Environmental experts and auto workers are praising new fuel efficiency standards announced by President Obama, which will benefit Ohioans financially:

"Ohio stands to gain 21,000 jobs from the implementation of these standards," said Frank Szollosi, federal policy associate for the National Wildlife Federation's Great Lakes Regional Center.

The nation is expected to save an estimated $61 billion in gas savings during the first 5 years the new standards are in effect. This is in addition to the environmental benefits and greatly decreased reliance on foreign energy.

If elected Mitt Romney has promised to eliminate the rules, which were agreed to by 13 major auto manufacturers.

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Lawmaker Critical of Process Designed to Obstruct Access to "Fracking" Legislation

COLUMBUS - At 9:25 pm last night you would be hard pressed to hear much in the empty halls of the Statehouse. However, if you were in House Agriculture and Natural Resources committee, there is no doubt you heard the sharp hammer of Chairman Dave Hall's gavel as he ruled Representative Robert F. Hagan out of order while giving sponsor testimony.

Agriculture and Natural Resources committee may have been the first to try out a new I-Pad format for committee members, but that doesn't mean it ran any smoother than usual. The committee was packed with fourteen pieces of legislation. Majority members were largely given preference in testifying toward the beginning of committee, leaving most minority member bills concerning fracking related processes until the late evening.

Report recommends central role for combined heat and power in Ohio

The use of combined heat and power technologies in Ohio could save billions of dollars currently lost in the state's inefficient electric system, according to a report released today by Policy Matters Ohio.

Combined heat and power, also known as cogeneration, produces power by capturing and recycling heat that would otherwise be wasted. Ohio's electric power industry, the biggest source of the state's energy waste, squanders nearly one-third of all energy consumed in the state.

"This is a waste of both scarce resources and money, and results in large amounts of unnecessary toxic and carbon emissions," said Amanda Woodrum, Policy Matters researcher and report co-author. "Ohio lags behind other states in the bang it gets from its energy bucks. New York state gets more than twice as much output from the energy it consumes."

Ohio Gov. John Kasich has rightly made CHP one of the ten pillars in his energy policy, the full details of which are likely to be released next week.

A strong role for CHP makes sense. Ohio has the potential to generate a quarter of its electricity from CHP, but current CHP generation is less than 2 percent of capacity, according to the report, Capturing energy waste in Ohio: Using combined heat and power to upgrade electric system. A 10 percent increase in CHP's share of total electric power capacity (a boost of 3.6 gigawatts), would create $1.3 billion in annual energy savings while reducing emissions by 13 million metric tons - the equivalent of taking 2.3 million cars off the road, nearly 30 percent of passenger vehicles registered in Ohio.

On New Years Eve, a 4.3 magnitude earthquake hit Youngstown, OH.  Despite there never being a recorded earthquake before, this was the 11th earthquake in Youngstown this year alone.  Why the change?  In 2011, D&L Energy began disposing of over 200,000 gallons a day of toxic frack water from Pennsylvania and Ohio (or enough to fill an Olympic sized swimming pool every 2 to 3 days) by injecting it underground.  Not surprisingly, by 2011 this toxic mixture had forced its way into a previously unknown fault and presto chango, earthquakes in Youngstown.

Preliminary reports from seismology experts from Columbia University say that even if they permanently stop this injection well, the earthquakes are probably going to continue for up to a year.  But the chances of Gov. Kasich and the ODNR permanently stopping injection wells is about as possible as, well, an earthquake in Youngstown before this year.  

On Tuesday, the first meeting day of the Legislature in 2012, No Frack Ohio and concerned citizens from across Ohio are joining up to protest hydraulic fracking wells and injection disposal wells being located in our communities.   Can we count on you to help send the message?

Advisory thwarts Referendum and Violates the U.S. Constitution

COLUMBUS- State Reps. Kathleen Clyde (D- Kent) and Ronald V. Gerberry (D- Austintown), Ranking Member on the State Government and Elections committee, held a press conference today amid the ongoing confusion surrounding the implementation of military voting bill, HB 224.  Over the last month Democratic lawmakers have repeatedly contacted Secretary Husted informing him of their concerns, and asking him not to thwart the HB 194 referendum and to allow in-person early voting at county Boards of Elections through Monday, Nov. 7.  Secretary Husted has refused these requests and ignored the concerns.

"House Bill 224 is obviously not clear on many points, yet it is being treated as a clear statement of the legislature's intention by the Secretary of State's office.  We ask Secretary Husted to immediately rescind his Advisory 2011-7 and notify local Boards of Elections that they are to remain open for early voting through Monday, November 7," Rep. Clyde said.  "If we sit by while executive office holders make the law, we are abdicating our duty as lawmakers and setting a dangerous precedent with respect to the separation of powers between the branches of government."

One bill imposes moratorium, another sets requirements to protect environment

COLUMBUS - Two bills will soon be introduced in the Ohio House of Representatives dealing with the practice of fracking. State Reps. Denise Driehaus (D-Cincinnati) and Tracy Maxwell Heard (D-Columbus) are proposing a moratorium until more information is available on safety. Reps. Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) and Teresa Fedor (D-Toledo) are preparing legislation to ensure that the environment and public safety is protected when fracking does occur.

Fracking involves using a high-pressure injection of water, sand, and chemicals to release trapped gas in shale rock that lies deep within the earth.  Shale is a sedimentary rock that is often rich in petroleum and natural gas.

The bill (House Bill 345) introduced today by Reps. Driehaus and Heard would impose a moratorium on horizontal fracking of oil and gas wells until the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency completes a study of its impact on drinking water.

"Due to the potential environmental hazards and dangers to the surrounding land and drinking water, it is vital that we allow the EPA to complete a study on hydraulic fracturing," said Rep. Driehaus.  "Once the report from that study has been published, we will have a better understanding of how this procedure of fracking affects our drinking water.  There are too many questions that still need to be answered regarding our constituents' safety."

On Saturday, hundreds of Columbus residents attended a bicycle ride and festival, with the express goal of transitioning Ohio, and the United States, away from fossil fuels. The event - Bike to the Future - was part of a larger group of events called "Moving Planet," with nearly 700 US cities and 180 countries participating in a day of action, calling for a transition away from fossil fuels towards clean energy.

"It's critical that Ohio, and the Country, begins making significant policy changes that foster clean energy and hasten our transition away from fossil fuels," stated Ohio Sierra Club staff member, Ben Wickizer. "Our health, environment, and economy are suffering under the weight of our fossil fuel addiction, and the only groups that wants to see this continue are oil and coal companies."

WASHINGTON, D.C.--More than 9,000 Ohio seniors in Morgan, Washington, Belmont, Jefferson, Monroe, Noble, and Guernsey Counties participated in a tele-town hall with U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) yesterday. The call was the second in a series of tele-townhalls Brown will hold with constituents on a regional basis.

"Medicare and Social Security have allowed Americans to live longer, healthier lives and retire with dignity," Brown said. "We owe it to our children and grandchildren to reduce the deficit. But we need to do this in a way that doesn't undermine the Medicare and Social Security benefits their grandparents have earned."

Following threats to end Medicare as we know it and raise the retirement age for Social Security to age 69 or higher, Brown introduced a bill that would require Members of Congress to "walk in the same shoes" as working Americans. Brown's bill, the Shared Retirement Sacrifice Act of 2011, would amend the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) and Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) to directly tie the Social Security retirement age to current and future Members of Congress' access to their federal retirement benefits.

COLUMBUS - A rally outside the Ohio State University Student Union this evening drew a diverse crowd of participants with a common interest in a clean and green energy future for the State of Ohio.

The "Rally for Ohio's Energy Future" was organized to promote Ohio's burgeoning renewable energy economy and to provide Ohio citizens with a forum to express concerns about high volume horizontal hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking."

Coinciding with Governor Kasich's "Summit on Ohio's Energy and Economy," the rally included literature, music, games, and speakers to provide the public with information relating to Ohio's energy issues.

The rally was organized by Buckeye Forest Council, The Center for Health Environment and Justice, Food and Water Watch, the Sierra Club Ohio Chapter, Progress Ohio, and NO FRACK OHIO. 

