2008 Woodie Awards
Ohio Senate approves Strickland energy plan
Sarah Foster
Issue date: 11/9/07 Section: Community
The Ohio Senate recently approved an amended version of Governor Ted Strickland's energy plan in a 32-0 vote last week.
Strickland's energy proposal, titled "Energy, Jobs and Progress," is focused on keeping electricity rates stable and encouraging use of renewable energy sources, according to Keith Dailey, press secretary for Strickland.
Sub Senate Bill 221, which houses the proposal, will now make its way through the House in a hearing process that will take several weeks and possibly months, according to Dailey. Hearings started Nov. 7 in the House Public Utilities Committee.
Senator Gary Cates, who represents Ohio's 4th District, which includes Oxford, voted in favor of the bill, according to Sarah Spence, administrative assistant for Cates. Cates was unavailable for comment.
Strickland's energy proposal is based upon three primary goals,
Dailey explained.
"The governor designed this proposal with the specific goal of aiming to avoid excessive cost increases, both for individuals and businesses," Dailey said. "This will ensure that electric rates are stable and predictable in years to come."
Dailey said the first goal is to protect Ohio consumers and the Ohio job market by making sure energy prices are stable, predictable and affordable.
Electric rates set by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio expire at the end of 2008, but the bill is set to freeze the rates, he said. These rates differ depending on location.
Second, the bill is designed to attract energy jobs of the future through the Ohio Advanced Energy Portfolio Standard.
This standard calls for at least 25 percent of energy produced in Ohio to come from advanced energy by 2025.
These renewable sources include hydropower, solar power and clean coal technologies, Dailey said. Clean coal resources will work to reduce carbon emissions and help protect the environment against effects of global warming.
Coal plays an important role as an energy source and Strickland is hoping to move toward making it a more diversified energy source.
Strickland's energy proposal, titled "Energy, Jobs and Progress," is focused on keeping electricity rates stable and encouraging use of renewable energy sources, according to Keith Dailey, press secretary for Strickland.
Sub Senate Bill 221, which houses the proposal, will now make its way through the House in a hearing process that will take several weeks and possibly months, according to Dailey. Hearings started Nov. 7 in the House Public Utilities Committee.
Senator Gary Cates, who represents Ohio's 4th District, which includes Oxford, voted in favor of the bill, according to Sarah Spence, administrative assistant for Cates. Cates was unavailable for comment.
Strickland's energy proposal is based upon three primary goals,
Dailey explained.
"The governor designed this proposal with the specific goal of aiming to avoid excessive cost increases, both for individuals and businesses," Dailey said. "This will ensure that electric rates are stable and predictable in years to come."
Dailey said the first goal is to protect Ohio consumers and the Ohio job market by making sure energy prices are stable, predictable and affordable.
Electric rates set by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio expire at the end of 2008, but the bill is set to freeze the rates, he said. These rates differ depending on location.
Second, the bill is designed to attract energy jobs of the future through the Ohio Advanced Energy Portfolio Standard.
This standard calls for at least 25 percent of energy produced in Ohio to come from advanced energy by 2025.
These renewable sources include hydropower, solar power and clean coal technologies, Dailey said. Clean coal resources will work to reduce carbon emissions and help protect the environment against effects of global warming.
Coal plays an important role as an energy source and Strickland is hoping to move toward making it a more diversified energy source.
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