Ohio AEE Opposes HB 114 in Testimony Before Ohio Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
By turning renewable energy and energy efficiency standards into voluntary goals, the bill would drive a $10 million advanced energy market opportunity to neighboring states, business group says
Columbus, October 18, 2017—Today, Advanced Energy Economy and its local affiliate, Ohio Advanced Energy Economy, submitted testimony to the Ohio Senate Energy and Natural Resource Committee in opposition to House Bill 114, a bill poised to turn the state’s renewable energy and energy efficiency standards into voluntary goals before eliminating them all together. Today’s hearing on HB 114 comes nearly a year after Governor Kasich vetoed a bill to weaken the state’s energy standards at the end of the 2016 legislative session. The written testimony is available here.
“The House-passed version of HB 114 falls far short of a comprehensive energy package. Rather, the bill would stifle growth of the advanced energy industry in Ohio, hurt the state’s competitiveness for attracting large corporate operations, and drive a $10 billion market opportunity to neighboring states while driving up the cost of electricity for all Ohio consumers,” said Ray Fakhoury, State Policy Associate at Advanced Energy Economy (AEE). “The Ohio Senate has an opportunity to reject this bill and develop Ohio’s energy policy of the future, providing certainty to business leaders looking to make long-term investments in Ohio.”
“It’s about time Ohio’s energy policy catches up with the changing market dynamics as the cost of advanced energy resources dramatically declines and corporate demand from Fortune 100 and 500 companies significantly increases," said Ted Ford, President of Ohio AEE. "If Ohio wants to attract these companies and retain them, it needs to show that it is serious about accelerating advanced energy adoption. Voluntary goals don’t accomplish that.”
About AEE and Ohio AEE
Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) is a national association of businesses that are making the energy we use secure, clean and affordable. Advanced energy encompasses a broad range of products and services that constitute the best available technologies for meeting energy needs today and tomorrow. AEE’s mission is to transform public policy to enable rapid growth of advanced energy businesses. Ohio AEE represents the interests of local and national AEE member companies in Ohio. AEE and its State Partner organizations are active in 27 states across the country, representing more than 1,000 organizations in the advanced energy industry. Learn more at www.aee.net and www.ohioadvancedenergy.org (@AEEnet and @OHAdvEnergyEcon)