NO FRACK OHIO is a collaboration of over 50 grassroots and conservation groups calling for a moratorium on fracking until further safeguards are put in place to protect human health and the environment. NO FRACK OHIO believes that public health and job security are more important than big industry's immediate drilling demands.

Despite the risks, Governor John Kasich is moving forward with all sorts of dirty energy including Fracking and Coal.

In fact, this week, Gov. Kasich is holding a "Energy Summit" at OSU to push his dirty energy dream and provide the first step in reversing Ohio's clean energy renewable standard.

Clean energy jobs are the way to grow the economy and protect our environment and the renewable standard has already brought investment and jobs to Ohio.

Don't let Kasich ruin our communities to reward his buddies in big Oil, Gas, and Coal.

Join us to stand up for renewables, energy efficiency and bringing good paying clean energy jobs to Ohio.

Join us to stand up for renewables, energy efficiency

and bringing good paying clean energy jobs to Ohio.

Say NO to Fracking and Coal

Say YES to Wind and Solar!

Clean Energy Rally
Gov. Kasich's Summit on Energy and Economy
Wednesday, Sept. 21st

OSU Student Union

1739 N. High St.

Columbus, OH 43210

12:00 pm:
Come out early and help
promote the rally, plus, spin the wheel for
Ohio's energy future!

 4:30 - 6:30 pm:

Main event with booths, music,

speakers, and elected officials.

Click Here to RSVP for the Clean Energy Rally

Click on the image below
for a Print friendly Flyer

You are warmly invited to attend a town hall I am hosting at the Esquire Theatre, Thursday, July 21st at 7:30.  We will be viewing "Gasland", a movie that depicts the impacts of drilling and a new process that is due to increase in Ohio called high volume slick water horizontal fracking. 

The event is free and open to the public.

Hope to see you there!

Representative Denise Driehaus - Cincinnati

Free Gasland Screening and Discussion
Thursday July 21, 2011
7:30 pm
Esquire Theater
320 Ludlow Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45220

Below please find below an op-ed that I sent to the Enquirer this week:

Right now, you are not allowed to tack up a clothesline on a tree in a State Park, yet just this week, the Ohio House and Senate passed a bill (House Bill 133) that would allow oil and gas drilling, including horizontal Fracking, in our State Parks and Public Lands.

That is not the worst part, HB 133 not only allows fracking in State Parks, but would also remove prohibitions against drilling under Lake Eire, our most precious resource!

Please attend a special screening of the award winning documentary Gasland (http://youtu.be/dZe1AeH0Qz8), hear the facts on high-volume horizontal Fracking, and learn how to get involved in the fight.

FREE Gasland Screening and Discussion

Saturday, June 18 - 2 pm

Blue Ash Recreation Center

4433 Cooper Road, Cincinnati, OH 45242-5614

Hosted by:

State Representative Connie Pillich, No Frack Ohio Coalition, ProgressOhio.org

What is fracking? How will it affect the health of yourself, your family, and your community? Why does it matter to Ohioans right now?

We will discuss these and other important questions at a special screening of the award winning documentary Gasland (click here for the trailer), followed by a discussion on fracking in Ohio featuring local state legislators and environmental experts.

FREE Gasland Screening and Discussion

Saturday, June 18 - 2 pm

Blue Ash Recreation Center

4433 Cooper Road, Cincinnati, OH 45242-5614

Hosted by:

State Rep. Connie Pillich, No Frack Ohio Coalition & ProgressOhio.org

Are you heading to downtown Columbus this weekend for the Columbus Arts Festival or the to see the new Columbus Commons?  Take a break from the Heat and come see a special FREE screening of the award winning documentary Gasland this Saturday at the Columbus Main Library.

FREE Gasland Screening and Discussion
Saturday, June 4 - 3 pm
Columbus Main Library Auditorium
96 South Grant Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43215

Hosted by:
State Representative Tracy Heard, State Representative Ted Celeste, No Frack Ohio Coalition, ProgressOhio.org

Columbus - State Senator Shirley Smith (D-Cleveland) today called on her Senate colleagues to remove language in the budget bill, Senate Bill 153 that would allow the Director of Natural Resources to open up Ohio's state parks to oil and gas drilling.

