It is hard to believe the first Star Wars movie was released in 1977, almost 50 years ago. The droids (robots) were important characters. People talked to the droids as they would with any human. The droids in Star Wars do tasks like humans do today. Some of you may remember The Jetsons, a TV cartoon in the 1960s about a family living 100 years in the future. They had a flying car. Their housekeeper was a robot who did the cooking, laundry and house cleaning. My wife, Lynnda wants to have a robot to do household tasks. The closest we have is a couple of circle bot carpet sweepers. What used to be science fiction is becoming reality today.

This week, Lynnda and I had dinner with the managing partner of a robotics company who is coming to the Shale Crescent USA region. They have customers in our region and are now looking for a site and additional customers. Most automobile manufacturers have robots to do tasks like welding. These aren’t like the Star Wars droids. They are automated arms programed to weld. At the National Plastics Expo in 2024 I was amazed at the tasks automation and robotics can do.

Robots (automated machines) can sort products and do things like packaging and palletizing. Automation is essential to control cost, improve efficiency and reduce labor needs. At the West Virginia Manufacturers Association (WVMA) conference this week in Wheeling, the main challenge to expansion, companies said, is lack of workers. There is an increasing focus on getting people completing drug rehab and former prisoners into the work force. Companies are providing child care to help keep women in the work force. The building trades are working with Junior High students to create interest in these skilled careers. West Virginia has one of the lowest workforce participation rates in the country. This needs to change if West Virginia expects to continue to attract manufacturing.

The company we had dinner with does traditional robotics and automation. They also manufacture humanoid robots having a highly bionic body structure and human-like motion control. The robots have human-like hands with 4 fingers and a thumb that can grip things and can be programed for various tasks in industry. The robots can pick strawberries and other crops. As AI develops, the robots can make choices. We may be closer to C-3PO than we think. Robots can do mundane tasks like stacking boxes on pallets. Work that can cause humans back injuries. Robots and automation require trained technicians to program, maintain and repair them. Lynnda is interested in the humanoid domestic robot. I’m not sure I’m ready for that.

Our region is changing for the better. Good jobs aren’t just coming, they are here. Over 200 workers are on the TCL site in New Martinsville, West Virginia. TCL has already announced an expansion. We heard at WVMA, the Nucor Steel plant project in Mason County, West Virginia is half complete and has hundreds of construction workers on site. Form Energy in Weirton is operational, manufacturing large iron-air batteries. They have 450 employees, a big deal for Weirton.

A few weeks ago, in this column I talked about manufacturing growth in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Since 2017 West Virginia has seen over $20 billion in business investment. West Virginia has the lowest manufacturing turnover rate in the nation. It has the second lowest Workers Comp rate and is 5th nationally in business survival rate. It’s good to be at the top of positive lists.

We heard at WVMA about the power shortage we are facing by 2030. We also heard about the opportunity to use our abundant natural gas to generate electricity needed for data centers and increased power demand. Micro grids fueled by natural gas are the only short-term solution. Renewables are intermittent and only 23% efficient. We need more base-load power. Nuclear power from SMRs (Small modular reactors) are feasible but have regulatory and technology challenges. We will be fortunate to have one SMR operational by 2030. West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania have REAL energy; Reliable Efficient Affordable Local Nick Preservati, head of the WV Office of Energy came up with that descriptive idea. Local is key giving the SCUSA (Shale Crescent USA) region a huge competitive advantage over the Carolina’s, Georgia and more than 40 other states for manufacturing.

Reliable energy is important for life. I learned from a friend whose company has a facility in Spain, the recent multiday power outage in Spain was caused by a wind power shortfall. Peter Huntsman, CEO of the global Huntsman Chemical Company spoke at WVMA. Huntsman Chemical got its start in Parkersburg. Peter explained Europe gave us an example of what not to do with energy and the environment. Like other manufacturing and chemical companies Huntsman has shut down some European operations and laid off 2,000 workers in Europe. Peter also explained how AI has the potential to cure cancer. Check out this video of his cancer foundation https://youtu.be/-ImWpk4w_38

REAL Energy and SCUSA’s location in the center of a large growing economy are what overseas manufacturing companies are looking for. The Shale Crescent USA Team leaves this weekend for Washington, DC and the U.S. Commerce Department’s SELECTUSA conference and EXPO. Attendance at SELECTUSA is expected to exceed 2024. In 2023 the SCUSA Team had 12 meetings set up prior to the event. In 2024 we had 32 meetings. This year so far, we have over 50 meetings.

Our meetings are with manufacturers and petrochemical companies interested in expanding to the USA. If they are like companies we have met on previous trips to Europe and Asia, they have no idea about the Shale Crescent USA region’s energy and location advantage.

SCUSA has a new double booth with a backdrop to tell our region’s story of: location in center of largest market in the world, REAL energy, strong work force, water and a great river system. In addition, we are a great place to live.

Greg Kozera, gkozera@shalecrescentusa.com, is the director of marketing and sales for Shale Crescent USA, www.shalecrescentusa.com. He is a professional engineer with a master’s in environmental engineering and over 40 years’ experience in the energy industry. He is a professional speaker and author of four books and numerous published articles.