Knowledge Center
Sustainability News
December 2009
Congressman Ryan announces green partnership to spur jobs, by Ron Selak Jr., Warren Tribune Chronicle, December 18, 2009
Copenhagen—U.S. Rep. Timothy J. Ryan announced a partnership between Youngstown and California-based Global Green USA to foster green job creation and development in the city.
Ohio awards $6M for solar technology research, Toledo Blade, December 18, 2009
Columbus, Ohio—The state of Ohio's Third Frontier program Thursday awarded $6 million to push the state's growing photovoltaic sector, including $4.25 million to several firms with strong ties to the University of Toledo.
China, world's top polluter, emerges as green-technology leader, by Shai Oster, Wall Street Journal, December 16, 2009 (Subscription)
Beijing—China's vast market and economies of scale are bringing down the cost of solar and wind energy, as well as other environmentally friendly technologies such as electric car batteries.
White House promotes clean energy tax credits, by Julie Pace, AP via Google News, December 16, 2009
Washington—The White House is promoting a $5 billion increase in tax breaks for clean energy manufacturing in hopes of contributing to job growth and expanded use of renewable energy.
Green Jobs: Obama, big business stress upside to energy and climate legislation, by Keith Johnson, Environmental Capital Blog, Wall Street Journal, December 15, 2009 (Subscription)
Washington—The idea that new energy and climate legislation will help—not hurt—the economy is gaining plenty of traction even outside the White House.
Dow Chemical plant to add product line, jobs, Findlay Courier, December 15, 2009
Findlay, Ohio—Dow Chemical Co.'s Findlay plant will add 11 jobs and four contract positions when it begins production of films used in solar energy modules in 2010, the company said Monday.
Parker Hannifin sells hydraulic hybrid systems to Florida communities, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 11, 2009
Cleveland—Parker Hannifin Corp. has sold 11 of its hydraulic hybrid truck systems to Miami, Miami-Dade County and Hialeah in Florida. The communities plan to use the hybrid systems in garbage trucks.
Small-engine makers voice worry as EPA weighs new ethanol rule, by Mark Long, Wall Street Journal, December 7, 2009 (Subscription)
New York—Small-engine-industry groups are worried their concerns about engine damage will be overlooked as the Environmental Protection Agency considers allowing as much as 15% ethanol in the nation's gasoline.
EPA declares carbon dioxide a health hazard, Staff and Wire Reports, Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 7, 2009
Cleveland—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency declared carbon dioxide a health hazard Monday, paving the way for new regulation of emissions from sources such as power plants and factories -- and even cars and trucks.
U.S. officials see bright future for new Toledo biofuel plant, by Larry P. Vellequette, Toledo Blade, December 5, 2009
Toledo—U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu, a recipient of the Nobel Prize in physics, said Friday the technology being developed in Toledo to convert biomatter as simple as yard waste into a clean alternative to traditional diesel fuel is likely to have broad-reaching effects on communities across the world.
NorTech sets up nonprofit to promote wind power on Lake Erie, by Dan Shingler, Crain's Cleveland Business, December 4, 2009
Cleveland—NorTech's Advanced Energy steering committee has determined its first order of business will be to work with the Great Lakes Wind Task Force to set up the Lake Erie Energy Development Corp., or LEEDCo.
Criticism of wind farms overblown, study finds, AP via Toledo Blade, December 3, 2009
Denver—Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory said a three-year study of 7,500 home sales showed wind farms have no measurable effect on nearby property values.
Eliminating waste saves company thousands of dollars, by Dan Bobkoff, WCPN, December 2, 2009
Bedford, Ohio—The Taylor Companies of Bedford cleaned up a polluted brownfield and then built a new factory on the site. Now, that plant is a model of sustainability. By reducing waste and installing energy efficient machinery, Baldassari says going green saves Taylor about $100 grand a year.
November 2009 Sustainability News Briefs