"It puzzles me why we would want to have oil and gas drilling in our state parks when there are so many unanswered questions surrounding the environmental and economic ramifications of this proposal," said Senator Smith.  "The state does not even know how much control it has over the mineral rights within certain areas of our parks."

Senator Smith also expressed concern over the uncertainty of how much revenue this proposal is expected to generate.

"If this is truly an issue about the economic situation of our state and finding solutions to keep our parks running in good order, then maybe the majority party should consider limiting the tax benefits that they offer their friends," Senator Smith said.  "I can't wait to see what other politicians leave the Statehouse to seek outside jobs with the oil and gas industry."

------

FREE Gasland Screening and Discussion

Saturday, June 4 - 3 pm

Columbus Main Library Auditorium

96 South Grant Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43215 (map)

Hosted by:

State Representative Tracy Heard, State Representative Ted Celeste, No Frack Ohio Coalition, ProgressOhio.org

What is Fracking? How will it affect the health of yourself, your family, and your community? Why does it matter to Ohioans right now?

We will discuss these and other important questions at a special screening of the award winning documentary Gasland (http://youtu.be/dZe1AeH0Qz8), followed by a discussion on fracking in Ohio featuring local state legislators and environmental experts.

FREE Gasland Screening and Discussion

Saturday, June 4 - 3 pm

Columbus Main Library Auditorium

96 South Grant Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43215 (map)

Hosted by:

State Representative Tracy Heard, State Representative Ted Celeste, No Frack Ohio Coalition, ProgressOhio.org

On May 25, 2011, the Ohio House of Representatives votes 54-41 to allow Oil and Gas drilling, including unregulated horizontal "fracking", in our State Parks. Despite vocal opposition from a vast majority of Ohioans, Legislators are betraying our trust and selling the public's land to benefit campaign contributors.

State Representatives Tracy Heard, Nickie Antonio, Denise Driehaus, Mike Foley, and Dennis Murray spoke to ProgressOhio after the vote to express their disappointment.

Watch It:

Rep. Foley may have summed it up the best: drilling in state parks "is just a crazy, crazy idea."

The drilling in State Parks bill is now in the Ohio Senate. Please call your Senator at 800-282-0253 and tell them to put people over profits. No oil and gas drilling in Ohio's State Parks!

Next week in Columbus!

Gasland Screening and Forum Saturday, June 4 - 3:00 pm

Sponsored by Rep. Heard and Rep. Celeste, No Frack Ohio, ProgressOhio.org

Columbus Main Library

96 South Grant Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43215

Last week, Republicans in the Senate rejected a bill that would've cut about half of the $4 billion-a-year in tax breaks and subsidies to the five largest oil companies. 

The Close Big Oil Tax Loopholes Act called for the repeal or revision of several tax rules that allow oil companies to deduct a portion of their costs for such endeavors as oil exploration and drilling. The savings would have been used to help reduce the deficit.

The measure also was aimed at closing a tax loophole that lets U.S. oil companies disguise royalty payments to foreign governments as foreign taxes, thus allowing them to lower their tax bills in the United States.

The administration strongly supported the bill, whose main sponsor was Sen. Robert Menendez, New Jersey Democrat. Sen. Sherrod Brown was a co-sponser of the bill.

Officials from the five oil companies - Shell Oil Co., ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, BP America and Chevron Corp. - defended the tax breaks at a Senate hearing two weeks ago, saying they just want the same tax advantages enjoyed by other industries.

Read More:

Sen. Brown Announces 'Close Big Oil Tax Loopholes Act'

Can Oil Subsidies And Off Shore Drilling Make Gas Cheaper?

Sen. Brown: Cut Subsidies for Big Oil Before Making Cuts that Could Cost 27,000 Ohio Jobs

Representatives Dennis Murray and Bob Hagan both made impassioned speeches on the floor denouncing the effect of money and influence in policy.   The vast majority of Ohioans from all side of the political spectrum are against drilling in State Parks and public lands, but the House and Senate are plowing ahead.

Why?  Could it have something to do with the over $500,000 in traceable campaign contributions that the Oil and Gas Industry gave out in 2010 to conservatives running for office?  Of course not.

