Bulb law may cripple Osram Sylvania

A bill passed by Congress last month could cripple one of the region's leading employers while boosting imports from China.

"Essentially, this bill mandates the loss of jobs," said Jordan Clark, chief of staff for Congressman John Peterson, in reference to the Energy Efficiency Act of 2007. The impact could hit hardest at Osram Sylvania, which employs 350 people in St. Marys, producing incandescent light bulbs. A spokesman there said the plant is working on ways to manufacture more energy-efficient products. By 2012, bulbs sold in the U.S. must meet minimum standards for "lumens per watt."

"The idea of replacing incandescent bulbs with more efficient bulbs is a very good idea, but the bulbs that replace them are made in China," said Clark. "One of the last plants that produces incandescent bulbs is in our region." Changes at Osram Sylvania will affect finances, the size of the workforce, glass purchasing, packaging and storage. The plant currently produces about 1 million incandescent light bulbs daily. Osram Sylvania also manufactures compact fluorescent and halogen bulbs.