Renewable Energy/NW OH

[irishbobcat]

Renewable Energy Pioneers -- Right in Northwest Ohio-Why Not Youngstown?

July 3, 2008

According to an article from James Canterbury from Toledo he reports this week that Ohio is becoming a leader in alternative energy research and development. For example, the Sunlight Corporation in Toledo has been making flexible solar panels for years and is now expanding to become one of the largest manufacturers in the country. But that's not unusual, according to Sunlight's vice president.

"Even though people might think there is not much sunshine in this area, actually there are quite a lot of manufacturing and research efforts in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan," says Liwei Xu, Ph.D.  Much of that research, which is done at the University of Toledo, is resulting in some surprising uses for alternative, renewable energy. The technology exists today that could help you recharge your dead cell phone with your own personal solar panel.

While Sunlight Corp. tries to harness the power of the sun, one local school district is roping the wind -- or hopes to in about a year. Archbold Schools District is raising a wind study tower with help from Green Energy Ohio.   "Basically, what results we will get from that is what size wind turbine would benefit our school district the most and provide us with the most energy to help offset our electric and utility bills," explains Laura Bickel, science teacher.  These alternative energy pioneers are doing what it takes to become future power players.

Again, we see other areas of Ohio jumping on the renewable energy bandwagon, while the Mahoning Valley political leaders stay mum on the subject and refuse to act.

Even the Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that the city of Houston, Texas is giving wind power a try. The heart of the U.S. oil patch on Tuesday began using wind-powered electricity for about a fourth of its municipal power needs at a lower price than it is paying for power produced from coal and natural gas, city officials said.

The move shows how renewable energy's prospects are improving at a time of soaring fossil-fuel prices. Long derided as an expensive niche, wind power now is moving closer to the mainstream.

As the Green Party Candidate for State Representative for the 60th District, I again point out the high tech and blue-collar jobs that can be brought to the valley if we turn our attention to renewable energy manufacturing jobs for this area. Why is incumbent Bob Hagan failed to speak up on this subject? Why has Republican candidate Tim Gordon failed to speak up on this issue? Do they not want new jobs and neighborhoods for our poor, working, and middle class of the 60th district?

Dennis Spisak-Green Party Candidate for State Representative-60th District

Campaign site: Http://votespisak.tripod.com

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