Study says carbon reduction plan could cost Ohio thousands of jobs, by Rick Jackson, WCPN, October 1, 2009
Cleveland—A new report on the impact of carbon emission regulations claims millions of American jobs are threatened—thousands of them in Ohio. That's according to one think tank's analysis and it's giving Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown, usually on the liberal side of environmental issues, more cover in his opposition to the plan.

• Ohio's manufacturing economy at heart of debate over climate change bill, by Stephen Koff, Cleveland Plain Dealer, October 1, 2009

Most Chrysler Twinsburg workers offered transfers to Mich., Ill. plants, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, October 2, 2009
Twinsburg, Ohio—Chrysler wants as many as 400 workers from its soon-to-close Twinsburg stamping plant to transfer to two plants in the Detroit area and one in Illinois. A spokesman said the Twinsburg plant will close next March.

GM, Chrysler see double-digit drops from '08, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, October 2, 2009
Detroit—U.S. auto sales fell sharply in September, the month after the summer's Cash for Clunkers buying spree. Ford had the smallest decline among major manufacturers, falling 5.1 percent.

• Auto sales fall back as Clunker program ends, by Nick Bunkley, New York Times, October 1, 2009

Chart Industries building repair facility in Nevada, by Michelle Jarboe, Cleveland Plain Dealer, October 1, 2009
Garfield Heights, Ohio—Chart Industries Inc. has purchased land in McCarran, Nev., where the manufacturer will build a repair facility for low-temperature equipment.

JohnDow purchases fastener company, by Paula Schleis, Akron Beacon Journal, October 2, 2009
Barberton, Ohio— JohnDow Industries, which makes automotive shop equipment and supplies, has purchased the assets of Dynamic Merchandising Inc. in Madison Heights, Mich.

More signs point to economic recovery, by Conor Dougherty, Wall Street Journal, October 2, 2009 (Subscription)
New York—An expansion of manufacturing activity, growth in consumer spending and improved home sales indicated Thursday that the U.S. economy is on the mend.

Unbridled Energy: Predicting volatile wind, sun, by Jeffrey Ball, Wall Street Journal, October 2, 2009 (Subscription)
New York—Because energy generated by renewable resources like wind and sun are so unpredictable, utilities are focusing on forecasting lapses in wind and sun and storing energy generated when conditions are good.

Opinion: A real employee free choice act, by Matt Miller, Wall Street Journal, October 2, 2009 (Subscription)
New York—The author of "The Tyranny of Dead Ideas: Letting Go of The Old Ways of Thinking To Unleash a New Prosperity," (Times Books, 2009), says industry should be championing, not fighting, the effort to diversify and reform healthcare insurance for their employees.

Sunoco fined $147,000 over refinery accident, by Gary T. Pakulski, Toledo Blade, October 1, 2009
East Toledo, Ohio—Sunoco Inc. has been fined $147,000 for faulty maintenance procedures at its oil refinery in East Toledo after an incident April 6 in which a contract worker suffered minor injuries. According to the citation, the worker was hit with gasoline that spurted out of a pipe.

EPA proposes tough greenhouse-gas rules for big industries, by Siobhan Hughes and Ian Talley, Wall Street Journal, October 1, 2009 (Subscription)
Washington—The Environmental Protection Agency proposed requiring new power plants, factories and oil refiners to obtain permits to emit so-called greenhouse gases, ratcheting up pressure on Congress to pass comprehensive climate legislation.

• Senators unveil draft climate bill, by Siobhan Hughes and Corey Boles, Wall Street Journal, September 30, 2009 (Subscription)
• EPA gives Congress a heads-up on toxic chemicals, by Elizabeth Weise, USA Today, September 29, 2009
• Curtain rises on senate struggle over climate legislation, by John M. Broder, New York Times, September 29, 2009

UT cultivates an incubator at Scott Park campus, Toledo Blade, October 1, 2009
Toledo—Wednesday, University of Toledo President Lloyd Jacobs addressed a gathering that marked the opening of a new UT Minority Business Incubator in the Engineering Technology Center at the Scott Park campus.

Strategy to save Saturn collapses, by Tim Higgins, Detroit Free Press via Akron Beacon Journal, October 1, 2009
Detroit—General Motors said Wednesday it would shut down Saturn after former race car driver and auto dealer magnate Roger Penske shocked GM and 350 Saturn dealers by saying that his plans to buy the brand had fallen apart.

