Can Southwest Indiana become the Silicon Valley of energy?

Consultants hired earlier this year to research economic opportunities in Southwestern Indiana for the energy industry found that many of the manufacturers in our area have the elements in place: a workforce that can be trained and the facilities that can be retooled to become a magnet to attract clean energy companies that produce solar, wind and nuclear energy.

"I think that manufacturing strength will allow us to go out and recruit some new renewable energy manufacturers to the area," Ben Loftsgaarden with Greyhill Advisors said. "They can take advantage of the same opportunities of our regional manufacturers. Likewise, I think existing companies here, existing manufacturers could potentially look at the energy sector as a new customer."

Greyhill said in the next six months they want to help local leaders attract a national conference with wind energy suppliers so area manufacturers can learn what they need to do to get into the energy business.