© 2024 WOSU Public Media
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Warren Energy Incubator Opens New $4.5 Million Battery Lab

Matt Peterson (left), CEO of the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator, was interviewed by Congressman Tim Ryan at the opening of the new TBEIC lab.
RICK STOCKBURGER
/
TBEIC
Matt Peterson (left), CEO of the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator, was interviewed by Congressman Tim Ryan at the opening of the new TBEIC lab.

A new lab at an energy incubator in downtown Warren is hoping to bring in startups and entrepreneurs from around the country.  The Tech Belt Energy Innovation Center (TBEIC) unveiled its new battery testing lab Thursday, which can simulate blackouts or test life expectancy of power sources.

Rick Stockburger, vice president of TBEIC, says they’ll be mentoring energy companies that deal with everything from the power grid to energy storage.

“We also have a number of drone companies we work with.  Because one of the biggest issues with drones is being able to make them fly further or carry more weight.  So we’re uniquely positioned to be able to help companies like that.  We also do introductions to funding.  We also have a co-working space here because, personally, I’m a big believer in different types of people from different walks of life being able to work together.”

The new lab is housed in a former department store building in Warren, and cost about $4.5 million to refurbish over the past decade. 

Stockburger says the new facility will help add to the 300 jobs that the Tech Belt Energy Innovation Center has helped create in the region.

Copyright 2021 WKSU. To see more, visit WKSU.

Kabir Bhatia joined WKSU as a Reporter/Producer and weekend host in 2010. A graduate of Hudson High School, he received his Bachelor's from Kent State University. While a Kent student, Bhatia served as a WKSU student assistant, working in the newsroom and for production.