Ohio’s Manufacturing Renaissance: A Blueprint for American Prosperity

Ohio is experiencing a manufacturing renaissance that’s transforming our economic landscape. Our state ranks third in the nation for manufacturing jobs, with more than 687,000 Ohioans employed in the sector, producing over $134 billion in manufactured goods annually.

That sounds great!

Illuminate USA in Pataskala is just one example. This solar manufacturing facility, majority owned by U.S.-based company Invenergy, created over 1,500 jobs in less than a year and is on track to produce enough solar panels annually to power 1 million homes. In Fayette County, a joint venture between LG Energy Solution and Honda is investing $3.5 billion to build a lithium-ion battery plant that will create 2,200 jobs. These are just two examples among many in Ohio’s resurgent manufacturing sector.

Oh.  Solar panel and EV battery factories get generous tax incentives that start expiring in 5 years.

Note to Self:  Don’t buy any real estate in Pataskala or Fayette County.

Solar panels and EV batteries are fine, but both products are for saturated markets with evolving technology.  When innovations require a change in the manufacturing process, will the plants be able to adapt and will that be economically viable? 

Both factories are within 15 miles of the state capitol, so that’s lucky.

The problem with investing in a trend, is that it may not have legs.  Another trend is already on it’s way. 

Manufacturing is important, but it should be strategic.  America needs to make steel, pharmaceuticals, clothing and other mundane products.  Energy needs to be cheap, abundant and reliable.

Perhaps these factories making green products aren’t costing taxpayers any money and can encourage more manufacturing.