This May, just five inventors presented their ideas on renewable energy technology at a global conference on clean energy. The only American company was from Marion, Ohio. Jason Jordan with Jordan Energy Alternative presented several ideas on a worldwide stage.
“This was the largest gathering of ideas for the future. It was an opportunity to present in front of thinkers, problem-solvers, and investors. I was thrilled,” Jordan said.
At the changeNow.World conference, Jordan presented several ideas. They included a portable solar power panel kit that anyone, from renters to homeowners, can purchase for a few hundred dollars and plug into their homes. Jordan also shared his idea for a mobile solar unit, an autonomous car that could follow the military into disaster areas and provide power.
“Picture a Mini Cooper-sized car that is an autonomous vehicle with a solar array that unpacks automatically. When the military is deployed to a hurricane, these autonomous vehicles will follow the lead vehicles, deploy solar array, and provide energy to a localized microgrid to first responders.”
Jordan also presented on hardware that uses the Internet of Things to communicate between homeowners and utilities to efficiently use power and prevent energy from being wasted.
“There are areas of the country energy cost is high and demand is high. There are also areas of the country where there is stranded energy because there is too much energy on the grid. This solution would fix and monetize it,” Jordan explained.
This Marion native graduated from Marion Catholic. He studied mechanical engineering at The Ohio State University. He worked for defense contractors and in the automotive industry around the country.
“I really wanted to return to Marion and raise my family here,” Jordan said.
Jordan landed a job at Whirlpool as a quality engineer. He currently is a senior test systems engineer.
Jordan uses industry 4.0, robotics, computers, and smart testing to test dryers. He encourages young people to learn about robotics and smart manufacturing.
“Automation and smart manufacturing are making sure companies can stay in Marion and add new businesses. Automation makes our lives better,” Jordan said.
Local people can find training for these jobs RAMTEC at Tri-Rivers Career Center, engineering tech and the new smart manufacturing program at Marion Tech, and engineering at The Ohio State University at Marion. “People in our community have access to the tools necessary to land those jobs of the future,” Jordan said.
Jordan is proud of Marion’s past and excited for the trajectory of our community.
“My first job was at Marion Power Shovel. We helped get a man on the moon. Marion was a center of industry,” Jordan said. “Now we have the leadership of Marion, the Chamber of Commerce, The Forge, and other groups working toward the betterment of our community. I’m really excited to see the energy around growing small businesses and developing downtown Marion.”
Jordan took classes at Marion Tech at no cost through The Forge. He won a “Shark Tank” style competition in 2019. That helped him start his business and propelled him on to win a competition in Columbus and then the world stage. He is bidding on contracts from the Department of Energy and the Air Force to turn his ideas into reality.
“Marion has so much potential and I want to build on that,” Jordan said.
Jordan encourages other entrepreneurs to sign up for The Forge small business classes starting August 24 at Marion Tech. He will serve as a judge at the competition in October.
“The opportunity The Forge has given me by being a participant has been huge. The opportunities keep coming long after taking part in The Forge,” Jordan said.
For more info or to register for the free business classes, visit www.mtc.edu/the_forge/. For more on Jordan’s company, visit www.jordanenergyalternative.com.
