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Executive Summary
At the dawn of the 21st century, Ohio faces immense energy challenges,
but committing to a new energy future would decrease our dependence on
fossil fuels, create jobs, secure our economy, revitalize rural Ohio,
and help build a healthier cleaner energy future for our children.
Ohio
has significant potential to harness energy from homegrown resources
like the wind, crops, and sun. Detailed wind maps of Ohio show
substantial wind resources along the glacial ridges of central Ohio,
across the farmlands of northwest Ohio, as well as on and off the
shores of Lake Erie. If fully realized, Ohio’s wind potential could
supply all of the electricity needs of our state, and then some. Within
the next decade, Ohio could generate at least 10 percent of our
electricity from wind power alone. With enough political will and
dedication, Ohio’s clean homegrown wind energy could provide
electricity to millions of Buckeyes.
Ohio will benefit from wind energy in many ways:
•
Energy Independence: In 2001, energy imports cost Ohio over $16
billion. By increasing Ohio’s clean, homegrown energy resources we can
keep more Ohio dollars in state. Building new wind energy farms is more
beneficial to our state’s economy than investing in new coal or gas
fired power plants
• Job Creation: Over a thousand Ohio
businesses have the capacity to make components for wind turbines. A
national investment in wind energy could bring another 13,000
manufacturing jobs to Ohio.
• Farmland and Rural Development:
Farmers who lease their land to wind developers could gain anywhere
from $2,000 to $20,000 annually. Rural economies could also benefit
from property tax revenues generated from installing wind turbines.
This boost to rural economies and the additional income for Ohio’s
farmers could reinvigorate rural Ohio.
• A Healthier
Environment: Wind turbines produce energy without using any polluting
fuels or leaving behind any toxic emissions or waste. By increasing the
energy we produce from wind we will be creating a healthier and cleaner
future for our children.
Many other states have already begun to
develop their wind resources. The amount of installed wind capacity in
the United States has quadrupled in the last six years, and this year
alone the U.S. is on track to install a record number of wind turbines.
Unfortunately, Ohio is lagging behind, having currently developed only
one utility scale wind farm, in Bowling Green, Ohio. However, Ohio’s
own electric utilities have helped develop wind energy in many other
states. American Electric Power, First Energy and Duke Energy have each
invested in large scale wind farms in many of our neighboring states.
Ohio
is at a critical point. Continuing to delay a transition to cleaner
energy will leave Ohio facing an even greater uphill battle in the
effort to be a competitive state. Across the nation, other states have
implemented innovative tools to encourage a shift to a clean energy
strategy. In order for Ohio to realize a new energy future we need to
adopt clean energy policies such as:
• A Renewable Energy
Standard (RES) that requires 20 percent of Ohio’s electricity be
generated from clean energy sources like wind, solar and biomass by
2020. At least 10 percent of Ohio’s RES should be generated from wind.
•
Invest in a new energy future by making Ohio’s Energy Loan Fund a
permanent source of funding for renewable energy development, local
manufacturing projects and energy efficiency measures.
• Reform
Ohio’s utility regulations, to make it easier for wind developers and
rural communities to take advantage of their homegrown energy resources.
Other
states’ actions are building momentum, and it is Ohio’s turn to step up
to the plate and create a clean, safe and healthy energy future. This
report describes one of Ohio’s best clean energy options, wind energy,
and the multiple benefits that our wind resources will bring to the
state.
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