State Leaders to Answer Businesses’ Questions About Financing Alternative Energy Projects and Related Local Economic Development Issues

Cincinnati, OH, July 30, 2009 --(PR.com)-- A consortium of area manufacturers, retailers, engineers, contractors and their business advisors recently formed the Cincinnati Alternative Energy Roundtable when they realized many faced similar challenges around financing alternative energy projects. In short course, they concluded that their challenges were indicative of systemic roadblocks that not only face the businesses currently undertaking alternative projects in the Tri-State, but manufacturers that consider locating to the area to produce alternative energy components. This Friday, July 31 at 7:30 a.m., the group gets an audience with state politicians in charge of economic development, for answers.

Included in the lineup is:
· Honorable Denise Driehaus, Ohio State Representative and Vice Chair of the Economic Development Committee;
· Mr.Quentin Harris of the Ohio Department of Development, Director of the Southwest Ohio Region;
· Brewster Rhoades of Governor Strickland’s Office, director of the Southwest Ohio Region.

“We formed the Cincinnati Alternative Energy Roundtable so businesses could collectively try to affect the change needed to make it realistic for businesses to use and produce alternative energy, as well as to bring new businesses involved with alternative energy to the area,” Jonathan Winterkorn, CPA at Plante & Moran and founding member of the Cincinnati Alternative Energy Roundtable said. “The Federal and state government, as well as local utilities, are writing policy to make alternative energy accessible and affordable to area businesses,” Winterkorn said. “We want to give them our insights into how these programs are playing out when the ‘rubber meets the road,’ and businesses actually try to take advantage of them.”

The Cincinnati Alternative Energy Roundtable will be held at the Plante Moran offices on 2090 Florence Avenue on Friday, July 31st, from 7:30-9 a.m.

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About The Cincinnati Alternative Energy Roundtable
The Cincinnati Alternative Energy Roundtable is a consortium of environmentally conscious Cincinnati area business leaders from a range of industries who have completed, or are considering, alternative energy projects within their organizations. Members also include alternative energy policy advocates, energy rebate program administrators from local utilities, engineers and contractors, as well as local accounting and legal professionals well-versed in successfully navigating the alternative energy grant process.

About Plante & Moran:
Plante & Moran (www.plantemoran.com) is among the nation’s largest certified public accounting and business advisory firms, providing clients with, tax, audit, risk management, financial, technology, and business consulting, and wealth management services. Plante & Moran has a staff of more than 1,500 professionals in 19 offices throughout Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Monterrey, Mexico and Shanghai, China. Plante & Moran has been recognized by a number of organizations, including FORTUNE magazine, as one of the country’s best places to work.