Power of Wind

The wind energy industry is creating manufacturing jobs throughout Ohio

Ohio has developable wind resources both on and offshore. By developing these resources, the state can create new economic development. The state is already a hub for wind energy manufacturing, and could attract larger investment with growth in in-state installations.

ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS

Blue counties have installed wind capacity. Green dots are wind energy manufacturing facilities.

Investment in wind power is an investment in jobs, including jobs in operations and maintenance, construction, manufacturing and many support sectors. In addition, wind power projects produce lease payments for landowners and increase the tax base of communities. 

• Total direct and indirect jobs supported in 2010: 3,000-4,000
• Annual property tax payments by wind project owners: nearly $2.5 million 
• Annual land lease payments to Ohio landowners: over $300,000

Generating wind power creates no emissions and uses virtually no water. The wind power installed in Ohio will avoid 190,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

Wind Power

Currently online: 420 Megawatts (MW)
Added in 2012 YTD: 308 MW
Added in 2011: 102 MW
Under construction: 2 MW
Wind projects in queue: 6,179 MW

Ohio was the fastest growing state for new installations in 2011, and now has enough wind installed to poewr over 100,000 homes.

WIND RESOURCE

State wind resource: 54,920 MW (onshore at 80 meters)
State wind resource ranking: 18th 

According to a resource assessment from the National Renewable Energy Lab, Ohio’s onshore wind resource could provide 95.3 percent of the state’s current electricity needs.

MANUFACTURING Sector

Ohio has become a manufacturing powerhouse for the wind energy industry. Many of the skills Ohio workers possess easily transfer to wind energy manufacturing, providing thousands of new jobs and spurring billions in investment. Many Ohio companies have already begun supplying to the wind energy industry. There are well over 50 companies currently manufacturing components for the wind energy industry in Ohio.

OHIO POLICY

Ohio passed a renewable energy standard (RES) as part of a larger Advanced Energy Standard in 2008. The RES requires utilities to provide 12.5 percent of their 2025 supply from renewable resources. 
 

Federal Policy- The Production Tax Credit

The federal legislators listed below have publicly indicated their position on the federal renewable energy production tax credit (PTC).  If your legislator is not listed, he or she has not taken a public stance.

Representative Jim Jordan- Ohio 4th district (R)

Rep. Jordan has publicly expressed opposition to the PTC extension by:

• Signing a letter to Speaker Boehner in September 2012, urging him to let the PTC expire at the end of 2012.

Representative Marcy Kaptor- Ohio 9th district (D)

Rep. Kaptor has publicly expressed support for the PTC extension by:

• Cosponsoring H.R. 3307, the American Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit Extension Act, a bill that proposes to extend the PTC for four years.

Representative Betty Sutton- Ohio 13th district (D)

Rep. Sutton has publicly expressed support for the PTC extension by:

• Cosponsoring H.R. 3307, the American Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit Extension Act, a bill that proposes to extend the PTC for four years.

Representative Jim Renacci- Ohio 16th district (R)

Rep. Renacci has publicly expressed support for the PTC extension by:

• Cosponsoring H.R. 3307, the American Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit Extension Act, a bill that proposes to extend the PTC for four years.
• Signing a letter to House Ways and Means Subcommittee Chairman in April 2012, urging a PTC extension in the "next available tax legislation."
• Signing a bi-partisan letter to House Republican leadership in June 2012 urging them to take up a PTC extension as soon as possible.

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Updated November 2012 | Calculations based on national and state averages