OHIO BUSINESS DEMANDS NEW ENERGY

Ohio is in the early stages of the good fight (that North Carolina won last month) over a Renewable Electricity Standard (RES). The standard described in this piece will compete with Ohio Governor Ted Strickland’s proposal of a 25% by 2025 measure that stipulates the electricity sources must be “advanced energies” and would include fuel cells, clean coal & nuclear as well as renewable sources.

NewEnergyNews willl continue to advocate on behalf of the phrase “Renewable Electricity Standard (RES)” to describe this type of legislative mandate in place of the old and inscrutable phrase “Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS)” -- Strickland’s political maneuvering not withstanding.

Groups promote business impact from wind energy
August 23, 2007 (Dayton Business Journal)

WHO
Ohio environmental, consumer, business and labor leaders including Environment Ohio, Ohio Rep. Jim McGregor, R-Gahanna, and Janine Migden-Ostrander, Ohio Consumers' Counsel.

Utilities claim renewables requirements drive rates up. This is one of many studies showing that is just not true.

WHAT
The coalition advocates a Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) for Ohio mandating that the state obtain 20% of its electricity from renewable sources, contending the change will create jobs, increase revenue, boost Ohio's economy and make it more energy independent.

WHEN
The coalition’s RES calls for the state to reach its 20% goal by 2020.
2005: Ohio spent $1.5 billion bringing fuel supplies into the state.

WHERE
Ohio

WHY
- 90% of Ohio electricity presently comes from coal-burning power plants. 60% comes from out of state. Less than 1% came from renewables.
- According to Environment Ohio, a 20% by 2020 RES will create 40,000 person-years of employment; add $3.7 billion in wages paid; up gross state product by $8.2 billion; generate $1.5 billion dollars in property taxes to county governments; increase rural landowner income by $200 million dollars; and sharply cut greenhouse gas emissions.
- 25 states have passed RESs. Illinois passed a 25% by 2025 RES recently.

Studies also show enormous job growth with the development of New Energy. (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
Migden-Ostrander, Ohio Consumers' Counsel: "With stronger environmental regulations on the horizon and the increasing costs of fossil fuels, renewable energy and efficiency programs are all the more attractive to ratepayers. Choices we make today will affect the electric prices and environmental quality of our future generations…"