On August 25, 2010, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) approved a stipulated three-year electric security plan (ESP) for FirstEnergy's electric distribution utilities in Ohio in Case No. 10-388-EL-SSO. The parties to the stipulation represented a wide variety of customer classes, including governmental aggregators, manufacturers, hospitals, secondary and post-secondary schools, low-income residential customers, and the PUCO Staff. Among other things, the PUCO-approved ESP:

• Establishes a competitive bid process (auctions) by which retail generation rates will be established for the time period June 1, 2011 through May 31, 2014 
• Implements an 80% load cap that not only prevents a bidder from winning more than 80% of the load available in the auction, but extends the load cap to include post-auction assignments of load 
• Recognizes that there will be no minimum stay period or standby charges for residential and small commercial customers not participating in a governmental aggregation 
• Creates an RFP process by which FirstEnergy will obtain renewable energy credits (RECs) through long term contracts 
• Continues a distribution base rate freeze through June 1, 2014 
• Establishes the Delivery Capital Recovery Rider (Rider DCR), which will allow FirstEnergy to recover the costs of distribution improvements up to a maximum of $390 million over the three-year life of the ESP 
• Prevents FirstEnergy's retail customers from being held responsible for certain costs associated with its transition from MISO to PJM, including MISO exit fees, PJM integration costs, and at least $360 million in legacy RTEP costs 
• Continues the interruptible demand response programs available to industrial customers under Riders ELR and OLR 
• Provides funding to three political subdivisions and four trade associations representing manufacturers, hospitals, small businesses, and colleges for assistance with the implementation of energy efficiency projects 
• Provides important economic development incentives to the Cleveland Clinic and domestic automaker facilities in Ohio 
• Creates a pilot LED streetlight program for the City of Cleveland 
• Continues the fuel fund available to low-income customers.

Parties have 30 days to file applications for rehearing, and FirstEnergy retains the power to reject the modified ESP and explore other alternatives for the procurement of its generation supply from June 1, 2011 through May 31, 2014.

A new federal report (pdf) finds that carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a viable technology, but notes that its widespread market acceptance will take decades absent government financial and policy support. The report was released by the Interagency Task Force on Carbon Capture and Storage, established by President Obama in February and co-chaired by the U.S. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency. 

The report concludes that CCS can play an important role in reducing domestic greenhouse gas emissions while preserving the option of using abundant domestic fossil energy resources. However, widespread cost-effective deployment of CCS will occur only if the technology is commercially available at economically competitive prices and supportive national policy frameworks are in place.

Building on the success of the last two years’ Roadshows, The Annual Renewables & Energy Efficiency Roadshow will be in Columbus on September 29, 2010. The show, part of the Transatlantic Climate Bridge, is sponsored by the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest, the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany Chicago and the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany.

The primary objective of the Roadshow is to “open a dialog of partnership between two of the world’s leading countries in developing and implementing new renewable and energy efficiency technologies.” Sponsorship packages are available for the local events and for the entire Roadshow.

For more information, please contact Bernadett Steiner, Renewables Project Manager, at Steiner@gaccom.org or call 312.494.2180. 

On August 12, 2010, the Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel filed a complaint against the First Energy electric distribution companies (FirstEnergy) alleging violations of Ohio's "net-metering rules, and interconnection rules by enforcing interconnection standards that are unduly burdensome and expensive."  In particular, the complaint alleges that FirstEnergy: 1) has made it unduly burdensome for five (5) customers to interconnect their small wind turbines to FirstEnergy's distribution system; and 2) included language in its net metering application that violates Ohio's net metering policies.  FirstEnergy will have 20 days to respond to the complaint.  A copy of the complaint can be found here.

The Ohio Department of Development is accepting proposals for funds available for its “Transforming Waste to Value” program offered through the State Energy Plan and the America Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The goal of the State Energy Plan is to convert municipal solid wastes, food and farm wastes and other bio-mass waste materials into electricity, heat, fuel and/or bio-products, and to create jobs.

