Ohio gov. declares NW Ohio a solar energy hub

Northwest Ohio is known for alternative energy. Today, the Ohio governor decided to create a solar energy innovation hub. It means Ohio is committing about $250,000 to make this region known around the world as a leader in the solar industry.

Right now, the Metro Toledo is home to three big solar energy companies: First Solar, Willard Kelsey, and Xunlight. They are each involved in transforming the state's economy. And today, the governor declared northwest Ohio a solar energy hub, and pledged to help the region become the world center of solar power.

Gov. Ted Strickland said, "We're focusing on solar right now because of the history and current activities." By activities, the governor means all the research that's going on at both Bowling Green State University and the University of Toledo. For 100 years, our region has been a leader in natural gas and glass. But in the 21st century, it can be a hub of solar energy. So the governor is pushing the effort, which begins with helping universities attract top-notch energy researchers, which helps fuel new businesses where students find work and ultimately high-paying jobs.

BGSU president Dr. Carol Cartwright says, "The more marketable they are, they do stand out from the crowd when they go for that job." And president of UT, Dr. Lloyd Jacobs, says, "This is all a part of a step by step process to build new prosperity."

But along with the big solar companies building prosperity are the smaller companies, like Solcient, a 2-man operation now. There's hope to tap the research and the workers this new hub could attract to northwest Ohio.

Matt Longthorne of Solcient Energy says, "What we see in an opportunity to put those two things together and start putting solar on rooftops and all over the place to deploy it in large scale."

So this hub really could be the hot spot for energy development nationally and attract clusters of businesses from around the world. This is the third innovation hub the governor has created in Ohio. One in Dayton is dedicated to aerospace. A second in Cleveland focuses on biomedical.

Doctor Jacobs told 13abc that a delegation from the United Arab Emirates is building a city solely on alternative energy. He says in one month, they're traveling to Toledo to learn the latest technology.

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