Corporate Leaders Ask GOP-Controlled Ohio Legislature to Preserve Renewable Energy Standards

Some of Ohio's largest employers are pleading with the state's lawmakers not to weaken or eliminate the state's Renewable Energy standards. "GOP lawmakers both in the Ohio Senate and House last spring introduced bills that would either extend the two-year freeze on Ohio's renewable energy mandates or make them voluntary, in other words pretty much end them as standards that had to be met," reports John Funk in The Cleveland Plain Dealer. These standards, which have been bitterly contested in previous legislative sessions seem no safer after November 8th's election left the GOP in power in the state.

"Nine corporations, including manufacturers Whirlpool and Owens Corning and food giants Nestle and Campbell Soup, released statements Tuesday urging state lawmakers to bring back rules requiring power companies to provide annually increasing amounts of electricity generated by wind, solar and other renewable technologies," Funk details. Corporate leaders from these companies insisted that Ohio's economic future depends on maintaining environmental standards that don't fall behind the rest of the country.  Environmental groups, the Nature Conservancy in Ohio and the Environmental Defense Fund insist that delaying the growth of renewable energy will have serious consequences for the states air, water and carbon footprint.