Factors leading to Ohio's success include:

• A firm state-commitment that includes one of the nation's most aggressive renewable portfolio standards (RPS) and industry-specific incentive programs.
• Cutting edge innovation unique to Ohio's university system and non-profit organizations.
• A history of manufacturing excellence making way for an existing supply chain and green-collar workforce.
• A prime market for power generation thanks to a location within 600 miles of 60% of the U.S. population and a robust distribution grid.
• The lowest tax rates in the Midwest.

Ohio's advanced energy and environmental technologies industry includes companies that offer products and services that are based on the production of energy and environmental improvement. The scope of Ohio's advanced energy and environmental technologies industry encompasses research and development, manufacturing of solar, wind, biomass, clean coal, fuel cells, hydroelectric, geothermal, storage facilities that promote better utilization of renewable energy resources and other energy generating processes along with remediation and environmental engineering, research, testing and control systems. Whether it's in these fields or others—batteries, efficient lighting, advanced coal, bioenergy, nuclear—Ohio is the place to grow your business in advanced energy.

Late last month, Dayton Power and Light opened a new 1.1-megawatt solar array near its Yankee substation in Washington Township outside of Dayton, Ohio. Under construction for more than a year at a cost of $5 million, the Yankee Solar Array is expected to generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of 150 homes a year. Thank you hiVelocity for sharing this video with me of DP&L.

More than a decade ago, Geoff and Michelle Greenfield built their 100 percent solar and wind-powered dream home in Athens County, Ohio. After a few years of installing solar panels for interested friends and neighbors, the couple formally launched renewable energy design and installation firm Third Sun Solar & Wind Power Ltd. in 2000.

Today, Third Sun is one of about a dozen green energy businesses taking advantage of Enterprise Appalachia’s ideal selection criteria for business startups in: access to supply chain and markets, access to business capital and support services, access to knowledge and labor and access to a balanced life.

I recently spoke with Geoff about starting and growing his business in Appalachian Ohio. “Ohio’s Enterprise Appalachia offers a highly educated, dedicated and motivated workforce both for our office level and line level jobs,” he said. “There are a lot of talented, hard-working people here, and we get the best pick of them.”

Click here to read more about my interview with Geoff.

Nearly 30 years ago, this insight inspired the creation of Ohio University’s Innovation Center. Since then, the first university-based incubator in the state of Ohio and only the 12th in the U.S. has nurtured more than 80 companies and created more than 1,000 jobs in Ohio’s Appalachian Region.

Focused on information technology, biosciences and alternative and sustainable energy, the Center offers a home – complete with offices, conference rooms, shared office equipment and advanced laboratory equipment that includes the only commercial wet labs in Southeast Ohio – where startup businesses in these industries can grow.

The Center’s location in Ohio’s Enterprise Appalachia Region allows resident entrepreneurs to take advantage of an ideal startup environment that provides all of the criteria for business success: access to supply chain and markets, access to business capital and support services, access to knowledge and labor and access to a balanced life.

I recently spoke with Jennifer Simon, director of the Innovation Center. She pointed out that the entrepreneurs in Athens and the surrounding region want to stay. The business-friendly environment, growth opportunities and talented workforce fuel the growth of these small businesses, but the welcoming community and balanced lifestyle make them want to remain in the area.

Click here to read the full Ohio University Innovation Center story.

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.