Ohio Local Chamber Leaders in the News on the Economic Benefits of Newly Resumed Clean Energy Standards

Brian Dicken, VP of Advocacy and Public Policy, Toledo Regional Chamber

“If you want to know the facts about how clean energy affects local businesses, you need to know what local chambers of commerce have witnessed over the past several years,” chamber executives Brian Dicken and Susan Munroe wrote in a Dec. 24, 2016 op-ed published in the Toledo Blade.

“And we can tell you: From Toledo to Van Wert, clean energy has delivered jobs, investments, and savings to consumers—all of which is good news for our businesses, schools, communities, and the economy of this great state.”

Dicken is Vice President of Advocacy and Public Policy for the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, and Munroe is President and CEO of the Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber executives went onto encourage Gov. John Kasich to veto H.B. 554, a bill that would have essentially extended the freeze on Ohio’s renewable energy and energy efficiency standards for three more years.

Gov. Vetoes HB 554, Standards Back in Effect Jan. 1, 2017.

Susan Munroe, President and CEO, Van Wert Area Chamber

On Dec. 27, Gov. Kasich vetoed HB 554, saying Ohio’s wide range of energy generation helped grow jobs over the past six years, and the bill risked “undermining this progress by taking away some of those energy generation options, particularly the very options most prized by the companies poised to create many jobs in Ohio in the coming years, such as high technology firms.”

Hundreds of companies are either already involved in the development of wind or solar energy in Ohio or are suppliers to those businesses, reported Cleveland.com. The editorial board also praised Kasich’s veto and the restoration of the clean energy standards, saying: “HB 554 would have taken Ohio further backward. Kasich’s veto moves Ohio forward.”

The state’s clean energy standards came back into effect on Jan. 1, 2017—requiring energy suppliers and utilities to provide more renewable energy and energy efficiency to Ohio customers in 2017.

Read the Toledo Blade op-ed here: “Let Ohio’s Businesses Benefit from Clean Energy” 

Read the Cleveland.com editorial here: Gov. Kasich wields his veto pen wisely for Ohio’s future: editorial

Ohio Local Chamber CEOs & Economic Development Directors Say Clean Energy Benefits Local Economies

Eleven local chamber CEOs and Economic Development Directors—representing more than 5,000 business and 11 cities and counties from Toledo to Van Wert—called on Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Senate and House leaders this week to reinstate Ohio’s clean energy standards.

In a letter delivered to the Statehouse, they wrote: “As chamber and economic development leaders, we have seen clean energy projects deliver significant economic benefits that are good for our businesses, schools, communities, and the economy of this great state.”

See Gongwer coverage here.

In calling for the reinstatement of clean energy standards, the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce joins three of its largest member businesses– Owens Corning, Rudolph Libbe, and First Solar—which were among more than 70 Ohio businesses that over the past month called on the Governor and Senate and House leadership to do the same.

Among the other businesses that want good clean energy standards: Whirlpool Corporation, Owens Corning, United Technologies, Jones Lang LaSalle, Campbell Soup Company, Nestle, Gap Inc., Schneider Electric, United Technologies, Edison Solar, Starwood Energy Group, Replex Plastics, Everpower and many more—  collectively employ more than 25,000 people in Ohio.

In 2014, Ohio was the first state in the nation to put a two-year-freeze on its clean energy standards. The standards are scheduled to revert back into place at the end of 2016 unless the legislature takes action to extend the freeze or modify the standards. Gov. Kasich has publicly declared that he would veto any attempt to extend the freeze. Many local chambers support the Governor on this.

“To enable Ohio to take full advantage of this fast-growing sector that has already delivered more than $1.4 billion worth of investments, 9,000 jobs, and $4.6 million in payments to landowners and local governments, we believe there is a need for a clear and consistent roadmap on this issue.”

Read the chamber letter here.

Read the statements from major Ohio employers here.

Read statement from 68 additional businesses here.

Clean Energy: A Hot Topic at Annual Ohio Chamber Conference

“Igniting Chambers for the Future” was the theme of the meeting of Chamber of Commerce Executives of Ohio last month—and clean energy was one hot topic.

Sen. Portman’s Office kicked off the lunchtime speakers by talking about the economic benefits of energy efficiency and the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act.

“This bill helps give employers more tools to save money,” Sen. Portman’s General Counsel Stephen White told chamber leaders. “It incentivizes private sector ideas while making the U.S. government adopt energy-saving measures.”

Chamber leaders also demonstrated interest in state policies that support clean energy development. When asked in an informal survey if they agreed with Gov. Kasich’s recent comment that it is “unacceptable” for Ohio to maintain a freeze on renewable energy and energy efficiency standards, 90 percent of chamber leaders said yes.

Table-to-table speed-meeting sessions followed in which Van Wert Chamber CEO Susan Munroe shared the many ways that wind energy has benefited her community.

“Wind development brings $7 million in new tax revenue—100 percent of which stays in Van Wert,” Munroe said. “Wind development brings $2 million a year to our schools, and $4 million cash crop to local farmers.”

On day two, leaders gathered for a special Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy session to learn more about the economic opportunities of clean energy.

“Energy efficiency has an immediate return on investment,” said Nicole Stika, Senior Director Energy Services for the Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE). “As soon as you flip the switch, you see savings.” COSE, part of the Greater Cleveland Partnership, offers programs to help chambers and members save on energy upgrades and costs.