‘Green’ Resources Energize Cities’ Economies

The “Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency: Economic Drivers for the 21st Century” report shows that the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries already generate 8.5 million jobs in the U.S. By 2030, with appropriate public policy, the industries could generate up to $4.5 trillion in revenue in the U.S. and could grow to as many as 40 million jobs, the report says.

“The green collar job boom is here,” said Neal Lurie, director of marketing of the American Solar Energy Society. “Renewable energy and energy efficiency are economic powerhouses.”

Numerous cities, such as Cleveland, Tucson, Ariz., and Windsor, Colo., are jumping on the green bandwagon after seeing that the renewable energy and energy-efficiency field is one of the hottest areas of growth in the U.S., not just because of its ability to ensure a sustainable environment, but also as an economic development tool.

Cleveland
Wind turbines are becoming a familiar sight around the world, especially due to the wind industry’s numerous economic advantages: revitalizing rural economies, requiring fewer subsidies, providing free fuel, having price stability, promoting cost-effective energy production and creating jobs.

As the fifth largest energy consumer in the country, according to Andrew Watterson, city sustainability manager, Cleveland is following suit and has started studying whether winds off of Lake Erie can provide Northeast Ohio with power and employment opportunities.

Spearheading the study is the Cleveland-based subsidiary of Juwi International, a German company with expertise in harnessing wind power, that has set up shop to help determine the cost-effectiveness, funding sources and benefits of building up to 10 wind turbines off the shore of downtown Cleveland.

According to Richard Stuebi, Ohio isn’t the first place wind industry insiders would usually look, but Juwi International saw that the state was “an unexploited opportunity” that’s less competitive.

“They picked Ohio as kind of a diamond in the rough,” said Stuebi.

In addition to the turbines on the lake, a wind-energy research facility will be established. The wind farm would be built near the Cleveland shoreline, making it the world’s first fresh water wind turbine.

To continue promoting sustainability, the Green Technologies Business Grant Program was developed to help new and existing green technology companies by providing cash infusions to help them achieve growth.

The grants are targeted toward companies with proprietary technologies, that have strong growth indicators and can meet the unique needs of the energy, transportation and electronic industries. These companies should represent an excellent source of employment growth for the region as well as one of the strongest opportunities to provide superior investment returns to investors and the community.

Approved companies will receive up to $50,000 per year for three years, based on 50 percent of the new Cleveland income taxes generated.

In the forefront of Cleveland’s efforts to reduce energy consumption is the Cuyahoga County Energy Task Force. The task force focuses on exploring the options available to advance renewable energy for its region.

“Through efforts within the county seat, we formed the Cuyahoga County Energy Task Force to create a market for advanced energy,” said Cleveland Council Member Matthew Zone, steering committee member of NLC’s Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Advocacy Committee. “[Cleveland] is strategically located and can be a leader in advanced energy development."

Tucson
Dedicated to exploring and using alternative and renewable energy technologies to power its operations, Tucson continues to develop its renewable energy market. Due to its efforts, the city was selected as one of the Department of Energy’s Solar America Cities for 2007, and was awarded with a grant to continue financing solar sites.

To date, there are three primary solar manufacturing companies in the Tucson region. One such company that specializes in manufacturing thin-film Copper Indium Gallium DiSelenide (CIGS) solar cells on a flexible substrate, a technology used for all types of remote power needs from charging a laptop battery to charging military equipment in the field, recently completed its move into a new factory in Tucson. The coming of Global Solar Energy has brought numerous jobs to the city.

“Production from this facility will help satisfy the strong demand for solar product across the world, while providing local residents of Tucson, already a Solar America City, with jobs in a rapidly-growing, high-tech industry,” said Tom Kimbis, acting director at the Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technology Program.

Manufacturing a new type of photovoltaic module that uses transparent holographic optical elements in its design to collect and spectrally select wavelengths from the sun to create electricity, Prism Solar Technologies Inc. opened a new research and development facility in Tucson last year.

This past January, the company was awarded an Arizona Job Training grant from the Arizona Department of Commerce in the amount of $74,846 for training new employees and $48,875 for incumbent employees. The Arizona Job Training Fund is used to help support Arizona businesses by reimbursing a percentage of training costs. Because the grants are job specific, they not only create new jobs and increase the skill and wage levels of employees in Arizona, but also allow customized training to meet specific needs of employers.

Last year, Tucson also welcomed Berlin-based SOLON AG, one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of photovoltaic systems that turn sunlight directly into electricity, to make and install commercial solar-electric equipment.

The number of employees working at the facility is expected to rise to more than 100 by the end of the year.

Windsor
With the word “wind” in its name, Windsor fittingly welcomed a leading supplier of wind power technology to its city in March to join in on the rapid growth of wind power.

Vestas decided to establish its first U.S.-based blade factory in the Great Western Industrial Park in Windsor based on the park’s central location, as well as the direct access to rail services and a skilled work force.

At the 400,000 sq. ft. factory, Vestas manufactures 40 meter blades for the Vestas V82 wind turbine and 44 meter blades for the Vestas V90 wind turbine. The company is expected to create approximately 650 new local jobs by mid-2009.

Gov. Bill Ritter praised Vestas for bringing a business to Colorado that will provide jobs, create economic opportunity in rural Colorado and contribute to the state’s quest for energy independence and improved national security.

“Not only is wind free, but it’s clean,” Ritter said, noting that Colorado is the 11th windiest state in the nation. “… We are making a statement to the rest of the country that we will be renewable energy leaders around the world and certainly here in the United States. This plant will help us fulfill that vision.”