As legislators try to hammer out a compromise state budget with dramatically reduced revenues, advocates for the environment are trying to keep the focus on developing clean energy.
The benefits of clean, renewable energy are as much economic as environmental, says the group Environment Ohio. Its new report claims that Ohioans will see their energy bills skyrocket in the next few decades – unless a dramatic shift is made towards renewable energy resources.
Program Director Amy Gomberg says the amount individuals pay annually on fossil fuels is projected to rise by 58 percent each year. She says that if drastic changes are put in place now, households would be saving over $ 800 annually by 2030.
GOMBERG: IF WE START INVESTING MORE IN RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFECIENCY WE CAN END UP SAVING OHIOANS DOLLARS IN THE LONG RUN.
Environment Ohio also argues that a shift towards renewable energy resources would bring much-needed jobs to the state.
But Republican Senator John Husted is skeptical about the prospects for green energy.
He says it might begin to show some promise in a few years, but any major immediate impact is unlikely.
HUSTED: SINCE THE BEGINNING OF MAN WE’VE BEEN USING FOSSIL FUELS TO POWER OUR LIVES AND IT’S GOING TO TAKE MORE THAN A COUPLE OF YEARS TO MOVE AWAY FROM THAT DIRECTION.
Husted says although the green sector would bring jobs to the state, it’d be a niche market, and it wouldn’t replace the auto industry.
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