Kick-Off of Energy Manufacturing Solutions Hub Showcases Region’s Strengths and Promise in Globally Competitive Industry

Central Ohio marked the official launch of its Energy Manufacturing Solutions Hub Thursday with a kick-off event that showcased the region’s assets, as well as the exciting ventures that are coming together to form this new globally competitive industry cluster.

“We are excited about the collaboration that has already begun in establishing a network of individuals and organizations dedicated to promoting smarter, more efficient, and hopefully, yet to be discovered ways to produce energy that will be manufactured here in Ohio,” said Ted Ford, president and CEO of TechColumbus. 

More than 130 were on hand for the luncheon event which featured keynote remarks from Dr. Alan Schriber, former chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, and a panel discussion among leading business executives already engaged in creating advanced energy solutions in the region.  
“Hubs are important,” said Schriber.  “They allow businesses facing similar challenges to share ideas, resources and solutions; they reduce redundancies and they help everyone move forward together more quickly.” 

Just how quickly this all comes together is of critical concern to all stakeholders. 
“Ohio has moved quickly into this space of creating hubs,” said Schriber.  “But I can assure you there are meetings like this going on in every state of the union; so you have to move rapidly to differentiate yourself from everyone else.”

One of those differentiators setting Central Ohio apart is the Ohio State University Center for Automotive Research (CAR). 
“Every hub is reliant on an institutional anchor,” said Frank Scardena, director of the Central Ohio Energy Manufacturing Solutions Hub.  “For us, it’s the OSU CAR program.  They are making advances over there that are creating new technologies ripe for commercialization and are helping attract new businesses to the region that will only continue to advance our standing in this market.” 

Two of those businesses attracted to the region were represented on the panel.  Venturi NA, manufacturers of electric vehicles (EVs) and Plug Smart, developers of solutions for more efficient and intelligent use of energy, established operations within the Hub to collaborate and be in close proximity to OSU CAR.    

“We are excited to be part of the Hub,” said John Pohill, Venturi CEO.  “We’re looking forward to sharing technologies with people in the Hub and to learning from others.  This will create value added solutions which are critical to doing business in the world today.” 

Plug Smart CEO Rich Housh also sees the power of the Hub.  “Just at this luncheon I’ve had the opportunity to meet people who are working on things that I want to collaborate on,”  he said.  “I’m looking forward to following up with them to see what we might be able to do together.”
Plug Smart offers a suite of solutions -- from smart charging solutions for EVs to community energy storage solutions -- designed to help companies, individuals and utility companies discover more efficient, intelligent ways of using energy. 

But such solutions are not a one-way proposition.  “We have to find ways to have information and even energy flow the other  way,” said Chris Schafer, AEP program manager. 

“The current system right now is pretty dumb,” said Schafer.  “We actually have to rely on our customers to call and tell us their electricity is out.  We have to change to a more intelligent system and that is what we are working on at AEP with the Smart Grid and other technologies.”

Schafer said the key is to provide customers with the information they need to make intelligent, informed decisions about their energy consumption. 

“If I told you it would cost you 40 cents to dry your clothes between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. versus four dollars between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. – what would you do?” 

Schafer says the Hub will be an invaluable resource in helping AEP continue its efforts to develop new and smarter ways of delivering energy to its customers. 

“With 15 or 20 companies all in one place, the Hub offers the perfect opportunity to help us identify new technologies and opportunities in this area.”

Central Ohio was designated as the Hub for Energy Manufacturing Solutions by the State of Ohio last October.  Hub partners include TechColumbus, EWI, Columbus 2020!, OSU CAR and the OSU Institute for Energy and the Environment.  The objective of the Hub is to create a cluster of companies, within the 15 counties comprising Central Ohio, focused on energy manufacturing solutions and technologies related to energy storage.

Sponsors for the kick-off event included Bricker & Eckler Attorneys at Law, Scitech, Battelle, and the Hilton Columbus Polaris.