Ohio’s Clean Energy Future
Ohio has the wind energy potential, technological know-how and manufacturing base to get at least 10 to 20 percent of our state’s energy from clean power sources within the next decade. Currently, Ohio spends billions of dollars each year to import costly and polluting fossil fuels. We need a new energy future that is efficient, affordable, homegrown, job-intensive and good for the environment.
Environment Ohio supports:
• Requiring that at least 10 percent of Ohio’s energy come from clean wind power within the next decade.
• Reducing Ohio’s demand for energy by employing energy efficiency technologies that would result in a 20 percent reduction in electricity use by 2025.
• Permanently investing in clean energy production by making the Alternative Energy Loan Fund a permanent source of revenue for new clean energy projects.
Environment Ohio opposes:
• New electricity generation from nuclear or coal facilities. Instead, investments in renewable power and energy efficiency should be maximized first.
Doing Our Part to Curb Global Warming
Ohio is the fourth leading contributor to global warming pollution in America. We must take steps now to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from Ohio’s coal-fired power plants.
Environment Ohio supports:
• The Midwestern Governors Greenhouse Gas Reductions Accord, which establishes a regional goal for reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
Protect and Restore Our Great Lake
Lake Erie is part of Ohio’s heritage and arguably our most valuable resource. But because of industrial pollution, invasive species and unregulated use, Lake Erie is in trouble again. In fact, scientists contend that the Great Lakes are on the brink of collapse.
Environment Ohio supports:
• Protecting public health from sewage pollution by making sure that all sewage treatment plants report discharges of sewage into waterways to the Ohio EPA, and making information about sewage contaminated waters available to the public in a timely manner.
• Requiring that water be used efficiently, preventing large-scale water diversions, guaranteeing public control over our water, and ensuring that water withdrawals do not harm our natural resources. The Legislature should protect Lake Erie by ratifying the Great Lakes Water Compact.
• Requiring salt-water freighters that carry invasive species that stop at any Ohio port to pay for a permit that they can comply with by either not releasing their ballast water in Lake Erie waters or by eliminating the invasive species by treating the water before it is released.
Protect Ohio’s Parks, Forests and Open Spaces
Ohio’s state parks and forests are crucial for our recreational economy and provide a free and safe environment for Ohio families. Unfortunately, they are at risk due to a lack of funding and periodic proposals to open them up for logging and drilling.
Environment Ohio supports:
• Extending the life of and increasing the revenue for the popular Clean Ohio Fund program, which has already protected over 25,000 acres of wildlife habitat and 20,000 acres of family farms, and created over 200 miles of multi-use trails.
• Adequate funding for the Department of Natural Resources to ensure that state parks, waterways and forests are sustainably managed and accessible to all citizens.
Environment Ohio opposes:
• Opening up Ohio’s state parks or nature preserves to oil or gas drilling.