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.
Submitted to the Ohio Senate Public Utilities Committee by Trish Demeter, Director of Clean Energy Campaigns, Ohio Environmental Council.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide brief comments today on Ohio Senate Bill 58; specifically, Ohio’s Energy Efficiency Resource Standard (EERS).
We appreciate this opportunity to comment on the Ohio EPA Office of Environmental Education Fund (OEEF) funding priorities and annual agenda. Historically the OEEF has been a driving force in environmental education. It is clear that its mission of enhancing Ohio citizens’ awareness and understanding of environmental issues is a critical one.
It is our understanding that there are significant changes to the OEEF program priorities and annual agenda.
The Clean Ohio Fund is a $400 million state bond initiative first approved by Ohio voters in 2000.
In 2008, it was overwhelmingly renewed in all 88 counties with strong bipartisan support from the executive and legislative leadership.
