Cincinnati firms will benefit from 29 percent growth in wind energy demand

Wind energy is the world’s fastest growing energy resource, with growth of more than 29 percent annually over the past five years. This record demand for wind power has caused a two-year supply shortage of wind turbines, says the Ohio Department of Development. That could be good news for several Greater Cincinnati companies that supply the wind energy network, including General Tool, which manufactures turbine parts, Magna Machine, which makes support bases, power hubs and other major wind turbine components, and Heroux-Devtek, which manufactures large parts for the turbine industry at its two Cincinnati plants.
 
The state of Ohio wants to expand and promote the industry, attract related companies to the state and provide the infrastructure needed. It took a step toward doing that by awarding an $850,000 grant to the Westside Industrial Retention and Expansion Network (WIRE-Net) so that group can identify, expand, and promote the wind energy supply chain.  WIRE-Net’s Great Lakes Wind Network will partner with several Ohio organizations, including the Edison Welding Institute, the Edison Materials Technology Center, and Ohio University over the next year to connect leaders from manufacturing companies serving the wind industry, create new business opportunities, link buyers with sellers, and educate on market needs and trends. By making th emost of Ohio’s large manufacturing base and workforce to establish a sustainable manufacturing supply chain, “Ohio can sharpen our competitive advantage in the wind industry,” says Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher.

Writer: David Holthaus
Source: Melissa Vince, Ohio Department of Development