State & National Business News
06/17/2010
Governor's Green Jobs Program Promotes New Energy Jobs in Ohio
Governor Ted Strickland announced the establishment of new $6 million green job training program and that eliminates the tangible personal property tax and real tax on generation for advanced energy projects in Ohio.
For more information about this program click the
news release from the Ohio Department of Development.
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2/17/2010
New Small Business Proposals Successful SBA Programs
WASHINGTON – Today in Lanham, Maryland, President Obama proposed the expansion of two critical Small Business Administration (SBA) lending programs, aimed at allowing small businesses to refinance and increasing limits for working capital. These are both legislative proposals designed to help small businesses through what continues to be a difficult period in credit markets.
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07/16/2009
AEP Working To Meet Ohio Senate Bill 221 Requirements
American Electric Power’s (AEP) Ohio branch is working to meet the new “green” requirements set by Ohio Senate Bill 221. AEP Ohio is currently looking to purchase up to 1,800 solar Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs).
RECs are the verification that one megawatt-hour of power was generated from a renewable energy resource.
AEP Ohio, through a 20 year power purchase agreement with Wyandot Solar LLC, a subsidiary of juwi solar Inc., also will be gaining 10.08 megawatts of power from a solar field in Wyandot County that will be operational by midsummer of 2010.
Senate Bill 221 requires 25% of all kilowatt-hours produced by electric distribution companies must be generated from alternative energy resources by the year 2025. Alternative energy includes both advanced energy resources and renewable energy resources, such as solar and wind.
For more details, read the AEP press release,
AEP Ohio Issues RFP For Solar Renewable Energy Certificates.
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USDA Energy Grant and Loan Guarantee Program Announced
Rural Energy for America Program (Section 9007)
Complete applications must be received by the Rural Development State Office by July 31, 2009. Please submit your project’s application at the earliest opportunity since eligible high-scoring projects may qualify to be funded prior to this date. Additionally, priority consideration is being given to projects requesting less than $20,000. Combination loan guarantee and grant applications can again be filed this year and may receive priority consideration.
All projects to be completed in Ohio must submit applications directly to the Rural Development State Office in Columbus.
All projects involving construction should apply early in the process to allow adequate time for this office to complete an environmental assessment for the proposed project. Form 1940-20, “Request for Environmental Information” and related attachments should be submitted as soon as possible.
All applicants, with the exception of individuals, must have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number to file an application. See page 24769 of the Federal Register for directions to obtain this free number. Be aware this process can take some time, so apply early by phone or on line.
The maximum grant amount remains unchanged from previous years; $250,000 for energy efficiency improvement projects and $500,000 for renewable energy projects. The grant request may not exceed twenty-five percent of the project’s eligible costs.
The limit for loan guarantees has been raised to $25 million. Loan requests of $600,000 or less are eligible to receive a loan guarantee of up to 85%.
The Federal Register announcement is available at:
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-12178.pdf
For application forms and information, please contact Randy Monhemius, Rural Energy Coordinator at 614-255-2424 or via email at Randy.Monhemius@oh.usda.gov.
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