To be considered for funding, all interested parties must complete a two-step applications process:

Submit a one-page project summary on the Recovery.Ohio.gov Web site no later than 3 p.m. on Monday, August 16, 2010. Click on the “Submit Your Proposal” link in the “How To Apply” box.

Submit a proposal to the Ohio Department of Development, Ohio Energy Resources Division no later than 3 p.m. on Monday, August 23, 2010. The application forms can be found here.

The program will “leverage private investments in projects that will move forward and be completed within 12 months of the grant execution,” according to the Web site. A total of $10 million will be awarded through the program, with a minimum award of $500,000 per project and a maximum of $1 million per project.

There are currently two energy-related job openings at the GCEA that the group would like to fill. The jobs are:

Operations Director: The operations director will oversee the GCEA’s residential and commercial program delivery, and assist with workforce development and expansion opportunities in the commercial sector.

Marketing and Community Outreach Director: Primary responsibilities will involve educating the public about energy efficiency, and driving demand for energy services provided by residential and commercial contractors.

If you are interested in either of these positions, please click here for more information about the jobs and how to apply.

The Ohio House of Representatives' Alternative Energy Committee, chaired by Rep. Ted Celeste, will hold a field hearing in Logan, Ohio, on Monday, July 19. The hearing will be held at the Hocking College Energy Institute at noon. The hearing will include panel testimony from, among others, Neill Lane, Chief Executive of Global Cooling, Inc, and Matt Bennett, President of Dovetail Solar and Wind. Individuals are also invited to give public testimony. For more information, contact Jeff Wise in Rep. Celeste’s office at 614.644.6005 or Jeffrey.Wise@ohr.state.oh.us.

A Fortune magazine article takes on some of the myths that abound in the “going green” movement. “I’ll save energy if I keep my appliances turned off,” “Hybrids are much better for the environment than regular cars” and “Organic foods are processed without pesticides” are just some of the green myths recently explained. 

For example, you will save energy by keeping appliances turned off, but not as much as you think (only about 5% to 10%); the Lexus LS 600h L hybrid car has a combined fuel economy rating of only 21 mpg (just 17% above the conventional LS 460 L luxury sedan); and many pesticides are permitted in organic farming, including nicotine sulfate and lime sulfate, which come with a “danger” warning from the FDA but are permissible under organic farming guidelines.

For more information see www.fortune.com

Ohio Senate Bill 232 (SB 232) represents a major expansion of Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) renewable and advanced energy financing opportunities in Ohio. Bricker & Eckler is offering a PACE Funding and Special Improvement District Law webinar on Wednesday, July 7th from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. The program will provide a comprehensive overview of the expanded PACE financing opportunities contained in SB 232, and will discuss how property owners can create special improvement districts in order to finance PACE projects in their communities. Click here for registration details.

Visit Bricker & Eckler's Energy SIDs and PACE Financing Resource Center.

Governor Ted Strickland will be in Toledo today with local officials to announce an Ohio Hub of Innovation and Opportunity. The Ohio Hubs program leverages an area’s resources and investments to attract clusters of connected businesses, encourage new investments and an influx of talented workers, and create new opportunities to create jobs and develop Ohio’s key industries. The event will be held at 1:15 today at the University of Toledo's Scott Park Campus of Energy and Innovation. More information on the Ohio Hubs program is available here.

Making plastics from plant material is not a new idea, but making a durable bioplastic—one created entirely from plant matter that can stand up to extreme heat and is completely biodegradable—is something new. As reported in Fortune magazine, Metabolix, a Cambridge, Mass., bioengineering company, has genetically engineered a microbe that eats sugar from corn and generates a plastic-like molecule call PHA. The corn-based plastic can be used to make bottles and containers that will decompose after a few months if placed in soil or water. The plastic is even deemed safe for compost heaps.

