Build on manufacturing
Sentinel-Tribune – PERRYSBURG – The importance of manufacturing – including clean energy – to Ohio's economy was highlighted during a tour of First Solar by members of the U.S. Manufacturing Council, as well as Sen. Sherrod Brown and a Commerce Department official Wednesday afternoon.
The event came on the heels of the council's meeting at the Hilton Garden Inn at Levis Commons, which Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing and Services Nicole Lamb-Hale led. The meeting marked the first time that the body, which advises the U. S. Secretary of Commerce on manufacturing competitiveness issues, has met in the state. Bruce Sohn, CEO of First solar, is the group's chair.
Area high school and OSU students, who were paired with council members and attended their meeting, also attended the tour.
In remarks prior to the tour, Brown pointed out the importance of the council's visit to Northwest Ohio, and characterized the state as the Silicon Valley of clean energy, pointing to First Solar and other companies in the industry.
"When we come out of the recession we are way better prepared" than when emerging from the recession of the 1980s, because of such companies, he said.
