Ohio could see $25B in investment by embracing clean energy

Ohio stands to benefit from the changing energy industry, but needs a strategy at the state and local levels, according to advocates.

A study released Tuesday by Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Synapse Energy Economics and Case Western Reserve University’s Great Lakes Energy Institute found new energy technologies could lead to $25 billion in new investment in Ohio and support another 20,000 jobs.

At a press event in Columbus, they called for favorable policies in local economic development as well as a longer-term roadmap from the Statehouse to better capture potential business investment and jobs.

“It's important we work hand-in-hand with state legislators to create rules and framework that guides the state forward," said Jason Slattery, director of solar for GEM Energy, part of Toledo-based construction company Rudolph Libbe Group that focuses on solar development especially for commercial industrial customers. It has worked significant recent solar energy projects at Ohio Northern University, Toledo Zoo, City of Bryan and the First Solar plant in Walbridge.

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