As a member of the statewide University Clean Energy Alliance of Ohio, UT sought and was selected as the site to house the alliance's offices. The alliance coordinates collaboration among 15 Ohio universities in the discovery, development, and commercialization of energy-related technologies. UT, Ohio State University, and Miami University gave presentations to have the physical presence of the alliance on their campuses.

The alliance's offices will be in UT's Clean and Alternative Energy Incubation Center at Dorr Street and Douglas Road. UT also can point to the successes of Solar Fields LLC of Perrysburg and Xunlight Corp. of Toledo, formerly MWOE Solar Inc., that both got their early start in a UT business incubator.

The University Clean Energy Alliance of Ohio is a relatively new organization. The idea began late last year, and the inaugural meeting was held in April. "They wanted to take advantage of all the research in the state," Mr. Calzonetti said. "If we put our talents and research together and collaborate, we could be as good, if not better, than any other state in the nation."

The alliance's board hopes to have an executive director in place early next year, which is about the time they plan to have people working in the Toledo office, Mr. Calzonetti said. The results of the alliance's collaborative efforts and its presence in the city could have an impact on the local economy, said Diane Miller, UT's interim assistant director of incubation. More alternative energy companies could be interested in locating near an office that easily can get them in touch with researchers in the field at universities across the state, she said.