GM plans a new model for Lordstown
GM is expanding its Lordstown-built Chevy Cruze line by adding a diesel version of the compact car.

The announcement came today at the Chicago Auto Show.

GM’s head of consumer affairs, James Bell says the development of “clean diesel” fuel now gives American drivers the same options Europeans have had for decades.

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“We were kind of left out in the cold because our petroleum market here was still producing very low grade diesel fuel, tractor fuel if you will, and it wasn’t able to run in these computer controlled, highly efficient, high pressure diesel engines.  Once we got the clean fuel here we’re able to bring over the best new motors.”

GM would not commit to sales projections for the new diesel Cruze, but UAW Local 1714 President David Green says production of the diesel model will be modest at first, about 60 cars per day.  Green says, last year Lordstown produced nearly 270-thousand gasoline versions of Cruze. 

U.S. Sen. Brown pushes his currency manipulation bill anew
Ohio’s Sen. Sherrod Brown is using a new report on trade deficits to jump start his bill to crack down on countries that keep their currency artificially low to boost their trade overseas.

Today’s  report by the Economic Policy Institute and Alliance for American Manufacturing will include estimates of the impact on jobs of trade deficits.

Brown’s bill, which passed the Senate but stalled in the House, would give the U.S. government tools to combat what they see as unfair trade practices. Opponents, including some in the White House, fear it could start a trade war.

Brown has aimed most of his criticism regarding trade at China and at multinational corporations.

Currency manipulation

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China maintains it has moved in recent years to allow its currency to rise.

Clean coal at Ohio State
Researchers at Ohio State University say they've developed a way to create energy from coal while eliminating most of the harmful carbon dioxide that comes from burning it. According to The Columbus Dispatch, the scientists say instead of burning the coal — they use a chemical reaction to draw its energy.

Frack dumping stirs Youngstown controversy
Meanwhile, environmentalists, Democratic politicians and others are protesting the dumping of thousands of gallons of fracking waste by a Youngstown company into a storm drain last week.

The Vindicator is reporting that even the industry itself is criticizing the release.

Inspectors with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources went to the headquarters of a company called Hard Rock last week and say they witnessed an employee cleaning out a tanker truck filled with brine and oil.

Ohio Environmental Protection Agency documents says a partner in the company, Ben W. Lupo, instructed an employee to dump the wastewater. The drain empties into the Mahoning River.