As we come closer to a vote on Ohio’s energy future, it is increasingly important for us to show our support for a strong Renewable Energy Standard for Ohio.

Please use the outline and talking points below to write a letter or email to Governor Strickland, Speaker of the House Jon Husted, and Senate President Bill Harris.

Here is an easy to follow outline for your letter:

1) state who you are and whom you represent,

2) state why you support a strong renewable energy standard,

3) state that you support the improvements to SB 221 set forth in HB 487,

4) tell YOUR story about why renewable energy is important,

5) urge Governor Strickland, Speaker of the House Jon Husted, and Senate President Bill Harris to work together to get the job done and pass a bill that increases renewable energy development in Ohio.

Please send your letters to:

Governor Strickland

Send a hard copy of your letter to:

Governor's Office
Riffe Center, 30th Floor
77 South High Street
Columbus, OH 43215-6108

OR

Submit your letter online here.

Senate President Bill Harris:

Statehouse
Room #201, Second Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215

OR

Email it to:

 

Speaker of the House Jon Husted:

77 S. High St
14th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111

OR

Email it to:

 

Below are talking points that you may find helpful for the letter:

• Given its significant wind energy potential and strong manufacturing base, Ohio is ripe for renewable energy development.

• Ohio's employment rate is increasing at a significantly slower pace than that of the United States. Manufacturing jobs have been disappearing. Ohio needs a new vehicle for economic growth, and that vehicle is renewable energy.

• An Ohio Renewable Energy Standard (RES) would create thousands of new jobs, increase wages paid, and increase the gross state product by billions of dollars.

• Twenty-five states and the District of Columbia have adopted Renewable Energy Standards. Consequently, the once nascent renewable energy market is now expanding at an exponential rate, and the states with standards in place are reaping the benefits.

• Investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency is the most effective way to keep electricity rates stable, particularly in the presence of a carbon cap. Ohio generates almost 90 percent of its electricity from coal, making a carbon cap very expensive for Ohio. A RES would hedge against the electricity rate increases created by a carbon cap.

• The costs of new advanced coal projects have been going UP, while the costs of renewable energy have been going DOWN. New electricity generation from wind is cheaper than that from new advanced coal or nuclear.

• For a Renewable Energy Standard to be effective, it must have benchmarks, enforcement, and penalties for non-compliance. Without benchmarks, Ohio businesses won't have an expanded market for their products; therefore, businesses won't be able to hire more workers. Without enforcement and penalties, it is possible that utilities won't meet the benchmarks on time.

• While energy efficiency is crucial and an energy efficiency standard must be part of our energy policy, it must not be allowed to fulfill any of the renewable energy requirement. If energy efficiency were able to help fulfill the renewable energy requirement Ohio wouldn't see the kind of renewable energy development that a RES could bring.

For more information on the legislation, see our news release.