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Columbus: As Governor Strickland and Ohio’s leaders consider an energy plan for Ohio, Environment Ohio joined by consumer, business and labor leaders from across the state are urging them to prioritize the development of more homegrown renewable wind energy. 

“Ohio’s wind energy resources, manufacturing base and technological know-how are a recipe for Ohio to become a leader in the development of clean renewable energy,” stated Amy Gomberg, Environmental Advocate with Environment Ohio.  “Diversifying our electricity mix by requiring at least 20 percent of Ohio’s energy come from clean renewable sources like wind would create more jobs, provide a bigger boost to our economy and make Ohio more energy independent than staying the course.” 

Currently, nearly 90 percent of Ohio’s electricity comes from burning coal while less than one percent of Ohio’s energy comes from renewable sources.  In 2005, Ohio spent $1.5 billion dollars importing 60 percent of its power plant fuel supplies used to generate electricity. 

Meeting Ohio’s increasing demand for energy from through 2020 with energy from Ohio’s clean and renewable wind resources would result in more jobs, higher salaries and a bigger boost for Ohio’s local economies than staying the course with increasingly expensive imported fossil fuel resources. 

“Energizing Ohio’s Economy: Creating Jobs and Reducing Pollution with Wind Power” a new report released today by Environment Ohio reveals that a 20 percent commitment to wind energy by 2020 would result in a:

• Gain of 40,000 person-years of employment,

• Additional $3.7 billion in wages paid,

• Increase the Ohio gross state product by $8.2 billion,

• Generate up to $1.5 billion dollars in property taxes to county governments,

• Supplement rural landowner’ income by $200 million dollars,

• Avoid 170 million metric tons of global warming pollution (C02), which is equivalent to taking over 2 million cars off the road.

“Our company believes that we have a lot of potential to expand in the renewable energy industry. If Ohio passes a renewable energy standard it will make it much easier for us to move down that road,” stated Dave Champagne, the Manager of Wind Energy at The Minster Machine Company in Minster, Ohio. “That policy is a clear commitment to renewable energy that will help us develop cost effective renewable technologies, keeping these jobs in Ohio.”

There are over 70 businesses across the state of Ohio that are already involved in the renewable energy supply chain. Ohio companies are involved in the production of raw materials, manufacturing of component parts, installation of renewable energy systems, and operation and maintenance of wind turbines.

 “Honeywell is proud to be a supplier in Ohio’s renewable energy industry. We know that if Ohio makes a commitment to renewable energy with a renewable energy standard, our business is bound to grow,” stated Jeff Jacobs, the Technical Support Manager with Honeywell’s Urbana location.

Currently 25 other states in the U.S. have passed renewable energy standards which require that a certain percentage of a state’s electricity come from clean renewable energy sources like wind and solar.  Illinois is the most recent state to pass a standard whereby 25 percent of the state’s electricity must come from renewable sources by 2025.

States in the Midwest are increasingly enacting renewable energy standards as a way to not only diversify their electricity mix but also as a way to lure new businesses and manufacturers of component parts for renewable energy technologies to their states. 

“Clearly Ohio’s leaders should support and enact a renewable energy standard that is strong enough to ensure that Ohio can compete with our neighbors in Pennsylvania, Illinois and Michigan for new jobs,” stated David Caldwell Director of the Ohio United Steelworkers Union.  “Because of Pennsylvania’s commitment to developing wind energy, Gamesa, a large manufacturer of wind turbines recently established their American corporate headquarters in Pennsylvania and created hundreds of union jobs.”

Tim Burga, Chief of Staff for Ohio AFL-CIO stated, “We believe that an energy plan for Ohio should be an integrated policy, including a unique standard for renewable energy sources such as wind. This will be a catalyst for creating the much needed sustainable jobs in Ohio.”

In addition to creating more jobs, increasing local tax revenue and making Ohio more energy independent, advocates contend that a commitment to renewable energy will be a good deal for Ohio consumers.

“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,” said Janine Migden-Ostrander, Ohio Consumers’ Counsel. “Residential consumers need the long-term benefits of Ohio’s untapped renewable energy potential coupled with energy efficiency programs that would lessen our demand for electricity.”

Environment Ohio’s Energizing Ohio’s Economy report also showed that increasing Ohio’s wind energy generation would significantly reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, the leading cause of global warming, as well as, speed progress in reducing soot, smog and mercury pollution, which damage public health.

“Ohio needs to take decisive action now if we are to mitigate the worst effects of global warming. Ohio is ranked as the 4th largest emitter of global warming C02 pollution in the country” stated Ellen Hawkey, the Sierra Club Ohio Chapter Conservation Program Manager.  “As congress considers global warming pollution limits, Ohio needs to diversify our energy resources by investing in energy efficiency technologies and renewable energy sources.”

“Making a commitment to renewable energy is a win-win-win situation. It is good for jobs, the economy, and the environment. I urge Governor Strickland and Ohio’s legislative leaders make it a priority to pass a 20 percent by 2020 renewable energy standard by the end of the year,” concluded Gomberg.

Environment Ohio is a citizen based, non profit, non partisan environmental advocacy organization.

For more information, visit www.environmentohio.org