Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher discusses advanced energy stimulus and Third Frontier program funding during his keynote address to the UCEAO audience. |
Offering that observation early in his remarks, Lt. Governor Lee Fisher kicked-off the day-long conference activities of April 9 with an energetic assessment of the advanced energy landscape in Ohio. He praised the Third Frontier Program created under former Governor Bob Taft and outlined current undertakings of the administration of Governor Ted Strickland aimed at promoting, supporting and sustaining advanced energy initiatives.
Fisher, who also served as director of the Ohio Department of Development during the first two years of the Strickland Administration, made special note of two Ohio programs that are accelerating efforts to make the state a recognized leader in advanced energy.
• The Ohio Research Scholars Program strengthens Ohio’s universities by attracting world-class research scholars in such areas as advanced materials, bio-imaging, spinal implants, photovoltaics and power and propulsion.
• The Ohio Hubs of Innovation and Opportunity Program creates at least a dozen targeted investment zones near research centers and universities across the state. Using a hockey analogy, Fisher said the program reflects the need to “skate to where the puck is moving” in linking advanced energy research to commercialization.
We used to measure our economy by the height of our smokestacks. Today, we measure it by the depth of our innovation. |
The Lt. Governor praised the $1.57 billion bipartisan job stimulus package signed into law by Governor Strickland in June 2008. The package includes $150 million in total funding in advanced and alternative energy. As detailed in previous issues of AirFocu$, the OAQDA manages those funds.
In terms of Ohio’s position among states in advanced energy undertakings, Fisher said “Ohio came late to the dance, but we are already leapfrogging a number of other states.” He pointed to the ranking of Ohio’s energy portfolio standards by USDOE’s Lawrence Berkeley National Lab as third most aggressive among all 50 states as evidence of the progress now being made.
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Issue Two, 2009
