OHIO READY TO MAKE WIND

Industries ready to ride the wind; 170 businesses make bearings, hydraulics, sensors, fasteners, other goods needed to produce turbines
Bob Downing, January 11, 2010 (Akron Journal Beacon)

"Ohio is chasing the wind — and the dollars it can produce.

"Around the world, wind is a booming, $40 billion-a-year industry that is growing at 30 percent a year…Ohio, however, is far behind other states in developing wind. Six wind farms are pending…[O]thers are looking at developing the United States' first offshore wind farm using Lake Erie…[But] the state is poised to enjoy a big economic impact through its wind-power suppliers."

Wind offers opportunity in a wide range of blue collar work. (click to enlarge)

"…[A 2004 report showed]…wind could create 11,688 jobs and add $3.9 billion in capital investments to Ohio's economy…Ohio actively is organizing and promoting its wind-power supply chain, which includes 170 companies that make bearings, fasteners, control systems, composites, gear boxes, brakes, generators, metal coatings, gears, hydraulics, sensors and electronics needed to manufacture the 8,000 components found in a typical utility-size wind turbine…When assembled, turbines cost about $2 million each.

"Ohio suppliers range from alloy steel and bearing maker Timken Co. in Canton to ring-bearing maker Rotek Inc. in Aurora and Cardinal Fasteners in Cleveland…An additional 500 Ohio companies are retooling to get into wind power…The Ohio Energy Office [is working with]…the Great Lakes Wind Network and…Ohio's Edison Centers to continue identifying companies that can retool, retrofit and replace facilities and business strategies to serve the growing demand for wind-power components…Ohio heavy industry, foundry, fabricating, heavy machine, coating, galvanizing and tooling industries are all in position to tap into the wind market…"

The wind industry can rejuventate the Rust Belt if U.S. policy supports growth. (clikc to enlarge)

"An Iowa turbine manufacturer reported that roughly half of the turbine components came from Ohio…A large wind-turbine manufacturer is based in Colorado, but its purchasing office is in Chicago to be closer to suppliers…Companies also could benefit from developing offshore wind turbines on Lake Erie and other Great Lakes…Despite its industrial base, Ohio is not a leader in turbine manufacturing and faces stiff competition from other states, like Iowa and Colorado, that were aggressive early on…Michigan, another hard-hit auto state, also is positioning itself to become a big wind-power equipment provider…[but] most developers want to be close to suppliers…because shipping a single turbine blade from Europe to the United States can cost $15 per mile…

"Turbine design has changed greatly in recent years — with turbines getting bigger and more efficient…[B]igger turbines with bigger components boost Ohio's position as king of the wind-power supply chain…because of increased shipping costs…There [is a growing number of] turbine manufacturers in the United States and Canada now, and about half of today's wind components are made in the United States…"