for manufacturing companies to understand the market opportunities and the needs of the wind industry the states of michigan or ohio provide technical assistance to companies to retool their operations to become wind energy suppliers for example the ohio energy office is financing a collaborative project led by the great lakes wind network glwn and ohio s edison technology center to identify suitable companies for retrofitting of their facilities to produce wind energy components awea strengthening the regional wind energy supply chain in the chicago tristate metroregion may require both informing firms about this new business opportunity and connecting these firms with those managing the supply chain one study has identified particularly strong opportunities for local gear and drive train manufacturers to penetrate the wind turbine component parts market cmcjarc