Columbus-Today, Ohio House Speaker Jon Husted
announced new and improved standards for renewable energy and energy efficiency,
including strong enforcement and benchmarks to ensure success. These standards
were supported by Ohio
environmental advocates and Ohio-based manufacturers and business leaders for
renewable energy and energy efficiency.
“The clock is ticking for Ohio
to compete with the rest of the U.S. “The legislation being introduced
today by Representative Jim McGregor is a significant improvement to the
weakened energy bill that came out of the Senate.”
for the economic and environmental benefits that developing our own renewable
energy resources has to offer,” stated Erin Bowser, Director of Environment
Ohio.
“This vastly strengthened energy efficiency standard
guarantees that no ratepayer will be left behind in achieving real dollar and
energy savings,” said Jack Shaner, Public Affairs Director for the Ohio
Environmental Council. “Hats off to
Speaker Husted and Representative McGregor for truly putting Ohio’s consumers, economy, and environment
first.”
Key improvements include:
- The
development of the Ohio Renewable Energy Authority which will identify and
expand job opportunities in renewable energy businesses located in the state of
Ohio;
- An
energy efficiency standard that requires a phased in, 22% cumulative energy
reduction by 2025 based on total delivered electric load and a 7.75% reduction
in peak load by 2025.
- A
solar carve-out of 1% solar electricity by 2025 which will dramatically foster
the growth of a solar market, helping to
grow existing businesses and attract new businesses;
- Directs
the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to annually track and enforce the
renewable energy and energy efficiency standards;
- Benchmarks,
beginning in 2009, for meeting both the renewable energy and energy efficiency
standards;
- Specific
enforcement mechanisms - including payments for noncompliance– that will hold
utilities accountable to meet the standards.
"We're very excited to see the state of Ohio joining so many of
its peers in proposing such a significant solar standard, stated Colin
Murchie, Manager of Regulatory Affairs for SunEdison. “This is the kind
of achievable commitment that has the proven ability to drive significant
clean energy investment in any state."
“We commend Governor Strickland for getting the ball
rolling, and we believe that Speaker Husted’s leadership combined with the
bi-partisan support that exists for a clean energy future will bolster Ohio’s economy, reduce
pollution and protect ratepayers from the rising costs of energy,” concluded
Shaner and Bowser.
Also
attending the news conference and available for comment immediately following
the event:
- Colin Murchie, SunEdison
- Hans Detweiler, American Wind Energy
Association
- Al Compaan, Prof., Chair, Dept. of
Physics & AstronomyUniversity of Toledo; Representing Akron Polymer Systems, Xunlight 26 Solar
& Xunlight
- Matt Krivos, Project Developer, JW
Great Lakes Wind
- Megan Reichert-Kral, MBA, CBA, Director of
University of Toledo’s Clean and Alternative Energy Business Incubator
- David Cohen, Dovetail Solar &
Wind
- Eric Miller, Invenergy
- Henry Cialone ,
Edison Welding Institute
- Steve Melink,
Melink Corporation
·
Gregory E. Hitzhusen, Ph.D., School of Environment and Natural Resources, OSU.
Representing Ohio
Interfaith Power and Light
·
Rob Banerjee, Vice President, WebCore Technologies
·
John Seryak, PE, Principal, Go
Sustainable
·
Yvonne Pentz, Paul Werth &
Associates, Representing EverPower Renewables
