Welcome to the Advanced Energy
Component of Ohio's Job Stimulus Program
On behalf of the Ohio Air Quality Development Authority (OAQDA) and Governor Ted Strickland, I am pleased to present to Ohio industry and technology organizations the opportunity to submit proposals for grant and loan awards under the Advanced Energy portion of the bipartisan Job Stimulus package (HB 554).
The $150 million advanced energy funding (over three years) seeks to increase the development, production and use of advanced energy technologies in the state, and is divided into two parts:
- $66 million for clean coal technology projects administered through OAQDA’s Ohio Coal Development Office (OCDO) (reviewed by staff, outside reviewers and the Technical Advisory Committee and approved by OAQDA); and
- $84 million for non-coal-related projects in three $28 million annual appropriations administered by OAQDA (reviewed by staff and outside reviewers, the Development Finance Advisory Council, approved by OAQDA and brought before Controlling Board for final approval).
Ohio’s reliance on coal has deep historical roots. It continues to provide thousands of direct jobs. More importantly, it is our primary fuel for the generation of electricity supporting millions of jobs in manufacturing, logistics, food processing, agriculture, commercial and retail sectors. We all recognize our responsibility to develop ways to use that coal more economically and cleanly.
Ohio’s renewable energy industry supported over 6600 jobs and generated nearly $800 million in revenues in 2006. The energy efficiency industry created over $50 billion in revenue and employed nearly 500,000. We recognize that growing advanced energy technologies in Ohio offers tremendous opportunity to expand the state’s wealth in manufacturing as well as research and development.
OAQDA intends to use the financial leverage of the Advanced Energy Job Stimulus Fund to build on industrial strengths that will further the economic vitality of Ohio’s energy industry, as well as attract investment in building and commercializing technologies to produce cleaner, domestically secure energy.
The two parts of the Advanced Energy component present very different development challenges. Accordingly, we created separate application processes. You can access both from this site. On each, you will find descriptions of the purpose and goals of the program, the eligibility requirements, award guidelines and the information needed to apply. I encourage business and institutional leaders to take advantage of this program and join us in supporting creative applications that will make a difference in Ohio’s workforce and industrial development.
Finally, a word about timing: The funds to support both parts of the Advanced Energy component will be raised through the sale of bonds of the State of Ohio. As you can imagine, the timing of such bond sales is difficult to predict in the current volatile bond market. We hope to be able to have funds available in the early part of 2009.
Thank you.
For clean coal technology projects, click here.
For non-coal advanced energy projects, click here.
Mark R. Shanahan
Governor’s Energy Advisor
and
Executive Director, Ohio Air Quality Development Authority