Leaders working to plant a green economy

By Thomas V. Bona

BusinessRockford.com

The region’s push to bring alternative-energy jobs here has some early successes, but the effort is still pretty green.

Local leaders are looking to attract or grow existing companies that work with wind, solar, biomass and water power, but are open to anything that could help the area’s economy. They plan to study what the region can do and what industries it should target, much like a past study that helped boost the local aerospace industry.

“Until you open your eyes to the industry, you don’t see the opportunities. Once you open your eyes, you see opportunities everywhere,” said Mark Podemski, vice president for development for the Rockford Area Economic Development Council. “The reality is, it makes good business sense and there’s going to be great opportunities in the green-energy markets going forward for many years.”

The biggest recent news is Chinese conglomerate Wanxiang Group’s plan to build a photovoltaic solar-panel assembly plant near Chicago Rockford International Airport this year, which eventually could bring 240 well-paying jobs here.

But the area is also home to Illinois River Energy’s ethanol plant in Rochelle, which is doubling its production this year; BioVantage Fuels, a Belvidere startup that makes biodiesel fuel from waste vegetable oil; the Freedom Field initiative in Rockford that will be a testing and demonstration site for alternative fuels; and several companies exploring wind and geothermal energy.

“Every day we know there’s something new going on,” said Brian Coker, chief operating officer at BioVantage. “I get the sense the train is already moving and a lot of this is discovering what’s already gone online.”

Looking at all opportunities
Besides a regional study of green possibilities, leaders also are taking other steps.

Rockford officials took the lead on incentives for the Wanxiang deal, eased restrictions on small wind turbines and are exploring using Fordam Dam to generate electricity again. Winnebago County officials have led the Freedom Field initiative, talked with prospective wind farm developers and are working with the owners of Winnebago Landfill on ways to turn waste into energy.

Boone County and Belvidere officials teamed with other groups to form the AgTech Initiative, which helped BioVantage start operating and has other biomass projects in the works. Next year, the region will host International Bioenergy Days, which is expected to draw hundreds from around the world to talk about the latest technology and best practices in alternative energy.

“We need to diversify as much as we can,” said Sue Mroz, director of regional planning and economic development for Winnebago County. “While we are all out pursuing parts of the elephant — one’s tackling the trunk, one’s tackling the tail — hopefully we’ll have a complete elephant when we’re done.”

Potential in the wind
Wind power may provide a particularly big boost. Recently, a Rockford Chamber of Commerce group started a wind energy initiative to link local manufacturers to the supply chain for the big wind turbines being constructed around the country.

It makes a lot of sense, proponents say, because the Rockford area has experience making power systems for the automotive and aerospace industries. This would take existing skill sets and adapt them to a new market, said Ellwyn Englof, member of the initiative committee.

“Our strengths are the machine tool heritage, work with big things that need heavy lifting ... (and) the skilled work force we have,” he said. “A number of companies have invested and have made themselves known to these big guys.”

Dial Machine in Rockford made components for wind turbines a couple of years ago, and is interested in resuming that work. Sales manager Eric Anderberg said companies need to know it’s not for everyone, but only for firms that can handle the strict specifications the wind industry requires.

“We’re just at the tip of the iceberg,” he said. “If you’re a machine shop, it’s a good thing to probably get into.”

Last week, officials from the Great Lakes Wind Network met with a handful of local businesses. The network helps wind turbine manufacturers find solid suppliers and helps suppliers get on the radar.

Not easy being green
Of course, many other regions want to be centers for green jobs, and Rockford has tough competition.

Leaders say we should focus on what sets us apart — a history of making components and power systems; good land for agricultural, wind and solar power development; a strong transportation network; and connections to alternative-energy companies in China and Sweden.

“This community has always had a resilience and an ability to evolve with whatever the new industry was,” said Jim Ryan, Rockford city administrator. “We started out with furniture, and it moved to parts manufacturing, then it developed into aerospace and now I think we’re very well-suited — if we put our minds to it — to be a center for green manufacturing and green construction.”

But a key is also to keep working together as a region, and lobbying state officials to join the effort. The bigger the cluster of alternative energy initiatives in the region, the easier it will be to attract more, Podemski said.

“It becomes a critical mass question,” he said, “all those things we can begin to string together to create a compelling picture to other industries that this is a place to be.”

Another key is to keep a long-range view and not look for quick fixes. It could take 10 years for the green economy to really blossom, said Christopher W. Kelson, president/chief operating officer for BioVantage.

“If you continue to lead from the top, other communities are going to get tired of this (and give up). It’s a long journey,” he said. “Some people think it’s a passing fancy. They’re wrong. This is the growth industry of the next century.”

Contact staff writer Thomas V. Bona at 815-987-1343 or tbona@rrstar.com.

 

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