The other U.S. senator from Ohio – Democrat Sherrod Brown – says Ohio is set to become a national leader in clean energy manufacturing and that a clean energy policy can revitalize U.S. manufacturing.
While Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio) slowed energy-climate legislation currently in the Environment and Public Works Committee by boycotting the markup session, Brown pointed to a report today that shows the Buckeye state could benefit from thousands of new jobs at the state’s 2,400 existing manufacturing plants – jobs that are sorely needed.
Federal clean energy legislation could create more than 51,000 jobs in Ohio, according to the report, “Building a Clean Energy Assembly Line: How Renewable Energy Can Revitalize U.S. Manufacturing and the American Middle Class” released today. Overall, the report shows clean energy policy could generate more than 850,000 U.S. manufacturing jobs at existing firms by increasing demand for a clean energy supply chain.
Brown joined labor and clean energy leaders to announce the findings, which also shows that Ohio is in the top five states for potential job creation.
“Clean energy can revitalize U.S. manufacturing, and Ohio companies will lead the way in building the technology of the 21st century,” Brown said, in a press release posted on his Web site. “Clean energy technology utilizes many of the same components manufactured for the auto industry…By utilizing our state’s skilled workforce and longstanding auto component supply chain, we can make Ohio the Silicon Valley of Clean Energy Manufacturing.”
Ohio the Silicon Valley of Clean Energy Manufacturing? That’s quite a statement. Maybe it would come true if the Republican senators stop stalling and look to the future.
For related articles, click the links below: