Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) Forum joined Rep. Bob Latta (R-Ohio) on August 25 for a series of site visits and conversations in Van Wert, Ohio, highlighting both the manufacturing renaissance happening in Northwest Ohio and the challenges America must address to meet rapidly growing electricity demand.
Manufacturing in Ohio
The day began with a tour of Danfoss’ plant in Van Wert. The facility manufactures mobile and industrial hydraulics, including a range of connectors, hydraulic hoses and fittings—such as parts for data center cooling systems. Danfoss is Van Wert County’s largest employer, with over 500+ employees and counting as they continue to expand operations to meet growing demand.
The CRES Forum team enjoyed an extensive tour of the facility that included Danfoss’s new lineup of 50 state-of-the-art automated metal finishing machines. Rep. Latta spoke with employees about how to cultivate the workforce needed to meet growing manufacturing demand.
Seeing Critical Grid Infrastructure
The group then traveled to American Electric Power (AEP) Ohio’s Vision Substation, which distributes power to both Van Wert residents and local manufacturing facilities, including the Danfoss plant. AEP Ohio’s substation managers briefed Rep. Latta on the utility’s efforts to leverage grid-enhancing technologies (GETs), including advanced conductors, dynamic line ratings and other tools that can increase capacity, improve grid monitoring and maximize existing infrastructure. The conversations also emphasized the growing national security importance of substations and other grid infrastructure.
Getting Stakeholders Together
After the tour, Rep. Latta and the group continued the conversation with AEP Ohio employees at the utility’s service center. As chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy in the House of Representatives, Rep. Latta took the opportunity to update the group on Congress’ ongoing work to address vital energy issues as well as hear their thoughts on these important matters. He noted the recent House passage of his SECURE Grid Act, which empowers states to fully assess risks to the grid and strengthen their security plans to address these risks, including threats from extreme weather, cyberattacks and physical attacks on distribution systems and substations.
The day concluded with a CRES Forum roundtable where Rep. Latta joined representatives from state and local government, AEP, AEP Ohio, CRES Forum, energy producers and large-load developers. The conversation focused on rising power demand driven by data centers, a resurgence in domestic manufacturing and growing electrification, with a focus on how to meet demand without sacrificing reliability or affordability for existing customers. With stakes especially high in Ohio, where manufacturing remains a major economic driver, and industrial facilities account for roughly one-third of the state’s energy consumption, Participants were focused on what an optimum energy mix looks like and how to fully utilize the energy resources of the region.
Also discussed was how to address the obstacles standing in the way of building a new generation and expanding grid capacity. The group emphasized the crucial need for comprehensive permitting reform to accelerate the deployment of critical transmission and generation infrastructure. They also addressed work already underway at both the federal and state level to cut red tape while ensuring a meaningful role for local communities and stakeholders.
Participants proudly highlighted Ohio’s advantages as a manufacturing hub and the opportunity the state has to strengthen its position as a national leader in advanced manufacturing and enhancing American competitiveness in growing global markets. Supply chain constraints were another important topic. As demand climbs, the physical components that growth depends on—transformers, switchgear, turbines and other electric equipment—often face long lead times and complex global supply chains. Participants noted that one important action to help address these constraints is Rep. Latta’s Electric Supply Chain Act, which would give the federal government better visibility into these vulnerabilities.
Throughout the discussions, participants emphasized the need for close cooperation between utilities, developers and the state in planning for growing electricity demand and the infrastructure needed to support it. Much of that conversation centered on AEP Ohio’s data center tariff, a framework designed to ensure that data centers pay for the generation and transmission infrastructure needed to serve them, rather than shifting those costs onto residential and small-business customers. Participants also pointed to AEP’s signing of the President’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge as a reflection of the company’s commitment to meeting new demand while protecting existing customers.
Turning Manufacturing Momentum into Grid Resilience
Ohio offers a compelling view of America’s energy future: manufacturers like Danfoss expanding operations and modernizing production to meet the demands of tomorrow’s technologies; utilities like AEP Ohio deploying grid-enhancing technologies to maximize the capacity of existing infrastructure while addressing public needs; and private-sector leaders working through how to plan, permit and pay for the generation and transmission needed to power a growing economy.
CRES Forum is grateful to Rep. Latta for his leadership and participation throughout the day, to the teams at Danfoss and AEP Ohio for opening their facilities and sharing their work and to all the Ohio leaders who contributed to a thoughtful conversation about strengthening American energy security, affordability and competitiveness.