Columbus, Ohio –Ohio Governor Ted Strickland and Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher, director of the Ohio Department of Development, today made $5 million in grants available for the Ohio Wind Production and Manufacturing Incentive. Currently, in the United States, Ohio ranks second only to California in the potential for new job creation for manufacturing wind components.
“These grants by the Ohio Department of Development are a great example of what we can do across state government to invest in Ohio’s energy industry,” Strickland said. “For our state to become a leader in next generation energy development and to earn the economic benefits that come with it we will need every department working together to fulfill the plan I put forth in my executive order.”
Last month, Strickland signed an energy executive order that directed state agencies to work with his newly appointed energy advisor to find ways to increase energy efficiency and to find ways to boost next generation energy production and distribution through investment in technology.
Eligible applicants for this grant program include large, utility-scale wind projects (producing over 5 megawatts of electricity) and for smaller, community wind projects (producing 500 kilowatts up to 5 MW). Once the project is approved the production incentive will be paid at a rate of 1 cent per kilowatt-hour generated. An additional incentive of 0.2 cents per kilowatt-hour generated will be available to projects that utilize Ohio-manufactured wind turbines. Wind turbines, both large and small, produce electricity for utilities, communities, and homeowners.
The Ohio Wind Production & Manufacturing Incentive Program is made possible with funds collected through the Advanced Energy Fund. To be eligible for wind energy production incentives, projects must begin commercial operation on or before December 31, 2008.
The authority for funding for the wind production incentive program comes from recently passed House Bill 251, introduced by Representative Joseph Uecker (R- House District 66), which allowed the Ohio Department of Development to offer the production incentive through the Advanced Energy Fund.
The Ohio Department of Development also supports wind development in Ohio by maintaining an on-line high resolution, interactive Ohio wind map and by participating actively in the Ohio Wind Working Group. More information is available at www.odod.state.oh.us/cdd/oee.
“The Ohio Wind Production and Manufacturing Incentives will boost Ohio’s development of next generation energy sources and create tremendous economic opportunities for Ohioans,” Fisher said. “The Ohio Department of Development will continue to encourage economic development that supports innovation and entrepreneurial initiatives in Ohio’s energy industry.”
Letters of intent for the Ohio Wind Production and Manufacturing Incentive are to be received by 3:00 pm on Monday, April 16, 2007. Applications are due to the Ohio Department of Development’s Office of Energy Efficiency by 3:00 pm on Friday, Monday, July 16, 2007. The application and application instructions can be downloaded at www.odod.state.oh.us/cdd/oee/GrantsLoans.htm.