Metabolix, in a joint venture with Archer Daniels Midland, will soon begin shipping its Mirel bioplastic pellets. One of the first products to hit the market using the green plastic will be biodegradable Paper Mate® pens. 

For more information, see: http://money.cnn.com/2010/04/29/technology/feel_good_plastic.fortune/index.htm

The philanthropic arm of the global investment bank Deutsche Bank A.G. (Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation) will be funding the creation of a public database that will document the energy savings from hundreds of retrofitted buildings in New York City.  An accompanying report will identify the specific energy efficiency projects (e.g. lighting retrofits, HVAC updates, and window replacements) as well as their respective costs and energy savings.  The goal is that the quantitative data in the report will not only encourage more entities to undertake energy efficiency projects, but to encourage lenders to finance such projects.  For more information, see http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/02/realestate/commercial/02deutsche.html.

The Innovation Starts Here: Opportunities for Ohio Businesses in a Clean Energy Economy conference, co-sponsored by the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and the Ohio Business Council for a Clean Economy, will be held on Monday, June 28 at COSI - Center of Science and Industry from 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. The keynote speaker will be Kevin Leahy, Managing Director for Climate Policy and Economics at Duke Energy. Topics will include energy efficiency, manufacturing and clean energy, clean energy start-up and entrepreneurship. Please go to www.ohioinnovation.com for more information.

The Sandusky Register has posted an interview it conducted with Mark Shanahan, Governor Ted Strickland's energy advisor and executive director of the Ohio Air Quality Development Authority. In the interview, Shanahan discusses the potential of Ohio's "green" economy.

A new "green" business incubator is starting in Youngstown and has already found a partner in an Israeli firm that specializes in developing alternative energy technologies. The new venture--called Ohio Clean Technologies Group--is a partnership between Youngstown-based M7 Technologies, Utah-based Applied Systems and Technology Transfer, and LN Green Technological Incubator Ltd. of Haifa, Israel. The group hopes to develop and bring to market alternative energy products and technologies that could create thousands of jobs in the Mahoning Valley region. News of the new venture is here, here and here.

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a district court decision holding that Gulf Coast residents affected by Hurricane Katrina lacked standing for a lawsuit because the ties between emissions, global warming and the severity of the hurricane were too tenuous. Plaintiffs in the case, Comer v. Murphy Oil, sued dozens of the country's largest polluters, including utilities, and chemical and oil companies, based on claims of public nuisance. The plaintiffs argued that pollution from their facilities increased the severity of Hurricane Katrina and the damage to their property. The district court in the case held that the plaintiffs lacked standing. A three-judge panel from the Fifth Circuit then ruled that the plaintiffs could proceed with their lawsuit.

However, as detailed in this article in The New York Times (via Greenwire), after the eighth of sixteen active judges on the court recused herself in April (presumably because of a real or perceived conflict of interest), the court no longer had a quorum. According to the article: "After reviewing briefs from the plaintiffs and defendants, the remaining eight judges ruled last Friday afternoon that they lacked a quorum, meaning they could not review or reinstate the panel's decision." The court's decision is available here. The plaintiffs' only course now is to appeal to the Supreme Court and hope that the justices decide to intervene. 

The Comer case is one of several climate change cases working their way through the federal courts that is based on the public nuisance theory of liability, which allows people to sue neighbors for nuisances such as foul smells and loud noises.  More information on those cases can be found here.

Duke Energy announced plans to change the membership of Duke Energy Ohio and Duke Energy Kentucky from the Midwest Independent System Operator to the PJM regional transmission organization. The company says that joining PJM will bring long-term benefits for Duke Energy’s Ohio customers because it puts all Ohio utilities in the same wholesale market, where customers will benefit from the same wholesale and retail market rules. The company also said that its Kentucky generation, which is connected to its Ohio transmission system, is also making the move. Duke will make a filing with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the federal administrative agency that oversees wholesale electricity markets, seeking approval of the transfer.

