Senator Sherrod Brown

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced new legislation he cosponsored that would build a green manufacturing base in Ohio. As the Senate prepares to debate comprehensive energy legislation, The Restoring America’s Manufacturing Leadership through Energy Efficiency Act of 2009 would help manufacturers adopt energy efficient technologies so they can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, cut costs, and protect jobs. It would also promote the development, commercialization, and manufacture of energy efficient technologies and processes.

“We can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create jobs at the same time," Brown said. "This bill would revitalize Ohio’s manufacturing base through investment in green energy technologies. Given the right resources, American workers and manufacturers can meet the economic and energy challenges before us.”

Brown joined a bipartisan group of eight senators this week to introduce The Restoring America’s Manufacturing Leadership through Energy Efficiency Act of 2009 (S. 661). This bill would provide a financing mechanism for manufacturers to implement new technologies and improve competiveness. It would also support the future of manufacturing by encouraging a “green energy supply chain.” 

Brown was joined by Wendy Patton of Policy Matters Ohio, a non-partisan, not-for-profit research organization that looks at local impacts of emerging green policies on Ohio manufacturing companies.

They discussed a new county-by-county count of Ohio manufacturing companies that could benefit from the legislation. The count, which combined data from the U.S. Department of Energy and D&B (Harris Directory) and compiled by Policy Matters Ohio, includes 389 manufacturing plants in Ohio. The plants all employ more than 200 workers, represent sectors with significant carbon footprints, are highly energy intensive, and compete in the global market. In total, the 389 plants represent 196,000 jobs—a third of Ohio’s manufacturing employment base—and are located in 70 of Ohio’s 88 counties.

The bill would also help smaller firms in other sectors of manufacturing by providing financial and counseling support.

"Manufacturing remains central to Ohio's economy. We have jobs to protect and growth potential to promote," said Wendy Patton, Senior Associate for Policy Matters Ohio. "Our past research found that Ohio could be fourth among the states in job growth from green markets given policies promoting domestic manufacturing. Senate Bill 661 contains many of these policies."
S. 661, the Restoring America’s Manufacturing Leadership through Energy Efficiency Act of 2009, is sponsored by Brown and Senators Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Chairman of Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Lisa Murkowski, (R-AK), Susan Collins (R-ME), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Evan Bayh (D-IN), and Mark Pryor (D-AR).  The bill is likely to be considered as part of the comprehensive energy legislation that the Senate Energy Committee expects to start marking up next week.  It takes critical first steps in revitalizing our nation’s manufacturing base by:
•    Helping manufacturers adopt energy efficiency measures to increase productivity, reduce fuel consumption, and protect jobs: S. 661 would establish financing mechanisms for both small and large manufacturers to adopt advanced energy efficient production technologies and processes.
•    Supporting a “Green Energy Supply Chain”: S. 661 would create industry-led partnerships to develop plans and provide competitive grants that would support the research, development, commercialization, and manufacture of energy efficient technologies and processes.
•    Provide Support and Workforce Training for Green Energy Manufacturing: S. 661 would expand existing Industrial Research and Assessment Centers to provide more support to small and medium manufacturers.  The bill would also provide paid internship at the centers for students to implement energy efficiency technologies by working with industries and manufacturers.

Brown also joined a bipartisan group of five senators today to improve other resources available to Ohio manufacturers. This separate bill, which will be introduced today, will reduce the cost share burden that Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) centers face.  At present, MEP centers must provide two-thirds of their annual funding after four years of operation, with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) at the Department of Commerce providing one-third of the centers’ funding.  The senators’ legislation would change the MEP centers’ cost share to 50 percent of its funding for all years of operation. The Manufacturing Extension Partnership is a public-private network of centers located in all 50 states that assist small and medium-sized manufacturers in expanding operations, becoming leaner, increasing sales, and creating jobs. MEP clients created or retained 57,079 jobs, generated over $10.5 billion in sales, and provided cost savings in excess of $1.44 billion in Fiscal Year 2008 alone.

“In tough economic times, it’s more important than ever to invest in Ohio manufacturing,” said Senator Brown.  “The Manufacturing Extension program provides a lifeline to Ohio manufacturers.  By strengthening this program, we can boost productivity and create new jobs.  Given the right resources, American manufacturers can and will compete with anyone in the global market.”
                 
Since 2000, Ohio has lost more than 250,000 manufacturing jobs. Seventy-seven of Ohio’s 88 counties have had a loss of manufacturing jobs since 2001, with the remainder experiencing job stagnation. Regions hurt the most by manufacturing job loss also have the most potential to take advantage of supplying the components required by the renewable energy sector.

Brown has been working to position Ohio as the Silicon Valley of alternative energy. After a series of green energy roundtables across Ohio, Brown sponsored several pieces of legislation to build on Ohio’s manufacturing heritage and create a new generation of green jobs.

Brown is also author of Green Energy Production Act of 2009. This bill would expand green energy research and development, promote the commercialization of emerging energy technologies, enhance training opportunities to equip workers for 21st century energy jobs, and help build a green energy manufacturing base.

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