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New company at Hernando airport will make devices that convert waste heat to electricity

 
Published Oct. 29, 2014

BROOKSVILLE — Another new business is slated to relocate to the Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport and Technology Center — one that manufactures a product that turns waste heat into free electricity without the use of fuel or the threat of pollution.

On Tuesday, the Hernando County Commission approved job creation incentives for 15 new jobs at Clear Power Systems Inc., which will occupy an existing 11,800-square-foot building at the airport complex. The company plans to invest $285,000 in renovations and equipment at the site. Average salaries would be about $35,000.

The incentives will total approximately $45,000, paid over a five-year period.

In 2005, Bob Miller quit his job as a senior executive with Hess after he invented a machine that would convert waste heat, such as heat generated from baking ovens and boiler exhaust, into electricity. The equipment is popular in Europe, Miller told commissioners.

He started his business and landed in Hernando County, but eventually moved to Martin County, where he was offered a free building for his manufacturing operation, a business with 139 employees. The business was sold to General Electric in 2011 for $77 million. When his non-compete clause expired, he invented a new machine with a similar purpose and decided to return to Hernando.

The devices he sells, largely for industrial use, run about $200,000 each, and he already has orders for 50 of them. Temporarily, he is using an existing facility in Nevada to manufacture them.

He predicted his new company will be a $100-million-a-year business by 2019, "but I'll be long retired, sitting in Hernando Beach, watching manatees and drinking a scotch,'' he told commissioners.

The generator business is just the latest new arrival at the county's airport and technology center. On Tuesday, commissioners also got an update on economic development activities since County Administrator Len Sossamon took on the economic development director's job earlier this year.

Since January, Hernando has completed nine projects, adding more than 162,000 square feet of new facilities at the airport, creating 139 new jobs and retaining another 465, according to Valerie Pianta, economic development supervisor.

On the horizon, she noted, are 19 active projects the county is pursuing. Those offer the potential for an additional 664,000 square feet, 805 new jobs and 209 retained jobs.

Commissioners on Tuesday also approved impact fee and building fee incentives totaling $42,800 for CB Group, which has been hired by Micro Matic USA to design and construct the company's new 73,000-square-foot building at the airport complex.

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In addition, the county continues to move forward with a German industrial apprenticeship program that will be housed at the original airport administration building, which was recently vacated by HealthSouth.

Commission Chairman Wayne Dukes said he heard recently of another existing business at the airport signing on to participate in the apprenticeship program by taking on an intern or two each year.

Commissioner Nick Nicholson said he was excited about the latest developments.

"This is a great environment now to bring a business to Hernando County,'' Nicholson said. "All of the pieces of the puzzle are there.''

Contact Barbara Behrendt at bbehrendt@tampabay.com or (352) 848-1434.