OEC opposes amended S.B. 291 - Great Lakes Water Resources Compact, April 30, 2008

Senate Bill 291 and its proposed change to the language of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact is based on a faulty interpretation of the language, intent, and operation of The Compact. Read testimony. (PDF)

OEC supports H.B. 416 - Great Lakes Water Resources Compact, April 4, 2008

The Compact strikes a fair balance between the economic benefits of commercial use of water and the need for sustainable water use. Read Green Paper. (PDF)

50 years of AMPGS, February 22, 2008

There has never been a worse time to construct a conventional coal plant than today. Read testimony. (PDF)

OEC's comments on "naturally raised" claim for livestock and the meat and meat products derived from such livestock , January 31, 2008

The proposed "naturally raised" label on meat is a misnomer.The term fails to address many of the high standards consumers expect from sustainable livestock production, including animal welfare, access to pasture, and conservation and environmental requirements. OEC urges USDA and AMS to amend either the proposed label term or amend the proposed definition. Read testimony. (PDF)

Energy efficiency - our 1st energy resource, January 30, 2008

Energy Efficiency is our country’s greatest energy resource — contributing more than coal, nuclear, and even oil to meeting our country’s demand for energy. Read testimony. (PDF)

OEC's testimony on tree removal from interstate pipeline easements, January 15, 2008

Senate Bill 166 is necessary. It puts negotiation before litigation, safety before profits, and dignity before intimidation. This bill addresses a major problem for Ohio landowners: vague, undefined easements and efforts by some pipeline easement holders to expand rights-of-ways. Read testimony. (PDF)

OEC urges the Ohio Department of Agriculture not to prohibit dairy farmers and other producers from using labels that convey to consumers that their products are produced without the use artificial growth hormones. Read testimony. (PDF)

OEC's testimony on electric utility restructuring and advanced energy, December 12, 2007

Commercially available and cost-effective options for energy efficiency and renewable energy exist today.

Ohio is home to more than 100 companies that are researching, developing, manufacturing, and siting clean energy technologies—including a dozen involved in energy efficiency and 76, alone, involved in wind energy applications.

Even more companies want to expand or set up shop in Ohio – if only the General Assembly will enact legislation that gives them the necessary confidence that Ohio is serious about expanding its clean energy marketplace.

Perhaps the best news of all is that the Ohio House of Representatives is in a position to make the promise of Senate Bill 221 for customer savings and new job growth through significant investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies a reality for Ohio. Read testimony. (PDF)

Comments on Ohio EPA new draft modified air permit to install for FDS coke plant, Toledo, December 6, 2007

The Ohio Environmental Council acknowledges the new jobs that the proposed facility would stimulate. This consideration is a positive benefit and an important consideration. Equally, if not more important, are the long-lasting public health and environmental benefits or deficits that may accrue as a result of the proposed facility—impacts that may remain with the Toledo area and our Great Lake Erie for generations to come. By law, these health and environmental impacts must be the first and foremost concern of the Ohio EPA and its consideration of this draft modified permit.Read testimony. (PDF)

OEC's remarks concerning American Municipal Power(AMP)-Ohio's proposal to build a 960 megawatt pulverized coal-fired power plant in Meigs County, Ohio, November 30, 2007

While AMP makes frequent statements about how “clean” its plant would be, its permit application tells a different story. The plant would release approximately 7.3 million tons of CO2 – a primary cause of global warming – per year, and AMP has made no binding
commitments to capture or otherwise control those emissions. In addition, AMP has claimed its intent to use Powerspan technologies to control the emission of other pollutants, but in its permit application, AMP ignores Powerspan and instead proposes to use controls that are far from the most effective available. Read remarks. (PDF)

Initial comments on draft Ohio Administrative Code rule changes for permitting coastal structures along the Ohio shore of Lake Erie, November 8, 2007

In many ways, the draft rules provide a fair and responsible framework for the State to manage its fragile coastal resources. In other ways, the rules pose serious questions or problems, fail to correct serious ongoing problems, or miss an opportunity to resolve other problems. Read testimony. (PDF)

OEC Testimony - H.B. 357 (as introduced) Energy Development and Supply, November 7, 2007

