manufacturing leader shows that we have the workforce and
expertise to succeed in the evolving manufacturing sector."
Northwest Ohio's historic strengths in the glass industry along with the
world-class supply chain of manufacturers and systems integrators found
throughout the state are a driving force supporting the state's solar industry
growth. Companies such as Xunlight, a developer, manufacturer and marketer of
photovoltaic modules that convert sunlight into electricity, are tapping into
the existing pool of skilled workers and creating job opportunities in the
emerging solar industry. In 2008, Xunlight, which was one of 900 plus
companies participating in the Solar Power International event, quadrupled its
workforce from 20 to 80 employees.
"The state of Ohio has made significant and critical investment over the past
decades, planting the seeds for today's opportunity," said Dr. Xunming Deng,
president, chief executive officer and co-founder of Xunlight. "Some of the
earlier investment made to Ohio's higher education institutions have proven to
be very successful in building the foundation that is paving the way toward
making the state a major manufacturing base for advanced energy products. Ohio
has a chance to become the silicon valley of solar technologies."
One of the most significant initiatives supporting Ohio's advanced energy
industry is the Ohio Third Frontier, an unprecedented and bipartisan
commitment to create technology-based products, companies, industries and
jobs. Since its inception, the program has created or commercialized more than
500 companies and has attracted $3.5 billion in private investment to Ohio, a
9:1 return on investment. Ohio's Third Frontier has already invested more than
$100 million in advanced energy technology research and development since
2002, and is projected to provide $24 million in additional grants related to
advanced energy in the coming year.
Converting research into commercial success is another key to Ohio's success.
Programs such as the state's Edison Technology Centers and Photovoltaics
Innovation and Commercialization initiative (PVIC), a collaboration between
The University of Toledo, The Ohio State University (OSU) and Bowling Green
State University, have been instrumental in advancing solar technology
innovation.
"Business leaders in the advanced energy industry are realizing how, in Ohio,
they're able to successfully build a business without sacrificing their
personal life," Burghard said. "Business owners profit from the bottom-line
benefits of better work:life balance for their employees. Ohio offers
low-cost, low stress communities in a combination of micropolitan and
metropolitan cities. This diversity provides executives and employees the
resources and time to make any ambition achievable. Ohio truly is the state of
perfect balance."
About the Ohio Business Development Coalition
The Ohio Business Development Coalition is a nonprofit organization that
markets the state for capital investment. The OBDC provides marketing strategy
and implementation to support Ohio's economic development efforts. For more
information on business development or business relocation, visit
www.ohiomeansbusiness.com.
For more information on Solar Power International, visit
www.solarpowerinternational.com.
SOURCE Ohio Business Development Coalition
Dace de la Foret of Paul Werth Associates, +1-614-224-8114, ext. 235,
delaforet@paulwerth.com
