Apr

24

Strickland’s Long Winded Engery Plan

April 24, 2008 |

More hot wind from the government’s energy plan. Sounds like more tax money for windmills rather than lowering taxes and bringing in more jobs, which are reluctant because of the taxes and needed tort reforms. But hey look at the windmills…

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Environmental advocates are seeing dollar signs in the hundreds of windmills they envision sprouting on the Ohio landscape, thanks to the commitment to renewable resources in the state’s new energy plan.

Gov. Ted Strickland proposed that Ohio utilities be required to have 12.5 percent of their total power portfolio come from renewable resources, such as wind, solar and water, by 2025. The House version of Strickland’s bill spells out the percentages each utility must achieve each year, beginning in 2009, when they must draw 0.25 percent from renewables.

The Senate on Wednesday unanimously approved changes the House made, sending it to Strickland, who likely will sign it next week.

The 12.5 percent requirement translates into an investment of at least $12 billion in wind energy installations, according to the American Wind Energy Association, an industry trade group. Most of the wind farms would be in Ohio, a key to Strickland’s desire for homegrown power sources, the association said.


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