This legislation includes many important and constructive provisions to leverage many of Ohio’s energy assets, especially two assets that offer a combination of benefits to Ohio’s environment, consumers, and economy:

• Energy Efficiency – the undisputed least cost, fastest, and easiest solution to rising energy costs, growing energy demands, and future compliance costs
• Renewable Energy – an inexhaustible reservoir of clean energy that, unlike mature energy sources, are dropping in price and immune from accruing liability from future emissions and carbon control costs. Read testimony. (PDF)

OEC Green Paper and Testimony - H.B. 298 (as introduced) - Ballast Water Management, October 31, 2007

This legislation would protect Ohio’s waterways from the number one vector for the introduction of aquatic invasive species—ballast water. 
Read Green Paper. (PDF) Read testimony. (PDF)

OEC Green Paper - S.B. 214 (as introduced) - Phosphorous Detergents, October 17, 2007

This bil is an important tool in the continuing effort to protect Ohio waters from excess nutrient loading. Read more. (PDF)

Leveraging Ohio’s long-undeveloped clean energy
assets, October 11, 2007

The OEC believes the Governor’s plan offers a comprehensive and constructive framework to leverage many of Ohio’s energy assets, especially:

• Energy Efficiency –the undisputed least cost, fastest, and easiest solution to rising energy costs, growing energy demands, and future compliance costs
• Renewable Energy – an inexhaustible reservoir of clean energy that, unlike mature energy sources, are dropping in price and immune from accruing liability from future emissions and carbon control costs
• Carbon Sequestration – a developing technology which is increasingly important to Ohio, given our electric power sector’s heavy dependence upon coal, resultant large emissions of greenhouse gases, and looming cost to clean up our carbon emissions
  
  Read testimony. (PDF)

OEC letter to Ohio Congressional Delegation, re: Boozman Amendment, June 19, 2007

The OEC vigorously opposes Rep. John Boozman (R- Arkansas) amendement, which will restrict the movement of passenger trains outside of the Northeast Corridor and debilitate existing passenger rail service in Ohio. Read letter. (PDF)

OEC Green Paper - H.B. 169 - Lead-Acid Battery Collection and Disposal, May 10, 2007

H.B. 169 assures a uniform collectin and disposal system for consumers. Read more. (PDF)

OEC Proponent Testimony - H.B. 69 - Transfer of Development Rights, April 26, 2007

Every day more and more acres of prime farmland are lost to development. Transfer Development Rights (TDR's) make a free exchange of development rights without having to buy or sell land. Read more. (PDF)

OEC Proponent Testimony - S.B. 77 - Commercial Fishing, April 25, 2007

The waters of Lake Erie do now and have always belonged to the State as proprietor in trust for the people of Ohio. Read more. (PDF)

OEC Budget Testimony - Public Transit , April 25, 2007

Public transit delivers valuable benefits every day to commuters, local communities, and the environment. Read more. (PDF)

OEC opposes House Bill 47, April 18, 2007

We believe the law will obstruct future progress for continued water conservation in the Muskingum River drainage basin. Read more. (PDF)

OEC Indoor Smoking Testimony, April 16, 2007

The rules proposed by the Ohio Department of Health provide a mechanism for protecting the health and safety of Ohioans. Read more. (PDF)

OEC Budget Testimony - Ohio EPA, April 10, 2007

A clean Ohio = a competitive advantage. Ohio has made tremendous progress in cleaning the environment, but more work remains. Read more. (PDF)

OEC Budget Testimony - Ohio Rail Development Commission, April 5, 2007

When it comes to the environment, rail transport is on track. What needs to be done to spur rail development in Ohio? Read more. (PDF)

OEC Budget Testimony - Ohio Department of Natural Resources, April 5, 2007

The Ohio DNR protects and conserves our natural heritage, natural benefits, and natural energy resources. How can lawmakers enable ODNR to be a better steward of our environment? Read more. (PDF)

OEC Green Paper - H.B. 67 - ODOT Transportation Budget, March 21 , 2007

Ohio should step up its investments in fuel-saving transportation options. Read More. (PDF)