Over the past two weeks, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown travelled across Ohio – holding community forums and roundtables to get Ohioans’ input on issues that matter to them. Since 2007, Sen. Brown has held more than 150 roundtables – visiting each of Ohio’s 88 counties at least once. Brown held a series of events to promote advanced energy sources and clean energy manufacturing.

Offshore Wind Turbine Projects

Sen. Brown and Governor Ted Strickland joined Cleveland leaders on Monday, March 29 to outline plans to advance offshore wind energy projects. Brown unveiled new legislation aimed at advancing the installation of offshore wind turbines in freshwater bodies like Lake Erie, and Strickland gave an update on state efforts to advance wind energy.

Brown’s new legislation, The Program for Offshore Wind Energy Research and Development (POWERED) Act of 2010, would spur research on potential offshore wind projects, expand incentives for offshore wind development, and require the Department of Energy (DOE) to develop a comprehensive roadmap for the deployment of offshore wind. Brown is also the original cosponsor of S. 3062, legislation which would provide the offshore wind industry with enhanced stability by extending production and investment tax credits for offshore wind until 2020. These provisions are vital because of the long lead times required to permit and construct wind turbines offshore, compared to onshore wind energy. Brown’s POWERED Act has been endorsed by The University Clean Energy Alliance of Ohio, Case Western Reserve University, The University of Toledo, Bowling Green State University, The Ohio State University, The Great Lakes Wind Network, and by wind developers like NRG Bluewater Wind.

President Obama’s Top Advisor on Manufacturing Visits Columbus

On Wednesday, April 7, Sen. Brown joined Ron Bloom, President Obama’s Senior Counselor for Manufacturing Policy, for a visit to the Edison Welding Institute in Columbus. They called for an expansion to the Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit 48(C). The 48(C) Manufacturing Tax Credit is a 30 percent credit for domestic companies building capacity to meet the growing demand for clean energy production. Through “Section 48(C)” in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, $2.3 billion in federal funds were awarded to Ohio institutions who leveraged more than $5.4 billion of private investment to support the creation of manufacturing jobs. Sen. Brown has called on Congress to expand the 48(C) program to help promote more clean energy manufacturing in Ohio.

Roundtable in Marietta

On Monday, April 5, Sen. Brown convened a community roundtable at Thermo Fisher, an analytical instruments manufacturer in Marietta. Manufacturers from throughout southeastern Ohio discussed the challenges of the current recession and its long-term opportunities; availability of credit and workforce training and development; competitiveness in a clean energy economy; and overseas trade issues. Thermo Fisher recently announced plans to expand their workforce, adding more than 100 jobs over the next two years.

Brown is the author of the Investments for Manufacturing Progress and Clean Technology (IMPACT) Act of 2009, legislation incorporated in the House-passed clean energy bill that would create a $30 billion revolving loan program to help auto suppliers and other small- and mid-sized manufacturers adapt and innovate for the clean energy industry.

For more information on how Sen. Brown is working to help Ohio manufacturers retool for the clean energy economy call (202) 224-2315 or visit his Web site.