I’m a lifelong Ohioan. My parents grew up in Lorain, Ohio, once a bustling blue-collar town 25 minutes west of Cleveland. Most men (and, eventually, women) worked at either the Ford plant (as my great-uncle did) or U.S. Steel (as my grandfather did).
But now the Ford plant closed in 2005, and U.S. Steel has cut its workforce to the bone. This once-vibrant city is a ghost, destined to rust itself out of existence.
Which is yet another reason I was dismayed when I received an urgent note from the Solar Energy Industries Association’s (SEIA) Solar Power Advocacy Network last Thursday. Sadly, it alerted me that my legislature is on the way to repealing the state’s renewable energy standards.
Currently, the law (Revised Code Section 4928.64) says that by 2025, Ohio must generate 25% of its electricity from “alternative” energy sources, 12.5% of which must come from renewables. Of that, a whopping 0.5% must be from solar. Now there’s pending legislation (Senate Bill 216) to repeal even those meager standards.
There are currently 1,000 renewable energy installations, more than 400 companies and 25,000 jobs in the state, many of which are in the solar industry. For a state that lost nearly 118,000 manufacturing jobs between 2007-2012, it’s incomprehensible to me that my legislature would target an industry that grew 76% nationwide last year and has the potential to grow in Ohio, providing much needed jobs to a state desperate for them.
I’m concerned not just that the legislation will pass (and knowing this legislature as I do, it would pass, likely with large majorities in both houses, and our governor would sign it), but that it will send a message to solar companies that their business and investments are not welcome here — and that would be a huge mistake.
What are companies Solar FlexRack, DPW Solar, RBI Solar, Crown Battery, Ecolibrium, ILSCO, Marathon Special Products, ERICO, AP Alternatives and Protek Park supposed to think? Why would First Solar (No. 1 in Solar Power World’s Top 100 Contractors list in 2012), whose manufacturing plant in Toledo makes use of northwest Ohioans’ manufacturing savvy, stay here if the legislature turns hostile toward the industry? And that doesn’t even include all of the installers, EPCs and others who depend on solar for their livelihoods.
My answer is all these companies could look at our state, judge it wanting and pull out, hitting my state with even more job losses.
Ohio’s not the only target, of course, but it’s the one I care about most. Let’s make sure this legislation doesn’t gain traction here (or anywhere else, for that matter). Be on the lookout and stay vigilant — and let me know if it comes to your state.
I want to give credit to Midwest Energy News for doing the most comprehensive reporting on this story to date. You owe it to yourself to read the story. Kudos to Dan Haugen for putting the story together — it’s truly a masterpiece. You can thank him personally on Twitter @danhaugen or email him at dan@danhaugen.com.
HB says
Here’s the reason:
The dirty energy industry keeps John Boehner – 8th District of Ohio in office and wants to crush the renewable energy industry that could compete with dirty energy. The sun alone could power our entire earth x 11,000. . . .and the dinosaurs are afraid.
afrasz says
Frank – sorry not to comment sooner – busy couple of weeks. But want to thank you for your artcle. The message is spot on. Thousands of Ohioians across the state are now mobilizing to stop this wrong-headed initiative by two extremist OH legislators to drag Ohio back into the dark (and dirty) ages and kill jobs. Their position is NOT shared by the vast majority of Ohio businesses and residents. – Al Frasz