General

AK Steel and USW renewed labor agreement for Ashland Coke Plant
29 Aug 2008

AK Steel has announced that the members of United Steel Workers (USW) Local 8-523 have approved a new three-year labor agreement covering about 240 hourly production and maintenance employees at the company's Ashland, Kentucky coke plant. The new agreement takes effect immediately and runs through October 31, 2011. It replaces an agreement that would have expired on October 31, 2008. AK Steel confirmed that the new contract provides Ashland coke plant employees with competitive wages and benefits, including wage increases and a signing bonus.

Delta Companies Group and Cognis Corporation sign Contract
29 Aug 2008

Delta Companies Group, a subsidiary of Greif, Inc., has contracted to provide on-site packaging services to Cognis Corporation's chemical complex in Cincinnati, Ohio. The dedicated packaging facility is currently under construction, and when completed will fill Cognis products into quart and gallon packages, pails, kegs, drums and totes.

Despite economic fall, Dayton Airport is holding its air services intact
10 Aug 2008

Despite the record fuel prices and the mayhem caused by the airline industry, Dayton International Airport in Ohio has managed to keep a hold of most of its air services so far this year.

Dayton Airport director, Mr. Iftikhar Ahmad said that the airport has succeeded in reducing the airlines' operating costs by reducing the carriers' cost per enplanement from US$14 per passenger in late 2006 to US$5.50 now, getting more in line with the region's competing airports. This has helped increase passenger boarding in Dayton by about 3 % in 2008 from the corresponding months in 2007.

McDonald's introduces specialty coffees in Central Ohio
19 Aug 2008

McDonald's launched its new McCafe line of specialty coffees in all participating outlets in central Ohio on 19 August 2008. The new McCafe(R) Coffees feature all the taste and quality of a coffeehouse with the convenience and price of McDonald's including Lattes, Cappuccinos and Mochas. McDonald’s has increased its coffee and beverage options since the launch of its Premium Roast Coffee in 2006 and Iced Coffees in 2007. The Central Ohio Co-Op for McDonald's is one of the first markets in the country and the first in Ohio to offer the McCafe product line.

Ohio positive about a new GM-Moraine product possibility
19 Aug 2008

Ohio Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher and Gov. Ted Strickland met the decision-makers of General Motor last week and tried to persuade them to assign a new vehicle for production at GM's Moraine assembly plant in Ohio.

Rising gas prices and slow sales have forced the automaker to announce the closure of the Moraine plant and three other North American plants by 2010 or earlier, which company officials still stand by. But according to Mr. Fisher, GM has left open a possibility of a new assignment for the plant at Stroop Road and Kettering Boulevard.

 

Energy

First Solar to expand its manufacturing and development facilities in Ohio
19 Aug 2008

First Solar, Inc. announced its plans to expand its manufacturing operations and development facilities at its Perrysburg, Ohio facility. The investment will add approximately 500,000 square feet of manufacturing, research and development, and office space, and will add at least 134 new jobs to the Company's current workforce of 700 at its Perrysburg facility. The expansion is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2010 and will increase the annual capacity at the Perrysburg facility to approximately 192 megawatts.

Lima Energy Company gets a new Chief Financial Officer
22 Aug 2008

Mr. Steven V. Cleaves has been appointed the Chief Financial Officer for the Lima Energy Company, which is building an ultra clean high tech BTU Conversion facility in Lima, Ohio. Mr. Cleaves has had a 25-year career including a series of senior finance positions with Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia's National Oil Company with annual revenues over US$350 Billion. Mr. Cleaves will focus on the delivery and efficient utilization of the construction capital for the completion of the Lima Energy Project, which will be a leader in the State of Ohio Advanced Energy project portfolio.

 

Ohio is No.1 in Advanced Energy Project Growth
14 Aug 2008

As per a report based on ‘The Conway New Plant Report’ featured in the July issue of SITE Selection magazine, Ohio is No. 1 in the nation for new projects related to renewable and advanced energy business development. Ohio has bought more new facility projects than any other state between 2005 and 2007 and has led the nation with 350 facility projects in the renewable energy sector. States that follow closely include Michigan with 177 projects, followed by Tennessee (150), Texas (142) and Alabama (133).

Wind power getting pace
11 Aug 2008

With the rising prices of oil and natural gas, wind power is gaining momentum in the United States these days. The range of wind power varies from small individual turbines to large utility-scale wind farms. Wind power represents only 1 % of the nation's energy. However, last year the United States led the world with more than 5,000 megawatts of new wind capacity. According to the Department of Energy, wind power could produce 20 % of the nation's energy by 2030. Ohio's only utility-scale wind farm produces 7.2 megawatts of electricity. A megawatt of wind- generated electricity can supply about 300 homes.

As per the end of last year data provided by the Department of Energy, Texas and California had 4,446 megawatts and 2,439 megawatts of wind capacity, respectively. Ohio's new energy law, initiated by Ohio Governor, Mr. Ted Strickland, requires the state's four investor-owned utilities to generate 12.5 % of their power from renewable sources such as wind and solar by 2025.

Wind to become viable energy source for Ohio

A Local Ohio businessman, Don Duffy is banking on the idea that wind could become a viable source of energy in the state. The teacher turned entrepreneur Duffy is moving his business into the Hocking County Industrial Park, where he in conjunction with Hocking College will make vertical wind axis turbines.

Wind energy could create thousands of jobs for companies in Ohio and save residents money on their electric bills too. The wind turbine offers homeowners and business owners an alternative energy source for providing electricity to their homes and office buildings.

 

 

Archive

Ohio Newsletter (June-July 2008)

Ohio Newsletter (August 2008)

Ohio Newsletter (September 2008)