Ohio Fosters Career Development in Advanced Energy Sector

What is a talented material science and engineering graduate to do in Ohio? Just ask Ryan Wayne. Ohio Third Frontier’s support of fuel cell technology helped him land a position researching fuel cells with the Case Advanced Power Institute at Case Western Reserve University, where he was working towards his master’s degree.

Ryan’s experience working with fuel cells as a graduate student eventually landed him a job as a scientist with GrafTech, a 120 year-old company located in Parma, Ohio that has recently transformed its business to accommodate the advanced energy industry of the 21st century. At GrafTech, Ryan develops components for fuel cells and other advanced electrochemical devices.

Recently, Ryan spoke with us about how Ohio Third Frontier, an unprecedented and bipartisan commitment to expand Ohio's technological strengths, helped launch his career. He said, “By supporting research in emerging fields and encouraging collaboration between Ohio’s universities and industry, Ohio Third Frontier creates employment opportunities for researchers on the leading edge of technology, helping reverse the brain drain from our state.”

Ryan believes that Ohio Third Frontier helps create high-tech, “green” manufacturing jobs by encouraging established companies to expand their operations into the advanced energy sector. Ultimately, Ryan told me that he believes that Ohio Third Frontier will be successful in its long-term mission to create the technology clusters that will establish Ohio as a world leader in advanced and renewable energy.

To read my full interview with Ryan, click here.

Natural-Gas Pipeline Creates New Jobs in Ohio

A new natural-gas pipeline extending from Colorado to Ohio has been providing a mini-stimulus across the country, specifically creating new jobs in Zanesville, Ohio. The $67 billion project, expected to be complete by early November, is one of the largest natural-gas pipelines built in the past 25 years.

Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP’s Rockies Express (REX) is responsible for the construction of the pipeline, which connects the remote stores of fossil fuel buried under the Rockies with the power-hungry markets of the Midwest and Northeast.

Construction began in 2005 and since then the project has utilized 27 million man-hours and created 10,000 new jobs, ranging from welders to road borers. REX built a new $35 miliion compressor station in Philo, Ohio for the project.

Click here to read the full Wall Street Journal article about the pipeline’s impact on Ohio’s economy and new job creation.

TechGROWTH Ohio Invests $1.3 Million in Energy Company

TechGROWTH Ohio recently announced an investment of $1.3 million in Athens-based Global Cooling, Inc., a company that develops innovative, high-performance, energy-efficient cooling products for customers in scientific, medical and electronics fields. TechGROWTH Ohio is an Entrepreneurial Signature Program (ESP) funded by the Ohio Third Frontier to serve southeast Ohio.

The Ohio Third Frontier is an unprecedented and bipartisan commitment to create technology-based products, companies, industries and jobs. Since its inception, the program has created or capitalized more than 500 companies and has created $6.6 billion in economic impact in Ohio, a 10:1 return on investment.

The East Central Ohio Tech Angel Fund (ECOTAF) and five individual “angel” investors (two American and three international) joined TechGROWTH Ohio in the financing.

Global Cooling will use the new capital to accelerate development and market introduction of several products, including the world’s first portable ultra-low temperature freezer (-80°C, -112°F). Global Cooling’s freezer technology weighs less than a third of the nearest competition and consumes less than a quarter of the power.

Click here to find out more about the Ohio Third Frontier, Ohio’s largest-ever commitment to high-tech job creation and economic progress.

Ohio Leads the Race in Green Automotive Innovations

The automotive future is looking brighter – and greener – thanks in part to a group of engineering students from The Ohio State University Center for Automotive Research (CAR). Recently, these students set a land speed record of 300 mph for a vehicle – the Buckeye Bullet 2— powered by hydrogen fuels cells. Talk about product innovation, this record-breaking fast car generates zero emissions!

The Ohio State University (OSU) is no stranger to setting land speed records with alternative energy vehicles. OSU's original Buckeye Bullet set the record as the first electric vehicle to go 300 mph. Of course, there is a difference between building a car for speed, and building one that provides sustained speed and power over a longer distance. The good news, though, is that commuter cars don't need to go 300 mph. The fact that it is possible could lead to future interest and product innovation in all-electric and hydrogen-fueled vehicles.

In the past few months, the CARs team has also developed a solar-powered vehicle that gets the equivalent of 2,000 MPG – again, with zero emissions. The CAR team also recently took first place in the 2009 EcoCAR NeXt Challenge for their design of an Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) powered by a 1.8-liter engine and fueled by E85 ethanol – a blended fuel comprised of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. The EcoCAR NeXt challenge was sponsored by the US Department of Energy and General Electric among others.

The CARs program is just one example of Ohio’s investment in product innovation that leverages the state’s traditional manufacturing strengths to create the 21st century jobs and industries that will power the state’s economy while creating a sustainable energy future. Click here to learn more about Ohio’s nationally recognized work in advanced energy innovations.

An Ohio Story – Advanced Energy Company Finds the Perfect Balance in Ohio

Jim Garrett is chief executive officer of Vadxx Energy, a privately owned company that produces oil and gas from petroleum-based liquid and solid wastes. Vadxx has offices in Bedford Heights and Akron, Ohio.

Jim recently spoke to me about why he chose to start his advanced energy business in Ohio. He cites both professional – and personal reasons that led to his decision. With 25 years experience in the energy industry, Jim has worked in the oil, gas and utilities fields. During this time, he lived in a number of different cities – both small and large – across the country. He believes Ohio offers “a balanced blend of business opportunity with a very diverse, comfortable and affordable personal lifestyle” – the perfect work-life balance.

He also started Vadxx in Ohio because the state offers an exceptional pool of technically trained labor in advanced energy, as well as a number of regional economic development arms that help grow small companies like his own.

Jim’s story exemplifies the authenticity of the Ohio Promise – the promise you can achieve professional success within the context of a fulfilling life. Click here to read more about Jim’s story and how he achieves the perfect work-life balance in Ohio.