CEO of BlackStar International and manager of the Ohio Sunshine Project
Robert N Black III is an accomplished investor from Columbus, Ohio, who has also spent time in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, earning a Bachelor of Science, a Master of Business Administration, and a Juris Doctorate.
Over the course of his career, Robert has worked with various companies, building skills in managing securities and investments in emerging markets. He has navigated international markets, building a global perspective that has helped him build a resume of impressive accomplishments. Currently, Robert is the CEO of BlackStar International, a manufacturer of photovoltaic modules for the solar energy industry. Under his leadership, BlackStar is actively working on the Ohio Sunshine Project.
Conesville, Ohio, has an existing industrial park for which Robert N Black III and his team have a vision. The plan is to build a new 2-gigawatt photovoltaic module manufacturing facility that will utilize the existing infrastructure and workforce to support the local community and provide new access to clean and renewable energy. As demand for solar energy continues to increase, BlackStar International is actively seeking ways to improve its contributions to the field. The Ohio Sunshine Project is just one example of the work they are doing.
The property that Robert N Black III and BlackStar International are currently set up as a coal power plant. Since the plant closed in 2020, a large labor force has been displaced, leaving the facility unused. Through the Ohio Sunshine Project, BlackStar International hopes to bring new life to the facility, repurposing the existing infrastructure to produce clean, solar-powered energy. Currently, the solar power industry is dominated by other countries, and projects like this can help the United States increase energy supply chain security. Additionally, the hope is to provide training to “upskill” the displaced workers from the power plant and provide new jobs to boost the local economy.
Not only will the Sunshine Project provide clean energy and new jobs, but Robert N Black III and the rest of the leaders on the project are passionate about ensuring the project benefits the community. As a minority-owned business, BlackStar International is dedicated to promoting equity, civil rights, racial justice and equal opportunity. They plan to partner with community organizations and reduce barriers to employment opportunities for members of disadvantaged communities. Additionally, they are excited to help fill needs that the previously mentioned coal plant used to meet, including tax funding and event hosting for local schools.