• GM to close Saturn, dealership network as Penske deal fails, Toledo Blade, October 1, 2009
• GM plans to wind down Saturn quickly, by Sharon Terlep, Wall Street Journal, October 2, 2009 (Subscription)

China’s electric car could take global lead, AP via Youngstown Vindicator, October 1, 2009
Beijing—China’s fast- growing electric-car producers could take the lead in the global industry if the United States fails to invest heavily in the technology, a U.S. energy official said Wednesday. David Sandalow, an assistant energy secretary, spoke after attending a U.S.-Chinese forum on electric vehicles, which he said was attended by 80 Chinese and 60 American companies.

France backs battery-charging network for cars, by David Pearson, Wall Street Journal, October 1, 2009 (Subscription)
Paris—The French government Thursday said it plans to spend about $2.2 billion to create a battery-charging network for electric vehicles as part of a broader state plan to encourage the development of clean vehicle technology and battery manufacturing.

Earnings Reports:

• Omnova Solutions Inc. makes money despite lower sales, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, September 30, 2009
• Omnova reports strong third quarter, by Paula Schleis, Akron Beacon Journal, September 30, 2009
• TransDigm to pay special dividend to shareholders, by Scott Suttell, Crain's Cleveland Business, September 30, 2009

Goodyear to save $555 million on labor deal, Akron Beacon Journal, September 30, 2009
Akron—Goodyear said its new four-year labor contract and other concessions will save $555 million over the term of the accord.

• Goodyear Tire & Rubber extols latest contract with the United Steelworkers, Crain's Cleveland Business, September 29, 2009

Advocacy group charges Diebold transaction promotes monopoly, Akron Beacon Journal, September 30, 2009
Washington—Voter Action, a voter advocacy organization, asked the U.S. Justice Department Tuesday to undo the sale by Green-based Diebold Inc. of its voting-machine business, saying the transaction promotes a monopoly.

• Diebold Inc.'s sale of voting machines unit doesn't quiet critics, by Janet Cho, Cleveland Plain Dealer, September 28, 2009

Goodyear Tire & Rubber names General Electric veteran to key post, Crain's Cleveland Business, September 30, 2009
Akron—Goodyear has named John "Jack" D. Fish as senior vice president of global operations, replacing Christopher W. Clark who is retiring after 36 years with Goodyear. Fish will be responsible for overseeing manufacturing and related supply chain activities throughout all of the corporation's global business units.

General aviation industry defends its value to Ohio economy, by Allison Grant, Cleveland Plain Dealer, September 29, 2009
Cleveland—In Ohio, general aviation (all flying except for commercial airlines and military operations) contributes $5.6 billion, or $478 per person, to the state economy, according to the research, the result of a six-month study by the nonprofit Alliance for Aviation Across America.

China OKs GM plan to buy Delphi, AP via Youngstown Vindicator, September 30, 2009
Shanghai—China’s Commerce Ministry has given a conditional green light for General Motors’s plan to acquire portions of auto-parts maker Delphi Corp. Among other things, the ministry banned GM and Delphi from exchanging trade secrets about Delphi’s other customers.

GM, Chrysler to meet with dealers over closings, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, September 30, 2009
Washington— General Motors and Chrysler are scheduled to meet today on Capitol Hill with auto dealers, part of efforts to reach an agreement over the automakers' plans to close thousands of dealerships as the companies restructure following bankruptcy.

Burnt rubber: Tire firms decry new tariff, by Diana Ransom, Wall Street Journal, September 30, 2009 (Subscription)
New York—A 25% to 35% tariff on passenger and light truck tires imported from China went into effect on Sept. 26, and is set to expire after three years. Although many of the implications of this tariff have yet to surface, business owners and analysts say the $1.7 billion U.S. tire industry will contract further.

• Toyota recalls 3.8 million cars over acceleration safety issue, AP via Toledo Blade, September 29, 2009

Gas pedal, floor design at issue in Toyota recall, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, September 30, 2009
Detroit—Federal investigators said of the 102 accidents caused by stuck gas pedals on Toyota vehicles, there are four possible causes involving the floor mats. The wide array of causes presents a challenge to Toyota engineers who are trying to come up with a way to fix the problem that is leading to a recall of 3.8 million vehicles, including the Camry, the top-selling car in the U.S.

