OHIO’S FIGHT OVER NEW ENERGY

New Bill Prompts Concerns About Future Of Ohio's Wind Industry
Laura DiMugno, 22 September 2011 (North American Windpower)

"…Senate Bill 216, proposes to repeal Ohio's alternative energy portfolio standard (AEPS). The current AEPS, enacted in May 2008 under then-Gov. Ted Strickland, contains two separate resource requirements, both of which would be revoked…

"The renewable energy portion of the AEPS requires 12.5% of the state's electricity generation to come from renewables such as wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, biologically derived methane gas, landfill gas, solid waste, fuel cells and certain hydroelectric facilities. This component of the AEPS includes enforceable annual benchmarks, as well as carve-outs for solar energy."

How in the world can they argue New Energy won't have a positive impact on jobs? (click to enlarge)

"The second segment of the program, dubbed “advanced energy resources,” imposes a requirement that another 12.5% of the state’s electricity be obtained from other sources such as nuclear, “clean” coal, energy efficiency and demand response, and does not include specific benchmarks.

"…[Those who want to repeal AEPS say it] drives up the cost of energy for Ohio families and businesses, and denies that the state's renewable energy industry will have a positive impact on jobs in the state…[But] Ohio has 67 MW of wind power currently online, 57 MW of which were added just this year…[and advocates say repealing AEPS] has the potential to be disastrous to Ohio’s nascent wind industry…[Insiders say] S.B.216 has little chance of passing…[but begins] a conversation in the statehouse about Ohio’s energy policy…"