Trump may not like it, but Appalachian Ohio ready to be transformed by wind power | Opinion

• The Ohio River Valley has a historic opportunity to become a manufacturing hub for the clean energy sector.
• Wind power is becoming more economical than traditional energy sources, driving a rapid energy transition.

Michael Shields is a senior economist for ReImagine Appalachia. 

America’s energy landscape is rapidly transforming.

Wind and solar projects dominated 95.7% of all new electric generating capacity built through April 2025, with wind farms alone outpacing natural gas plants by a four-to-one margin (2,183 megawatts to just 511MW).

This isn’t merely a transition — it’s a revolution. One that offers Appalachia a historic opportunity to reinvent itself while continuing its legacy as America’s energy heartland.

For generations, the Ohio River Valley has powered America’s growth and prosperity. Now, as coal’s energy dominance fades, Appalachia stands at a crossroads with a compelling new path forward: becoming a manufacturing hub for America’s clean energy future.

Wind power is economical

The opportunities will be enormous.

ReImagine Appalachia has projected that building and maintaining the wind infrastructure American homes and businesses will demand by 2045 will create some 625,000 manufacturing jobs nationwide, with over 36,000 coming to Ohio, including 5,540 to Appalachian counties.

While short-term political headwinds exist — President Donald Trump has broken with bipartisan federal policy supporting wind energy, seemingly because he doesn’t like the way turbines look — the economic fundamentals are undeniable.

Wind power now costs less than many traditional energy sources, with prices continuing to fall as coal becomes increasingly expensive. These fundamentals will continue to drive an energy revolution now well underway: The 10 states most reliant on wind power this spring already ranged from 30.4% in Texas to an impressive 76.2% in Iowa.

Wind power means high-paying jobs

For coal communities dealing with the loss of mining, manufacturing and energy jobs, the scale of this opportunity will be transformative.

Today, more than 73,000 wind turbines operate across the U.S., producing enough power to serve more than 46 million American homes. Over the last 20 years, the U.S. added nearly 150,000 MW of wind capacity; ReImagine Appalachia projects the next 20 years will bring 500,000 more, part of an energy revolution driving one of the largest industrial buildouts in American history.

Each modern wind turbine requires some 8,000 parts, creating a manufacturing renaissance tailor-made for Ohio communities that have weathered decades of economic setbacks. These aren’t just any jobs — they’re high-quality manufacturing positions creating turbine components: from plastics and composites for blades (12,630), to primary metals like steel and iron (6,900), fabricated metal components (4,730), precision machinery (9,400) and critical electrical systems (2,400).

The Ohio River Valley is uniquely positioned to seize this opportunity, with skilled workers experienced in heavy manufacturing and energy production. Companies already producing motors and generators can expand to manufacture critical turbine components like yaw drives and pitch systems — they have the expertise, facilities and workforce ready to become leaders in this growing sector.

The potential extends beyond simply claiming the 36,000 or so jobs that would be Ohio’s “fair share.” What if Ohio communities specialized in wind energy manufacturing?

The region is ready for the transformation

The Ohio River Valley possesses competitive advantages few regions can match. Beyond its skilled workforce, the region has geographical assets that create unique opportunities in the wind supply chain.

The newest generation of wind turbines, with some towering higher than the Statue of Liberty and blades sweeping larger than football fields, present transportation challenges that Appalachia is uniquely positioned to solve.

Their massive components often exceed practical road or rail transport limits, forcing offshore developers to scramble for expensive coastal manufacturing sites. But the same Ohio River system that once carried Appalachian coal around the globe now offers the perfect transportation network for oversized turbine components.

Andthe region’s shuttered coal plants — already equipped with river access, power infrastructure, and industrial capacity — stand ready for transformation into advanced manufacturing centers. Even the coal ash from these facilities could become a source of cement for turbine foundations, and possibly rare earth metals, creating a circular economy from the remnants of the coal era. Because those foundations will be built out of local materials, one of the best ways to be a supplier to the emerging wind power sector is to build turbines in your own communities; something Ohio lawmakers will need to clear their own roadblock to do.

This clean energy transition demands immediate action.

Residents, policymakers, businesses and labor leaders throughout the Ohio River Valley must move decisively to position their communities at the heart of America’s wind energy supply chain.

The question isn’t whether this transformation will occur, but whether the Ohio River Valley will play a key role. The region that powered America’s past possesses everything needed to power America’s future.

Michael Shields is a senior economist for ReImagine Appalachia.