AKRON — “To his credit, the governor has stated that he would veto any measure that “kills” the mandates. What would amount to a five-year interruption fits his description. That doesn’t bar room for compromise. Thresholds (the original mandate for renewable energy is 12.5 percent of power use by 2025) and rules can be adjusted, and should be as circumstances change.
The idea is to nurture clean energy alternatives, not set them up to fail.
The bigger picture should hold sway, the state making steady and substantial progress, attracting investment, sustaining a clean energy sector. The group Advanced Energy Economy highlights modeling that shows the state could meet its energy demands in 2027 with an electricity generation mix of 18.5 percent renewable sources. Via the efficiency component, the average Ohio household would save $192 per year and the state as a whole $3.3 billion by the end of a decade.
Recall that before the freeze, utilities reported Ohio consumers saving more than $1 billion from efficiency gains.
The real and mounting presence of climate change has spurred companies such as Amazon to require the use of clean energy at their new facilities. Ohio, aided by its manufacturing legacy, should be eager to take part in this emerging part of the economy. Solar and wind have made dramatic leaps in becoming more competitive, without a full accounting for the carbon costs of competitors.”
— editorial, Akron Beacon Journal
link to full editorial
