Central Ohio Congressional Delegation Reaffirms Support for Coda Loan Guarantee

Press Release

A bipartisan group of lawmakers, led by U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Rob Portman (R-OH), U.S. Reps. Pat Tiberi, Steve Stivers, and Steve Austria, today sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu urging that he provide any and all resources necessary to expedite consideration of CODA Automotive's pending loan guarantee application to bolster manufacturing jobs in Ohio.

CODA Automotive -- a California-based company that produces electric cars -- announced last spring that it planned to locate a plant in Columbus that would build lithium-ion batteries for electric cars. Expected to create upwards of 1,000 jobs in Ohio, the plant is contingent on a pending loan guarantee application through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan (ATVM) program.

"CODA is on the front lines of innovation in manufacturing, which is one of the many reasons why central Ohio is the right home for its plant," Brown said. "Not just a center for innovation, Ohio is also a national leader for clean energy component manufacturing for the auto industry. I will continue to work with my colleagues in the Ohio delegation to continue pushing the Obama Administration to achieve the goal of landing CODA in Columbus."

"I hope the DOE will move forward on CODA's loan application as it will create new jobs and advance Ohio's efforts in new energy technologies," said Portman. "I applaud CODA's efforts on this clean energy initiative and potential investment in Ohio. The DOE should support this project, which is in line with pro-growth strategies to reduce our dependence on foreign oil."

"CODA Automotive's application has been pending for more than a year, and we appreciate your efforts to review their application," said Tiberi. "Their all-electric, zero-emission automobiles represents a tremendous opportunity for Ohio to be at the forefront of energy technology that will create jobs and power the future."

"I encourage the Department of Energy to move quickly in its approval of the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing program," Stivers said. "This approval will help CODA create over 2,000 new jobs."

"CODA Automotive has the potential of bringing thousands of jobs to central Ohio. With high unemployment, this is the type of job creation our state needs to help get our economy back on track and put Ohioans back to work," said Austria.

Brown is working to ensure that the project--expected to create up to 1,328 jobs after five years of operation-- obtains the necessary site and incentives approvals. A coordinated Ohio team, including Sen. Brown, then-Governor Ted Strickland, Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman, the Columbus Partnership, the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, The Ohio State University, Franklin County officials and other local leaders, met with the company throughout 2010 to discuss CODA's needs before reaching an agreement contingent upon the approvals of state incentives. Work continues with these partners, including Governor John Kasich.