The Ohio Environmental Council is trying to get the word out about Senate Bill 221 (SB 221), also referred to at the Ohio Energy Bill. The choice comes down to what the Council calls "a clean energy future" or "continued reliance n dirty power."
While the bill has some good stuff, there are some problems with it too.
“The Ohio Energy Bill … includes a proposed Energy Efficiency Standard and a Renewable Energy Standard,” explains a sample letter voters can send to their representatives. “But these clean energy policies are crippled by following obstacles in the bill:
“The proposed Energy Efficiency Standard is based on growth in energy demand, not actual sales. Experts estimate that Ohio will achieve only about 5% in net energy savings, under the bill. This would amount to the weakest efficiency standard in the nation.
“Neither the proposed Energy Efficiency Standard nor the Renewable Energy Standard includes annual benchmarks or compliance provisions to compel utility companies to follow the law. Nearly every other state with such a standard has included these safeguards.”
To make your lawmakers pass a bill that has some hope of bringing about a greener Ohio, “take action.” Visit the Ohio Environmental Council Web site to send a letter to your representative and tell a friend to do the same.
— Margo Pierce
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