CHRIS
SPITTAL
Daily Reporter Staff Writer
With
Gov. Ted Strickland and the Ohio General Assembly expected to unveil an energy
plan for the state in the near future, Ohio environmental advocates and business
leaders are urging the elected officials to make a commitment to renewable
energy.
In "Energizing Ohio's Economy: Creating Jobs and Reducing
Pollution with Wind Power," a report release by Environment Ohio, supporters
suggest diversifying the state's energy portfolio to include a renewable energy
standard to improve the state's economy and make Ohio more energy
independent.
"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," said Amy Gomberg of Environment
Ohio.
While less than one percent of Ohio's energy comes from renewable
sources, nearly 90 percent of its electricity comes from burning coal, according
to the report. In 2005, the state spent $1.5 billion importing 60 percent of its
power plant fuel supplies used to generate electricity, Gomberg said.
The
report suggests Ohio's elected officials require at least 20 percent of the
state's energy come from clean renewable sources, such as wind, by
2020.
Gomberg said such a commitment would result in a net gain of 40,000
person-years of employment for Ohioans through 2020, which is equal to 3,100
permanent, full-time jobs. The report factored in potential losses when figuring
the net employment gains.
The commitment, she added, also would increase
wages paid to workers by $3.7 billion.
While other states are approving
renewable energy standards, Ohio is missing its chance to keep money in the
state and put Ohioans to work, according to Gomberg.
"Right now, Ohio is
sitting on the sideline," she said.
Currently, 25 states have passed
renewable energy standards that require a certain percentage of the state's
electricity come from renewable energy sources. Illinois is the most recent
state to pass a standard, as it will require 25 percent of the state's
electricity to come from renewable sources by 2025.
With its strong
manufacturing base and strong wind resources in the central, northwest and
northern parts of the state, Gomberg said Ohio cannot afford to let other states
attract businesses looking to use renewable energy. Recent estimations by the
Renewable Energy Policy Project and Policy Matters Ohio found that only
California would benefit more than Ohio from a national commitment to renewable
energy.
"This could make us the Silicon Valley of the renewable energy
industry," Gomberg said.
With more than 70 business across the state
already involved in renewable energy, a commitment to renewable energy is
something Ohio's ailing manufacturing industry can thrive from, said Dave
Caldwell, assistant to the director with the United Steelworkers State of Ohio
District 1. "We believe there's a lot of good manufacturing jobs that could be
created."
The jobs created, Caldwell explained, would be "family
sustaining" manufacturing jobs, which have become increasingly hard to come by
in recent years. According to the report, Ohio has lost nearly one-quarter of
its manufacturing jobs since 2000.
A renewable energy standard could
give a boost to Ohio companies that already are producing raw materials,
manufacturing component parts, installing renewable energy systems and operating
and maintaining wind turbines.
"Aside from that, its just good public
policy," he added.
While Ohio's manufacturing base is ideally suited for
manufacturing increased components of wind energy, the report details a number
of other industries that stand to benefit from a renewable energy standard as
well.
Building trades, construction and installation groups would benefit
from building large wind turbines, while other groups would be responsible for
their operation and maintenance once construction is completed.
Rural
landowners could stand to receive $200 million in income by leasing land to
house the turbines, while county governments would be able to generate
approximately $1.5 billion in property taxes, according to the
report.
Not only would Ohio's economy benefit from a renewable energy
policy, but the environment would as well, said Gomberg, as Ohio is the
fourth-largest producer of carbon dioxide emissions in the United
States.
"Ohio needs to take decisive action now if we are to mitigate the
worst effects of global warming," said Ellen Hawkey, conservation program
manager with the Ohio chapter of the Sierra Club. "Ohio needs to diversify our
energy resources by investing in energy efficiency technologies and renewable
energy sources."
The report estimates a renewable energy plan would
prevent 170 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from being released by 2020
compared to using current energy methods. That amount of carbon dioxide would be
the equivalent of taking two million cars off the road.
The plan also
would speed the progress in reducing soot, smog and mercury pollution, the
report found.
"To continue going forward in the direction we've been
going forward is not good for the environment," said Ohio AFL-CIO Chief of Staff
Tim Burga, adding that he approves of an integrated approach to renewable
energy. "It just doesn't make sense on any level."
With the governor is
expected to roll out his plan in the coming weeks, supporters said a commitment
to renewable energy should be made a priority.
While some suspect
Strickland's plan could include advanced energies, such as clean coal, Gomberg
said she would hope a separate area of the policy be carved out for renewable
energies such as wind, solar power and biofuels.
Passing the policy
before year's end not only will give regulators and other interested parties the
chance to prepare for changes they hope will take effect in January 2009, but
will keep Ohio from losing ground to other states.
"I think time is of
the essence," said Geoff Greenfield, president of Third Sun Solar and Wind Power
in Athens. "Ohio has a great chance to land good manufacturing jobs if we act
now."