Applied Materials sees solar growth in China, by Jerry A. Dicolo, Wall Street Journal, September 30, 2009 (Subscription)
New York—China represents the largest opportunity for solar panel makers, based on its government's commitment to establishing solar manufacturing and spurring demand, said Mark Pinto, head of Applied Materials Inc.'s solar unit.

Energy Focus Inc. to acquire Stones River Cos., by Scott Suttell, Crain's Cleveland Business, September 29, 2009
Solon, Ohio—Energy Focus Inc., a producer of energy-efficient lighting products, said it plans to acquire Stones River Cos. of Nashville, Tenn., a lighting energy services company, in a deal that will enable Energy Focus to enter the public buildings lighting market.

NAM Chief: U.S. needs to stimulate exports, by Timothy Aeppel, Wall Street Journal, September 29, 2009 (Subscription)
Washington—The U.S. needs to stimulate exports of machinery and other manufactured goods as part of a larger effort to regain factory jobs lost in this recession, says John Engler, president of the National Association of Manufacturers.

The greenest big companies in America, by Daniel McGinn, Newsweek, September 28, 2009
New York—Eaton Corp. made #43 in Newsweek's inaugural Top 100 Green Rankings list. Eaton was #3 in the category "General Industrials." The magazine worked with leading environmental researchers to rank the 500 largest U.S. companies based on their actual environmental performance, policies, and reputation. Other regional companies on the list: Parker Hannifin, Goodyear Tire & Rubber, Newell Rubbermaid, Owens Corning, General Electric, Rockwell Automation, and Sherwin Williams,

Auto engineers look outside industry for jobs, AP via Youngstown Vindicator, September 28, 2009
Detroit—Years of downsizing in the U.S. auto industry have left behind a pool of engineers and designers looking for work. Some seek training in plug-in hybrid electrics and cutting-edge vehicle safety systems, while others are turning to retraining programs to reach beyond the auto industry for a new line of work.

Cash helps North American Switchgear expand, by Stan Bullard, Crain's Cleveland Business, September 28, 2009 (Subscription)
Cleveland—The lights are back on and the truck docks are bustling again at the former S&Z Tool and Die complex, which closed earlier this year in Cleveland. North American Switchgear Inc., a company in Lakewood that does business worldwide, has put the building at 3180 Berea Road back in service.

Latest Metalformers’ survey shows members' economic optimism recedes, by Dan Shingler, Crain's Cleveland Business, September 28, 2009 (Subscription)
Independence, Ohio—After expressing increased optimism about their economic prospects for six months, owners of companies in the metalforming industries turned more dour this month as they became skeptical that the economy is fully on the road to recovery.

BYD’s goal: Be world’s leading carmaker by 2025, AP via Youngstown Vindicator, September 28, 2009
Shanghai—Fast-growing Chinese battery and automaker BYD Co. is thinking big — really big. It aims to overtake Toyota Motor Co. to become the global auto leader in under two decades, company officials say.

Clyde—Ohio's 'capital of washing machine makers'—hopes to cash in on government's appliance rebate program, by Frank Bentayou, Cleveland Plain Dealer, September 27, 2009
Clyde, Ohio—Clyde, a little-known manufacturing powerhouse 80 miles west of Cleveland, is home to what appliance giant Whirlpool Corp. says is the largest home washing machine and clothes dryer factory in the world.

GE to move ahead with Niles closure, by Larry Ringler, Warren Tribune Chronicle, September 26, 2009
Niles, Ohio—A union offer to freeze wages, reduce the work force and other concessions have failed to persuade General Electric Co. from closing its Niles Mahoning Glass Plant, officials said.

Lordstown builds first test Cruze, Warren Tribune Chronicle, September 26, 2009
Lordstown, Ohio—The first test Chevrolet Cruze rolled off the General Motors Corp. Lordstown Complex line Thursday, with more to come as workers gear up to build the all-new upscale small car for sale starting in April.

Strickland seeks U.S. aid for parts firms, by Tom Troy, Toledo Blade, September 25, 2009
Toledo—Gov. Ted Strickland toured two of the Toledo area's most advanced industrial facilities Thursday, one day after meeting with President Obama's manufacturing policy "czar" to argue for help for Ohio auto-parts suppliers in the global market.