Additional Contact:
Erin Bowser, (614) 314-1863
Columbus: The Ohio House passed Sub Senate Bill 221 today
which includes a 12.5% renewable energy standard. The standard includes annual
benchmarks for renewable energy, strong enforcement measures and a .5% carve-out
for solar energy.
“We applaud Ohio’s Speaker of the House Jon Husted, Leader
Joyce Beatty and Governor Strickland for their dedication to delivering clean
energy for Ohio’s future this Earth Day,” stated Erin Bowser, Director. “Not
only will an investment in renewable energy reduce pollution, it will also boost
our manufacturing base and put Ohioans back to work.”
The renewable energy standard included under the umbrella
alternative energy standard in Sub Senate Bill 221 will require that Ohio get
12.5% of its electricity from clean, renewable sources of power by 2025. If
approved by the Ohio Senate and signed by Governor Strickland Ohio will become
the 26th state in the U.S. to pass a renewable energy standard
beating out neighboring states Michigan and Indiana that are considering similar
policies.
The renewable energy standard that includes annual
benchmarks and strong enforcement mechanisms had bipartisan support on the floor
of the Ohio House today. Ranking Minority member of the Public Utilities
Committee Representative Jennifer Garrison pointed out on the floor of the House
that Democrats were supportive of the improvements that Speaker Husted and
Representative Jim McGregor had made to the senate version of the standard.
In addition to a strong renewable energy standard the bill
includes a strong energy efficiency standard that will result in a 22%
cumulative reduction in energy usage by 2025. Energy efficiency is the
cleanest, cheapest and quickest way that Ohio can reduce its demand and even
help to bring down the cost of electricity.
“Ohioans deserve to reap the economic and environmental
benefits that employing renewable energy and energy efficiency have to offer.
Today, Republican and Democratic representatives stood together and delivered on
the energy, jobs and progress commitment made by Governor Strickland last fall,”
stated Bowser.
The American Wind Energy Association, the national trade
association for the wind energy also supports the renewable energy standard
passed by the House today.
“Ohio’s legislation is very significant for two reasons,”
said AWEA Executive Director Randall Swisher. “First, Ohio, as a major
industrial state, uses a lot of power and will now become an important market
for renewable energy. Second, this legislation can jump-start the involvement
of Ohio’s world-class manufacturing infrastructure and world-class skilled
manufacturing workforce in wind energy manufacturing, which will bring benefits
not only to Ohio—new jobs—but also to the whole country and industry as we tap
Ohio’s expertise. This law is nationally significant.”