The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission and the City of Columbus will partner with The Ohio State University to host the Fourth EcoSummit, an international ecological science conference, from Sept. 30 to Oct 5, 2012, at the Columbus Convention Center. This marks the first time that EcoSummit will be held in the United States. The theme of the meeting will be"Ecological Sustainability: Restoring the Planet's Ecosystem Services." World leaders in ecology, environmental and energy fields will gather at the summit to develop a better understanding of the complex nature of ecological systems, and to provide a high-profile platform for dialogue among researchers, planners and decision-makers. Previous summits were held in Denmark, Canada and China.

In 2010, federal appellate courts will continue to engage in a lively debate about whether tort claims are a proper vehicle for bringing global warming and climate change within the jurisdiction of the federal courts.

Read more of this article on Bricker & Eckler's website

Registration is now open for a one-day advanced energy seminar in Athens, Ohio, presented in part by Bricker & Eckler. The seminar--Building Ohio's Advanced Energy Industry: Lessons Learned and Steps Forward--will be held on May 18 at Ohio University's Baker University Center. The program will walk through actual advanced energy case studies in Southeast Ohio to explore the various financing models and project possibilities available. More information is available here. To register, go here

This month's Forbes magazine has two articles that illustrate just how far the new "green economy" is reaching. The first details how retailing giant Wal-Mart has teamed up with eco-friendly clothing retailer Patagonia to "green" Wal-Mart's supply chain. The second profiles mining magnate Ross Beaty's aggressive move into the geothermal power business.

The Ohio Department of Development is soliciting applications for the Alternative Fuel Transportation Grant Program for the purchase and installation of blended biodiesel, blended gasoline refueling and fuel blending stations. The goal of the program is to increase the availability and use of alternative fuels for motor vehicles and to establish these blending facilities in Ohio.

The program is available for:

• Conversion of existing retail facilities to blended biodiesel or blended gasoline retail facilities;
• New installation of blended biodiesel or blended gasoline retail facilities; or
• New installation of blended biodiesel or blended gasoline fuel blending facilities.

The grant award will cover 80 percent of the total eligible project costs or a maximum grant award of $10,000 for conversion retail facilities, $40,000 for installation of new retail facilities, or $200,000 for installation of new blending facilities, whichever is less. Application forms are available here.

Bricker & Eckler will present an advanced energy seminar--Building Ohio's Advanced Energy Industry: Lessons Learned and Steps Forward--on May 18 at Ohio University's Baker University Center. The seminar will walk through Southeast Ohio case studies to explore various financing models and project possibilities available to private and public owners and project developers. To present the event, Bricker is partnering with Ohio University's Voinovich School, The Ohio Manufacturers' Association, and Ohio Advanced Energy. Registration is coming soon.

PepsiCo and Waste Management, Inc. announced the creation of the Dream Machine recycling initiative, a multi-year partnership designed around PepsiCo’s goal of increasing the U.S. beverage container recycling rate from 34 percent to 50 percent by 2018. Dream Machine kiosks are computerized receptacles that include a personal reward system that allows consumers to collect and redeem points for each bottle or can they recycle in the kiosk. The initiative will introduce thousands of new recycling kiosks in popular public venues such as gas stations, stadiums, and public parks. More information is available here.

From May 2nd to 4th, Ohio State University will host "Moving Ahead 2010: Sustainable Transportation Solutions for the 21st Century." The national conference, to be held at OSU's Ohio Union Conference Center in Columbus, is expected to draw nearly 1,000 people, including more than 500 industry leaders; federal, state and local policymakers; researchers; investors; students; and media representatives. The conference is designed to advance federal, state and local policies that will help reduce U.S.dependence on petroleum for transportation and promote economic development. The conference's headliner is Carol Browner, assistant to President Obama for energy and climate change and former director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under President Clinton. For more information and registration details visit: http://www.movingahead2010.com/unite/.

