December 2: Toledo and Huron Share in Alternative Energy Investments Through Recovery Act

“Building a fully operational solar installation, such as the solar plant at the 180th Air National Guard base, illustrates our region’s commitment to alternative energy as a source of jobs in the future,” Congresswoman Kaptur said. “Developing a local, domestic source for inverters demonstrates that we’re serious about being a leader in green jobs.”

Congresswoman Kaptur also welcomed the announcement of four alternative energy projects in the Ninth Congressional District—three in Toledo and one in Huron—totaling approximately $1.3 million through the Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act, popularly known as the federal economic stimulus program.

The Ninth Congressional District projects represent approximately 10 percent of the value of all projects statewide, which were initially announced by the governor of Ohio, Ted Strickland.

• Toledo Museum of Art. Long recognized as one of the nation's premier art museums, the Toledo Museum of Art will receive $282,264 to install a 100-kilowatt rooftop solar system. The museum, Congresswoman Kaptur said, has pursued green energy for almost two decades. It began replacing gallery lighting with halogen and LED lights in 1992. It installed four microturbines in its power plant in 2004; they now generate a quarter of the museum's electrical power. The latest initiative will build on last year’s installation of 1,450 solar panels on the museum’s roof and give the museum more than 200 kilowatts of solar-generated energy.

• Huron-Wind, LLC and the City of Huron. This partnership received $280,500 to install a 100-kilowatt wind turbine. “Wind power is the fastest growing alternative energy source in America,” said Congresswoman Kaptur, “and the Huron project is an opportunity to demonstrate its effectiveness in creating jobs and saving tax dollars.” Congresswoman Kaptur noted that the U.S. Department of Energy hopes to expand the number of distributed wind turbines (1 kilowatt to 1 Megawatt) in the U.S. market fivefold by the year 2015 from a baseline of 2,400 turbines in 2007.

• Toledo Zoo. Congresswoman Kaptur welcomed the announcement of $306,837 for installation of a 103-kilowatt solar energy system to generate electricity. Zoo officials said the system, which will be located in the main parking lot, will generate 126,000 kilowatt-hours of green electricity annually and reduce the zoo’s carbon footprint by 172,620 pounds of carbon dioxide.

• Toledo Electric Joint Apprentice and Training Committee. Congresswoman Kaptur said a $420,000 award to the Toledo Electric Joint Apprentice and Training Committee will fund installation of a 100-kilowatt wind turbine for use as a hands-on training tool for 1,000 journeymen and apprentices.