Sen. Brown, Community Leaders, and Students Discuss Clean Energy Technology Innovation At Hocking College

Press Release

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today discussed opportunities for clean energy innovation and job training at the Hocking College Energy Institute in Logan. Following a roundtable meeting with local college professors, students, and community leaders, Sen. Brown toured the institute and met with Hocking College clean energy researchers.

"Hocking College Energy Institute is working on LEED certification because they know that clean energy jobs will lead our nation into the 21st century economy. By preparing our workforce for new, high-growth industries, Hocking College students and entrepreneurs will help make Ohio a national leader in creating good-paying clean energy manufacturing jobs that strengthen our economy and reduce our dependence on foreign sources of energy," said Brown.

The discussion focused on how Ohio's colleges and universities are playing a lead role in positioning Ohio as a national hub for clean energy manufacturing.

At the Hocking College Energy Institute, Brown toured the institute to see new features in green building design aspects and hands-on learning labs for students studying in the college's advanced energy, fuel cells, and vehicular hybrids training programs. The Hocking College Energy Institute project is pursing LEED Platinum certifications through the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The USGBC developed LEED green building rating systems to promote the use of environmentally responsible materials, sustainable architecture techniques, and public policy.

Brown has introduced a package of key legislative proposals aimed at bolstering the competiveness of U.S. manufacturers. He introduced the Investments for Manufacturing Progress and Clean Technology (IMPACT) Act last year to help small and mid-sized manufacturers retool for the clean energy economy. It is estimated that IMPACT could create 680,000 direct manufacturing jobs and nearly two million indirect jobs over five years. He is also a coauthor of the Security in Energy and Manufacturing (SEAM) Act, legislation that would expand loan and financing opportunities for Ohio manufacturers through the Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit (48C) program.

Brown's visit to Logan is part of his "Made in Ohio Tour," which kicked-off earlier this week. With the top priority of creating Ohio jobs, Brown is fighting for a multi-pronged effort to promote economic development. The key components of Senator Brown's jobs strategy are:

* Promoting the expansion of Ohio businesses by strengthening small business lending programs and aiding President Obama's goal to significantly boost U.S. exports.
* Transitioning away from our dependence on foreign oil to a clean energy future in which jobs are centered in the small businesses, manufacturing facilities, and universities of Ohio.
* Developing Ohio's workforce so that Ohioans are prepared to fill the jobs of the 21st century and revitalizing the state's infrastructure to attract those global industries.
* Making sure that Ohio industry isn't undermined due to unfair trade by pursuing remedies to counteract China's currency manipulation and subsidization of domestic industries.

Brown's legislaion, Strengthening Employment Clusters to Organize Regional Success (SECTORS) Act, which passed the House of Representatives in July, would create jobs in high-growth, regional industries-like clean energy in Northwest Ohio-by addressing the disparity between high unemployment rates and a shortage of skilled workers for many emerging industries. Despite Ohio's 10.5 percent unemployment rate, there is still demand in today's labor market for skilled workers. To address this disparity, the SECTORS Act provides grants for sector partnerships among institutions of higher education, industry, organized labor, and workforce boards.

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