Ohio voters support renewable energy, poll finds

[Kolesar]

Ohio voters support renewable energy, poll finds

Saturday, October 13, 2007 John Funk Plain Dealer Reporter

An overwhelming majority of Ohio voters of all political stripes strongly favors requiring the state's utilities to generate electricity with wind turbines and other renewable technologies, even it were to cost more.

"Eight in 10 Ohioans support setting a renewable energy standard," Erin Bowser, director of Environment Ohio, told a Senate Committee on Energy and Public Utilities this week.

She said a survey conducted for the environmental advocacy group also shows that about three-quarters of the 600 registered Ohio voters polled in mid- September agreed that building new coal-fired or nuclear power plants "ought to be a last resort."

The Senate committee is continuing hearings on Gov. Ted Strickland's comprehensive electric restructuring bill. The proposal includes a provision to require the state's utilities to generate 12½ percent of their power with wind turbines, solar panels and other renewable technologies by 2020. Environment Ohio wants the lawmakers to set a 20 percent standard.

...snip....

Other findings include:

The support for renewable energy cut across political lines. For example, 71 percent of Republicans and 76 percent of Democrats said they would support a renewable standard.
...snip....
http://www.cleveland.com/open/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/isope/119228232656100.xml&coll=2

[geiger]

1. Ted Strickland

was in Wooster a few weeks ago talking, albeit obliquely, about this. Too bad the local Democratic candidates were too slow on the draw to pick up on it. And again, I will confess, TheBorealAvenger is my favorite blogger of all time, but I commend him for this post and I thank him for trying to breathe some life back into this Forum. I, myself, have felt rather brain-dead lately.

I've had this pet peeve for years now, about people (it crosses partisan lines) who are simply obsessed with finding things to be against, rather than "be for," something, and with that goes an honest approach to problem-solving, learning about the structures and tools in place to get things done, and then working on them, in an informed and constructive way.

Several weeks ago, someone posted about how boring the Ohio Forum has gotten. It's gotten worse than boring lately, it's been downright irrelevant, except for posts like this. And, actually, I really don't appreciate seeing an attack on Harry Reid on the DU home page when I check into DU; this is not even a criticism of Ohio DU; it's an attack mentality that's poured down to the local level and frankly now, it's time to SNAP OUT OF IT. We promised to be the Party of change. What are we coming to?

That being said, I think people are tuning out on Strickland because all his administration has gotten headlines for, is suing people. What are the constructive things going on in Ohio now, and why isn't the Democratic apparatus out there shouting about it? We were s'pposed to fix it; it's time to show how we're workin' ta' do that.

What good news do YOU have about Ohio today?

[cmd]

2. Sharing your pain

I think part of the doldrums around here are because Ohio appears to be irrelevant in the Presidential primary. We are going to get to "go along" with the super Tuesday pick. Perhaps that will be a
healing thing for the Ohio forum. We'll have to come together without rancor in the '08 election.

This is definitely an off year election year. Our local candidates need our support. I'm sure that many of us are working on campaigns that would not interest the state as a whole.

Let's see........good things........the Browns will not lose today; how 'bout those Buckeyes............; go Tribe (please, please, please win today); the leaves are changing; the sun is shining; there is
vegetable soup simmering in the crock pot.

I have a campaign meeting in Cambridge tonight. I'll see if we come up with some more good news.

Boreal Avenger: sorry to get off topic. I think our best hope for renewable energy in Ohio is wind farming the North Shore. We don't get enough wind here to make it feasible, but the Lake Erie
breezes should certainly be put to use. What can I do to help?

[Kolesar]

3. Those Harry Reid & Nancy Pelosi pics by *an enviro group* are uncomplementary

edit: I commented in the energy forum http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=115&topic_id=117966&mesg_id=117966

[Kolesar]

4. There is a super big story about electricity regulation going on.

There is a super big story about electricity regulation going on. I would say that the Governor put forth a pretty good plan that supports renewable energy, efficiency, and rate protection for consumers. If you are looking for a conversation starter with your activist networks, tell them the Governor is on the right track.

This is a huge story and I really cannot address it fully. Electricity regulation is quite complex.

First Energy put up a huge attack on the rates-management aspect of it. The Akron Beacon Journal actually agreed with FE's criticism on Saturday.

Always nice to hear from you :hi:

[geiger]

5. the story about electricity regulation, however it turns out,

will prove to be one of the milestones in Ohio history....

Read the new edition of Abe Zaidin with, yes, John Green of the Bliss Institute, "The Media and Politics: How Both Have Changed.," about a great historic perspective on Ohio politics and the media. It is simply precious and I hope to see Abe Zaidan speak at Wayne College tonight, and get him to sign my book.

[OhioBlue]

6. I found comments from our local

State Senator Amstutz (R) interesting. He voted for the bill proposed by Strickland = but then seemed to apologize for it and almost seem like he wanted it to fail. I guess the Rs are just reluctant to let go of their bad idea.