Energy Program News

 Environment Ohio Call on Ohio’s Decision Makers to Repower America with Clean Energy

Columbus, Ohio - A new report, The High Cost of Fossil Fuels: Why America Can’t Afford to Depend on Dirty Energy, shows that Ohioans are already spending thousands on fossil fuels, and that cost is only expected to increase. At the same time, pollution from fossil fuels is the number one source of air and global warming pollution and a leading source of water pollution, said Environment Ohio in their new report.

“Ohio’s economy is in the midst of a massive transition. We are shifting our steel mills to serve the wind industry, using our glass sector to manufacture solar panels, and turning our electricians and roofers in to solar installers and energy efficiency retrofitters,” said Jennifer Herron an organizer with Environment Ohio. “Instead of sitting on the sidelines while the costs of fossil fuels to continue to mount, Congress and our state leaders should focus on repowering Ohio with clean, renewable energy that will create jobs and reduce pollution.”

The report uses government data to quantify current and projected spending on fossil fuels nationally and by state. It shows that in 2006, Ohioans spent $2,898 per capita on fossil fuels. In 2030, that figure is expected to rise to between $3,522 and $4,576 per person, which is as much as $1,678 (58%) increase per person every year on fossil fuels if we stay on our current energy path.

In contrast, moving to clean energy – wind turbines, solar panels, and energy-efficient homes and buildings – would save money, even excluding the additional benefits for the environment, health, and security. For instance, a recent report by the Union of Concerned Scientists found that transitioning to clean energy would cut costs by $810 per household annually and save consumers and business a total of $33 billion annually in 2030. In addition, clean energy creates jobs here at home, since clean energy projects tend to be labor intensive and cannot be outsourced.

Both Congress and Ohio’s legislature are moving forward with energy policies, some that will help and others that will hinder the growth of Ohio’s renewable energy industry.

On the federal level:

Last Friday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454), historic legislation that creates a framework for moving to a clean energy economy and curbing global warming.

“This important federal legislation will move the country a step closer towards reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. We applaud Representatives Kilroy, Space, Driehaus, Sutton, Kaptur, Boccieri, Fudge and Ryan for supporting the bill,” stated Herron. “Now is the time for bold and meaningful action on clean energy and global warming. The Senate must strengthen and pass this critical bill, and we urge Senators Brown and Voinovich to move quickly to enact strong solutions for a clean energy economy.”

The Environment Ohio report also showed the impact that the cost of fossil fuels is taking on our country as a whole – and how Congressional action could avoid these cost increases. Nationally, in 2006, U.S. consumers and businesses spent $921 billion on fossil fuels – more than was spent on education or the military. The country is on track to spend between $23 trillion and $30 trillion on fossil fuels between 2010 and 2030, the high end of which is more than double the nation’s total economic output in 2007.

These figures do not include the untold damages to our environment, health, and society resulting from the production and use of fossil fuels – such as global warming, air and water pollution, mountaintop mining, and oil spills.

On the state level, the proposed budget:

Ohio’s state lawmakers are threatening to weaken Ohio’s current renewable energy policy with amendments to the state budget. The state’s budget bill is set to be voted on next week.

“Last year, when Ohio’s lawmakers enacted a pro-active renewable energy policy, my company saw an immediate increase in demand,” said Geoff Greenfield, the founder and president of Third Sun Solar and Wind, a local renewable energy installation company. “Even in these tough economic times, we have continued to have a thriving renewable energy business.”

But, the amendments to the budget would give renewable energy credit to burning non-renewable energy resources such as trash, tires, gases from coal beds, and the waste products from paper mills (also known as black liquor).

“Ohio’s renewable energy industries are continuing to grow and provide good green jobs for Ohioans throughout the state,” commented Terrence O’Donnell, a representative from the business trade association Ohio Advanced Energy. “These clean energy industries are at risk if the legislature continues to chip away at Ohio’s renewable energy law.”

“We hope that the state’s conference committee will remove the dirty energy amendments, and focus on the clean energy opportunities that will create jobs and reduce pollution,” concluded Herron.

Other action on the state level:

The Ohio House of Representative’s Alternative Energy Committee recently voted for pro-active clean energy legislation. With strong bi-partisan support the committee passed Ohio’s Renewable Schools Bill (HB 113) on June 9th, 2009. The bill institutes a pilot program for schools to install renewable energy systems including solar panels, geothermal systems, or wind turbines in the 70 largest school districts around the state.

"This bill makes sense on so many different levels - school cost containment, green Ohio jobs and environmental education,” commented one of the bills lead sponsors, Representative Mike Foley (D-Cleveland). “It is legislation that helps us continue on the transition to the new energy economy."

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Environment Ohio is a state-based, citizen-funded environmental organization working for clean air, clean water, and open space.