This week, the House Alternative Energy committee takes the show on the road. Tomorrow, I will accompany Chairman Jim McGregor (R-Gahanna) and other members, to Wood County, Ohio. The itinerary has the committee starting out at the Bowling Green Wind Turbines.

After a quick visit to the turbines, we are headed to the Wood County landfill where the Director of the Wood County Solid Waste District, Ken Rieman, will be discussing methane gas collection.

Caldron Energy will be the third stop on our all-day, alternative energy tour, where the next speaker, Albert Caldron will discuss coal gasification with the group.

McMaster Energy Enterprises via speaker Norm Johnston will then discuss solar panel manufacturing.

Around noon the group is expected to have lunch at the Perrysburg French Quarter where we will see a presentation by area universities Bowling Green State University and University of Toledo www.toledo.edu.

Following lunch, Mike Anderson (of the Andersons) will discuss the uses and production of ethanol.

Our final stop of the day will be at First Solar in Perrysburg where we will be touring a solar panel manufacturing plant.

I look forward to reporting on the discussion. A special thanks goes to State Representative Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green), for hosting and scheduling these events. It will be a nice opportunity for me to accompany Representatives McGregor and Latta (and other members of the committee) as they continue to study alternative energy in Ohio.

Now, my question for you: what can/should we do to put together a similar roadtrip for the House Committee to see what we’re up to here in Northeast Ohio?

Gary Smith