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Clean, affordable energy... now!
Your voice is needed to ensure energy and cost savings for energy consumers and a cleaner energy future for Ohio!
Governor Strickland and state lawmakers have "loaded the bases" for clean energy and consumer savings.
Now it's up to state regulators in Columbus to "clear the bases" with strong rules to enforce the new law.
Your voice can help make a difference.
Ohio's new Clean Energy Law includes a strong Energy Efficiency Standard requiring electric power companies to achieve 22% in energy savings over the next 16 years.
Instead of just burning more coal to make more power, utility companies will have to help customers upgrade their old, energy-gobbling lights, appliances, etc., to new, more energy efficient ones. This will help save energy, lower consumer electric bills, and create new jobs and investment in Ohio's economy.
But will Ohioans fully enjoy these benefits? Or will the promise of this new law be squandered through weak, watered down rules?
It's up the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to craft strong new rules to implement the Clean Energy Law.
This is where you come in. Please take action now and ask the PUCO to capture these benefits in the new rules.
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Ensure a clean energy future for Ohio.
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
On May 1, Governor Strickland signed the new Ohio Energy Bill (Ohio Senate Bill 221), capping a year of debate over how best to structure Ohio's retail electricity marketplace. The Governor was right to insist at the beginning of the debate that any electric restructuring law must include an effective energy efficiency standard. And the General Assembly, led by the Ohio House of Representatives, was right to strengthen that priority, raising the proposed standard from a modest 5% in cumulative energy savings by 2025 to a robust standard that requires 22% in energy savings and turning the proposal from a goal to an enforceable standard with annual performance benchmarks and penalties for non-compliance. But the General Assembly also included some vague language and potential loopholes.
Now, it's up to the PUCO to make good on the Governor's and the General Assembly's praiseworthy work - by faithfully implementing the best of the new law and by closing the loopholes and clearing up any vague language in the new law.
Ohio's new energy law holds impressive promise: a region-leading 22% cumulative energy savings from energy efficiency by the year 2025. If the PUCO faithfully adopts strong rules to fulfill and protect these important provisions - JOBS will be created and consumer SAVINGS will flourish.
Ohio can realize the promise of its new energy efficiency standard with a few important policy choices by the PUCO:
1. There is a troublesome OPT-OUT LOOPHOLE in the new law which could allow some of the most important consumers of electricity - commercial and industrial users - to opt-out of money-saving efficiency programs. Fortunately, this provision is DISCRETIONARY for the PUCO, meaning the PUCO does not have to offer an opt-out. The PUCO has the opportunity to close this loophole by restricting the opt-out to only the largest users, or eliminating it all together.
2. The legislation can be interpreted to allow EXISTING efficiency improvements to count towards FUTURE savings goals. The PUCO should demand that only NEW efficiency improvement count towards future savings targets. This provision is discretionary, as well, so there is ample opportunity for the PUCO to ensure that only NEW improvements count towards FUTURE energy savings benchmarks.
3. VERIFICATION and MONITORING of efficiency programs must be IRONCLAD. The public must be able to trust - and verify - that actual energy savings have occurred and targets actually have been met. This means requiring TOP-NOTCH monitoring and verification procedures.
The Governor and the General Assembly have completed their work, loading the bases with potential benefits - while also tossing a few screwballs with vague language and troublesome loopholes. Now is the time for the PUCO to step into the pitch and hit it out of the park and drive home consumer savings, new jobs, and a cleaner environment.
Thank you for considering my perspective. I look forward to your reply.
Sincerely,
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