WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today applauded a deal between Akron-based FirstEnergy Solutions and Iberdrola Renewables that will bring wind power—generated at Ohio’s largest wind farm, Blue Creek Wind Farm—to northeast Ohio.

“Our state is leading the way in wind energy, and today’s agreement will help give homes and businesses across northeast Ohio access to clean energy,” Brown said. “This is another step in making federal clean energy policy work for Ohioans. The Blue Creek Wind Farm is bringing construction and permanent jobs in western Ohio, new business for homegrown Ohio companies in the wind energy supply chain, and now, a source of renewable energy for northeast Ohio. I look forward to seeing the Blue Creek wind farm begin production when construction is complete. I applaud FirstEnergy and Iberdrola Renewables for their work to bring this important deal to fruition.”

Under the agreement, FirstEnergy will purchase 100 megawatts of wind energy for the next 20 years, beginning in October 2012. Construction for Blue Creek Wind Farm, located in Tully, Union and Hoaglin townships in Van Wert County, and Benton, Blue Creek and Latty townships in Paulding County, began in September. According to FirstEnergy and Iberdrola Renewables, the farm is expected to be completed within the year. The Blue Creek Wind Farm also brings approximately $1.1 million in annual lease payments to local landowners, $2.7 million in annual local taxes, 15 to 20 new permanent jobs, over 300 construction jobs, and local purchase of some supplies and construction materials. Currently, 18 Ohio companies are supporting or supplying the construction effort.

Brown has been a longtime supporter of wind energy and boosting the domestic manufacture of wind turbines used in wind farms like Blue Creek. Brown supported the bipartisan extension of the critical “1603” clean energy grant program, which will be used to finance the Blue Creek project, and was included in the tax extenders package passed by the Senate in December 2010. Brown was a lead sponsor of the American Renewable Energy Jobs Act, legislation which would ensure that grant money distributed through the "1603" wind energy program is given only to clean energy projects that preserve and create jobs in the United States. The “1603” wind energy program was originally created in the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA).  In June, Brown joined the United Steelworkers and the American Wind Energy Association to announce a new partnership to make the U.S. a leader in wind energy use.

More than 70 percent of the components of clean energy systems are produced outside the U.S. Brown is fighting to bolster domestic production of clean energy components and to make Ohio the Silicon Valley of clean energy manufacturing. In May 2010, Sen. Brown introduced legislation that would expand and improve the Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit (48C) program. The Security in Energy and Manufacturing (SEAM) Act would extend the program and allow for grants in lieu of tax credits. This would enable the program to reach additional companies that would otherwise be unable to utilize the program - new companies that do not yet have tax liabilities or companies that struggle to find credit in today's tight financial market. The SEAM Act also adjusts the selection criteria to give higher priority to facilities that manufacture—rather than assemble—goods and components in the U.S.

In the 111th Congress, Brown authored the Investments for Manufacturing Progress and Clean Technology (IMPACT) Act, which would create a $30 billion revolving loan program to help auto suppliers and other small and mid-sized manufacturers retool for the clean energy industry. A report released in February 2010 estimated that Brown's IMPACT Act could create more than 52,000 jobs in Ohio.

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