The University Clean Energy Alliance of Ohio will be hosting its fourth annual conference on April 20 and 21 at the Hyatt Regency Columbus. The theme of this year's conference is, "Materials and Energy: The Building Blocks of Ohio's Economic Future." Agenda, registration and other information is available here.

The University of Toledo is hosting a dedication ceremony for its Nitschke Technology Commercialization Complex this Friday, April 2. The complex, according to the university, is part of its efforts to transform the regional economy. The 40,000-square-foot building will house laboratories, office space and a mix of technology start-up companies. The ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. at 1610 North Westwood Avenue in Toledo. To RSVP, email rsvp@eng.utoledo.edu. For more information, please call 419.530.8014.

The Columbus Dispatch reports today that U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown is "hopeful" after a meeting with President Obama that Congress can reach a bipartisan agreement on comprehensive climate change legislation. Off the negotiating table is a House bill passed last year that would have created a cap-and-trade regulatory system. "Instead," according to the article, "senators are trying to bridge party differences by creating incentives that would encourage the development of wind and solar energy, boost the use of nuclear power and open large swaths of the coastal United States to oil exploration."

The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer reports that wind power advocates "blew through" Washington D.C. with a message to Congress that up to 274,000 green energy jobs could be created if the federal government begins requiring utilities to produce a portion of their energy from renewable sources. According to the article, 29 states, including Ohio, have already set such targets. The advocates were critical of a so-called "Buy American" plan being floated by U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown that would apply to clean energy projects funded by federal stimulus dollars.

There's been a raft of articles about advanced and renewable energy issues in recent days. Here are some highlights:

Columbus Business First detailed, in this article, the efforts of State Sen. Chris Widener (R-Springfield) to enact a bill that would allow renewable energy developers to pay an annual fee on their power-generating capacity rather than the state's more onerous tangible personal property tax on machinery and equipment owned by public utilities.

The Columbus Dispatch had a brief piece on U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown's efforts to strike a balance between business and environmental concerns as the state tries to refashion itself as a leader in clean energy.

The (Toledo) Blade is running a three-part series about what it is characterizing as the state's failure to capitalize on Northwest Ohio's strengths in the solar industry. Part one is here. Part two is here.

We hope you will join us on Thursday, March 18th at The University of Toledo's Clean and Alternative Energy Incubator to explore what's on the horizon for advanced energy this year including Northwest Ohio case studies, project and finance development models and energy efficiency updates.

Featured speakers will include representatives from the Ohio Department of Development, Health Care REIT, Inc., NexGen Energy Partners LLC, Plug Smart, Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, USA Energy Advisors and Xunlight Corporation.

More information can be found at http://www.bricker.com/seminars

Today's Dayton Daily News has a story on Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown pushing for a vote on a bill that would funnel federal loans to clean energy equipment-makers. Brown's comments came a day after the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. reported that lending by private banks in 2009 dropped at the fastest clip since 1942.

A report from Policy Matters Ohio provides more context to Senator Sherrod Brown's push for increasing the amount of federal loans available to clean energy equipment-makers (see the previous post). A report released by Policy Matters Ohio predicts that under the bill proposed by Brown, Ohio could gain up to 52,000 new jobs over the next decade. The executive summary of the report is here. And the full report is here.

Governor Ted Strickland assumed the chairmanship of the Midwestern Governors Association at the group's winter meeting in Washington, D.C., over the weekend. Strickland's agenda will focus on fostering economic growth by increasing the investment capital available to small- and mid-sized advanced energy companies, and to ensure that the region's workers have the training they need for advanced energy jobs.

TechGROWTH Ohio, a program funded by the Ohio Department of Development's Third Frontier initiative, is sponsoring two free seminars on growth opportunities in advanced energy in southeast Ohio. The seminars, titled, "Advanced Energy -- A New Opportunity for Appalachian Business Growth," will be held at Ohio University's Eastern Campus in St. Clairsville on this Friday, February 26, and at Marietta College on March 5. More information is available at: https://www.techgrowthohio.com/events/Business_Growth_Seminars_Energy.aspx.

