Submitted to the Ohio Senate, by Jack Shaner, Deputy Director, Ohio Environmental Council.
The OEC's Top 5 State Budget Priorities
1. CLEAN OHIO FUND
SUPPORT House for adding $26M in bond sales for Clean Ohio Fund
SUPPORT House - Legislative Study Committee on Clean Ohio + Brownfield Funding (LSCCD5)
OPPOSE House - Use of Revenues from Oil and Gas Drilling on State Park Lands for Clean Ohio Fund (DNRCD32)
We appreciate the opportunity to make early Stakeholder comments regarding the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's (OEPA) proposed nutrient standard for Ohio.
The OEC strongly supports the prompt adoption of a nutrient standard for Ohio that is protective of water quality and of aquatic life. We also appreciate that the standard must be realistic and attainable.
Submited to the Senate General Subcommittee of Finance, by Kristy Meyer, Managing Director, Agriculture, Health & Clean Water Programs, Ohio Environmental Council
Increase the Healthy Lake Erie Fund (DNRCD6) by $1.7 million in FY 2014 and FY 2015
Submitted to the Ohio Senate General Government Finance Subcommittee, by Jack Shaner, Deputy Director, Ohio Environmental Council
Thank you for this opportunity to testify as an Interested Party on Substitute House Bill 59 (As Passed by the House), the biennial State Operating Budget.
Testimony Summary (for full testimony, scroll down for PDF)
1. Land & Water Conservation Funding
SUPPORT Executive and House - funding levels for:
Ohio Transportation Budget (House Bills 35 + 51)
To the Conference Committee by Ohio Environmental Council, Policy Matters Ohio, All Aboard Ohio
1) Allowable Use of Flexible Federal Highway Funds for Operational Expenses; and 2) Projected Freight Rail Growth
Dear Conference Committee Member-
As the House and Senate work out their differences on the Ohio Transportation Budget, we want you to have the benefit of knowing some important information that we uncovered only recently.
Submitted to the Ohio Senate Public Utilities Committee by Trish Demeter, Director of Clean Energy Campaigns, Ohio Environmental Council
What are Ohio’s Clean Energy Laws?
Ohio is one of many states that has set goals for its electric utilities in regards to how much of the state’s energy needs must be met through renewable resources and how much energy they save by being more efficient in their use.
In Ohio, these goals come in the form of an Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (AERS) and an Energy Efficiency Resource Standard (EERS).
Together, these two standards are Ohio’s Clean Energy Laws.
The overarching goal of Ohio’s Clean Energy Laws is three-fold:
Should Ohio raise taxes (a "frack tax") on the lucrative oil and gas industry to help protect human health and our air, land, and water? The OEC says yes!
The Issue
Ohio Governor John Kasich has proposed to increase the state’s severance tax on oil and gas production.
The Ohio Environmental Council supports an increase in the state’s severance tax.
In May 2008, Ohio enacted landmark clean energy legislation (SB 221) that created a state plan for renewable energy and energy efficiency.
This legislation requires electric utilities to generate 12.5% of electricity sales from renewable energy sources and enact efficiency programs to reduce energy consumption by 22% by 2025.
Additionally, the law has a pro-consumer cap to protect ratepayers and ensure the benefits of the program outweigh the costs.
Testimony on Substitute House Bill 59 (As Pending in Committee)
Submitted to the Ohio House Finance and Appropriations Committee by Jack Shaner, Deputy Director, Ohio Environmental Council
Chair Amstutz, Vice Chair McLain, Ranking Minority Member Sykes, and Members of the Committee‐
Thank you for this opportunity to testify as an Interested Party on Substitute House Bill 59 (As Pending in Committee), the biennial State Operating Budget.
