Policy Accomplishments
Ohio has come a long way in the past two years: from a state sitting on the sidelines of the clean energy economy to becoming one of its most promising markets. Underpinning this evolution is a state energy policy that is among the strongest in the country. Ohio’s new energy policy has led directly to increased private investment in the state and, most importantly, the creation of jobs that are built for the 21st century.
Ohio Advanced Energy has played a vital role in the creation of an energy policy that keeps the state moving forward. A nonprofit trade association comprising business leaders from across the state and country, OAE advocates for advanced energy policies from a business perspective. Its efforts in recent years have led to an impressive list of legislative accomplishments:
- Renewable portfolio standard: S.B. 221, enacted in 2008, requires investor-owned electric utilities to produce 25 percent of their power from renewable and advanced energy sources by 2025. The renewable tier contains annual benchmarks and an aggressive solar carveout. This Renewable Portfolio Standard put Ohio on the map, jumpstarting our clean energy economy by giving utilities a mandate to transition away from carbon-based energy. Working on the bill for more than a year, OAE was the premier business group advocating for the RPS and authored many of its provisions.
- Interconnection reform: Ohio regulations now separate interconnection to the electrical grid into three tiers to allow for easier and more streamlined applications for small and mid-sized generators. The new regulations provide better incentives to individuals and companies of all sizes to site renewable and advanced energy projects on their property. OAE regularly advocates before the PUCO on such issues and has enjoyed tremendous success.
- Advanced energy tax reform: S.B. 232, enacted in 2010, reduces the tax burden on solar and wind projects from $115,000 and $40,000 per megawatt, respectively, to $6,000 to $9,000 per megawatt. This reduction puts Ohio in a much more competitive position in the Midwest to attract private investment and helps make projects pencil out.
- PACE: H.B. 1 and S.B. 232 created Ohio’s Property Assessed Clean Energy financing for solar, wind, geothermal, gasification, biomass, and energy efficiency technologies. Property owners can now rely on this financing mechanism to help deploy renewable or advanced energy projects.
As one of the country’s great manufacturing and logistics hubs, Ohio is poised for significant growth if it continues its investment in green businesses and technologies. OAE, as an advocacy group of business leaders, recognizes that Ohio’s ability to capitalize on opportunities in the clean economy tomorrow require it to lay the right legislative framework today. OAE has been a key player in bringing Ohio this far, and it has set an aggressive agenda of policy priorities to make sure the momentum continues.
If you would like more information on Ohio Advanced Energy, or would like to join, please contact Terrence O’Donnell at
todonnell@bricker.com or 614.227.2345; or Christopher Montgomery at
cmontgomery@bricker.com or 614.227.4885.
|