The Ohio House of Representatives voted 92-1 to approve Senate Bill 131, which requires the Director of Administrative Services to establish a program that gives purchasing preference to bio-based products as long as the costs are comparable to non-bio-based products. The program would apply to supplies purchased by DAS, state agencies, and state colleges and universities. The bill--cosponsored by Senators Capri Cafaro (D-Hubbard) and Karen Gillmor (R-Tiffin)--was already approved by the Ohio Senate and awaits the signature of Governor Ted Strickland. A detailed summary of the bill can be found here.

A group backed by a collection of high-profile companies has launched a clean energy jobs campaign that will make Columbus one of only five of its stops nationwide. The group --  We Can Lead -- is sponsored, in part, by such well-known companies as Starbucks, eBay, and Nike. The point of the campaign, according to this story in The Oregonian, is to lobby Congress to pass comprehensive climate change legislation, which the group says could help spark the next economic boom by potentially creating millions of clean energy jobs across the country. The campaign started Tuesday in Portland, Ore., and will continue on to Denver, Colo., Columbus, Manchester, N.H., and Washington, D.C. The event in Columbus is slated for March 4.

The Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC), a consortium that negotiates for electricity and natural gas deals on behalf of 129 communities, said that it will give each community $50,000 for energy efficiency, conservation, and other clean energy projects, according to this story in The Plain Dealer. NOPEC will begin accepting grant applications for the first round of funding on March 1.

Ohio Governor Ted Strickland released an RFP on February 10, 2010 for selection of an Investment Manager for the Ohio Energy Gateway Fund.  Unveiled in the State of the State address this past January, the Ohio Energy Gateway Fund was created by the State of Ohio as an investment vehicle in advanced energy industries.  Based on a private-equity fund model, the Gateway Fund will consist of State and Federal funds totaling $40 Million. 

One or more Investment Managers will be selected through a competitive RFP process to manage the fund and make strategic investments.  All investments are expected to include a minimum 1-to-1 match of private investment dollars.  The State envisions this program to be a "fund-of-funds" that uses returns on the state's investment to fund new and more advanced energy projects.

Fund managers wishing to apply need to submit questions by February 17, a one-page summary of proposed services by February 19, and final proposals by February 24, 2010.  Experience, innovation, and advanced energy knowledge will be highly regarded during the RFP scoring process.  The selected Investment Manager(s) will be expected to create a small rate of return in addition to payback of the state's original investment.  Managers should look to invest in projects and industries that:

• Increase energy efficiencies;
• Focus on distributed generation;
• Encourage and develop advanced nuclear technologies;
• Create and expand the fuel cell industry;
• Use solid waste conversion to reduce greenhouse gases;
• Increase the use and accessibility of renewable energy resources; or,
• Innovate in the green technologies space with new and different products.

The Investment Manager(s) will invest funds with the help of an Investment Committee chosen by the Manager(s) with an agent of the State of Ohio sitting in a non-voting, advisory capacity.

The RFP can be downloaded on the Ohio Department of Development's website at www.development.ohio.gov/ohioenergygatewayfund.

For more information, contact Greg Lestini at glestini@bricker.com or 614-227-4893.

Congrats to Mr. lesser on his appointment to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio!

Read the full press release here.

State Reps. Debbie Phillips (D) and Dan Stewart (D) have introduced a bill in the Ohio House of Representatives that would exempt from property taxation the cost of energy-conservation and renewable energy projects installed on business property in Ohio. The bill would also create a capital gains income tax deduction on the sale of business property with such improvements. Covered projects include solar, wind, geothermal, and energy efficiency improvements.

