For Immediate Release: October 14, 2008

Rep. Sutton Welcomes House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Case Western to Discuss Renewable Energy Opportunities in Northeast Ohio

CLEVELAND, OH - Today, Congresswoman Betty Sutton (D-OH) welcomed Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to Case Western Reserve University. The Congresswomen met with Case Western Reserve University President Barbara Snyder and other University Representatives to discuss the Great Lakes Institute for Energy Innovation. This program has shown tremendous potential for producing renewable energy on Lake Erie and will be the first freshwater source of wind power.

"It is clear that our country needs to move away from foreign sources of energy and increase our domestic production of alternative, renewable power. I am proud that Case Western Reserve University, the University of Akron and innovators throughout our region are at the forefront of developing the next generation of American made energy. Projects like the Great Lakes Institute for Energy Innovation have the potential to lead our country to energy independence, while creating jobs and bringing renewed economic vitality to our region. I commend Speaker Pelosi for her work on this issue and I am happy she was able to see first hand the important work Northeastern Ohio is doing for our country," said Congresswoman Sutton.

"Congresswoman Betty Sutton has focused on bringing new jobs and economic growth to Northeast Ohio by investing in new technologies and innovative solutions," said Speaker Nancy Pelosi. "She has been a strong supporter of the energy tax credits recently enacted into law for clean, renewable energy that will create and save half of a million good-paying American jobs. They are essential to job creation and to America's energy independent future."

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Background on the Great Lakes Institute for Energy Innovation:

The Institute is a multi-disciplinary center that is led by researchers at the Case School of Engineering. The Institute builds on three primary areas of activity: Research and Development, Economic Development, and Education.

Wind Energy Initiatives and Research

  • Case committed $200,000 to the Board of Commissioners of Cuyahoga County (BOCC) and the county's Great Lakes Energy Development Task Force, to sponsor a feasibility study on developing a wind energy research center on Lake Erie
  • Case will manage the wind energy research centerpilot programon Lake Erie
  • The study will have two to 10 wind turbines in Lake Erie, 3 -5 miles off of Cleveland's shore, generating 5 to 20 megawatts of power
  • This would be the first wind turbine erected at a fresh-water site.

Fuel Cells

  • Existing expertise in fuel cell and electrochemistry research at the university includes about 25 faculty members in 10 departments in three different schools.
  • Case Western Reserve University is home to the Wright Fuel Cell Group.

Case Western Reserve University also is home to renowned experts in sensor technology; smart sensors can be used to improve energy efficiency on both the supply and usage side.


Contact: Erin Donar at 202-225-3401 or Erin.Donar@mail.house.gov