Under the terms of the bill, starting in 2010, business property owners would be able to claim a property tax exemption equaling the lesser of 35 percent of the cost of the qualifying improvement to the property or the increase, if any, in the assessed value of the property caused by the improvement. Under the income tax provisions, if a business property owner would recognize a capital gain on the sale of property containing an improvement made by that same owner, the owner could claim a deduction calculated based on the length of time since the improvement was installed. The deduction schedule would be:

• 100 percent: For improvements put into service within the five years before the end of the taxable year
• 75 percent: For improvements put into service more than five years but less than ten years before the end of the taxable year
• 50 percent: For improvements put into service more than ten years before the end of the taxable year

Interesting item in the Dayton Daily News on the potential extension of the Third Frontier program.

Based on a changed business model, it appears IBC Solar is relocating its Cleveland office to San Francisco. 

Read the full article on The Plain Dealer site

The Willoughby News-Herald has an interesting story about a proposed wind farm in Northeast Ohio.

Read the full story on the News-Herald site

Save the Date!

Great Lakes Energy Institute
Case Western Reserve University
10900 Euclid Avenue, Olin 305
Cleveland, OH  44106
(216) 368-0748

http://energy.case.edu

The Appalachian Regional Commission is holding a conference in Athens, Ohio on October 26-28, 2009 to address the potential job opportunities the new clean economy may present for Appalachia.  Made up of 13 states, the Appalachian region is experiencing new job creation and innovation through renewable and advanced energy projects.  In Ohio, the development of the Hocking College Energy Institute http://www2.hocking.edu/hcei/ and the recent announcement of a new anaerobic digester developed by Schmack BioEnergy in Muskingum County d post are just two examples of the new opportunities for job creation and business development in the region.  To learn more about the conference and to register, go to http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?e=a38ed6f8-6b0f-44b4-9cbd-2f39bac5cf80.

Congratulations to Cleveland's Cardinal Fastener on its continued success in the wind manufacturing supply chain!

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2009/09/energy_grants_bolt_cardinal_fa.html

Please join Bricker & Eckler LLP and Novogradac & Company LLP for a one-day intensive training workshop that will explore options and tools for financing Ohio renewable energy projects. 

Featured panelists include:

• Mark Shanahan, Ohio Air Quality Development Authority, Executive Director and Energy Advisor to Ohio Governor Ted Strickland
• Steven Klein, First Infrastructure LLC, Financial Advisor to the upcoming U.S. Department of Energy's 1705 Loan Guarantee Program
• Darrell Fields, Ohio Air Quality Development Authority, General Counsel 

Agenda at a glance:

• Tour of State Subsidies 
• Debt Financing 
• Structuring Equity Transactions 
• Ohio's Role & Next Steps 

Wednesday, October 14th 
10 am - 4 pm
Cleveland Forum Conference Center

For agenda and registration information visit: http://www.novoco.com/emails/events/2009/aug_09-5.htm

Financing Ohio's Renewable Energy is being co-sponsored by Bricker & Eckler LLP and Novogradac & Company LLP.

The Pew Charitable Trusts recently released a study of the new "clean energy economy" and its impact on job growth and investment. The clean energy economy includes clean energy; energy efficiency; environmentally friendly production; conservation and pollution mitigation; and, training and support, according to the parameters of the study.

The report shows that in 2007, more than 68,000 businesses accounted for 770,000 jobs in clean energy fields nationwide. Similarly, the clean energy job growth in 2007 hit 9.1 percent, while the total job growth for the same period showed only a 3.7 percent increase. Ohio finished in the top 5 for job creation, nationwide.

Ohio ranked 4th in the number of clean energy jobs and 6th in business growth with a 30 percent total gain in jobs. That translates to more than 2,500 businesses and 35,000 jobs statewide. Additionally, Ohio had more than $74 million in clean energy economy venture capital investment between 2006 and 2008.

Pew credits state and federal policies such as renewable portfolio standards, energy efficiency requirements, and vehicle mileage standards for encouraging growth. Overall, the study concluded that the clean energy economy was a better investment of venture capital than traditional investments over the past several years. Pew predicts this trend to continue into the foreseeable future.