Rep Murray said, "If money is the mother's milk of politics, then this legislation suggests that we must be drunk on milk and indeed depend on the real gold that will be showered on some members of this General Assembly as thanks for the black gold."

Watch It:

Hagan had the best zinger of the day about halfway through the floor debate when he said, "I appreciate Rep Blair's Mother giving us these pot holders, [but] for a minute I thought there must have been pot in it, because apparently, someone over there is on drugs!  I cant believe what you are doing again ... If we could capture the gas, bluster, and bravado coming from the other side, we could heat the whole state!"

Watch It:

Yesterday, the Ohio House passed HB133, which opens up our State Parks and public lands to oil and gas drilling, including fracking, with a vote of 54-41.  The House rejected amendments to protect our health, communities, and our travel and tourism industry.  (Don't miss great floor speeches from Rep. Teresa Fedor, Rep. Tracy Heard, and Rep. Debbie Phillips) Despite uproar from a vast majority of Ohioans, the bill is now moving to the Senate.  We must stand up NOW if we are going to protect our State Parks for future generations.  Please make every effort to attend the screening and then tell your Senator (800-282-0253) to stand up for people and not profits.

What is Fracking?  How will it affect the health of yourself, your family, and your community?  Why does it matter to Ohioans right now?

We will discuss these and other important questions at a special screening of the award winning documentary Gasland (http://youtu.be/dZe1AeH0Qz8), followed by a discussion on Fracking in Ohio featuring Cleveland area State Legislators and Environmental experts.

Gasland Screening and Discussion
Thursday, May 26th 6:00 pm
Lakewood Main Library
15425 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood, Ohio 44107

Hosted by:
State Representative Nickie Antonio, State Senator Mike Skindell, No Frack Ohio Coalition, ProgressOhio.org

Next week in Columbus!

Gasland Screening and Forum Saturday, June 4 - 3:00 pm

Sponsored by Rep. Heard and Rep. Celeste, No Frack Ohio, ProgressOhio.org

Columbus Main Library

96 South Grant Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43215

State House passes parks-drilling bill

A bill that would open up state parks and state-owned land to oil and gas drilling cleared the House today after what has become a decade-long debate over the desire to protect parkland versus the desire to access Ohio's energy resources.

"It will not solve Ohio's problems or Ohio's energy price problems, but it is a component we cannot ignore," said Rep. John Adams, R-Sidney.

The bill passed 54-41, largely along party lines.

House Bill 133 would create a new Oil and Gas Leasing Commission to oversee the leasing of land oil and gas drilling. The commission would consist of an official from the Department of Natural Resources and four governor-appointed members: two from the oil and gas industry, one from a statewide conservation group, and a member of the public with expertise in finance or real estate. (emphasis added)

Read More From The Columbus Dispatch

Gasland Screening and Forum Saturday, June 4 - 3:00 pm

Sponsored by Rep. Heard and Rep. Celeste, No Frack Ohio, ProgressOhio.org

Columbus Main Library

96 South Grant Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43215

COLUMBUS - The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio today extended the current freeze on FirstEnergy all-electric heating customer rates through March 31, 2013. Following the two-year freeze, FirstEnergy will reduce a portion of the discount annually over six years through 2018.

State Representative Matt Lundy (D-Elyria) responded to the decision with this statement:

"This only provides temporary relief for consumers. This is a short-term solution to a broken long-term promise. This will greatly hurt homeowners of all-electric homes. Who wants to buy a home with a ticking time bomb of a huge spike in electric rates in a matter of years?

These homeowners will be forced to have homes with little or no value. We have enough housing problems in Ohio without making matters worse. Many simply can't convert their homes to gas. They're out of luck and the clock is ticking.

I still believe the discount should stay with the home because the industry clearly misled consumers for decades. Also, consumers should be refunded the amount they were overcharged. I attempted to have this amendment added to the budget bill, but it was rejected by the majority in the House.

This soft landing today will result in a disastrous hard landing for these homeowners in the future. In the long-term, the utility wins and consumers lose again."

Wednesday, May 25, 1:30pm - 3:30pm

Ohio House Chamber, Room 210, Second Floor.

View Map Here:

The Ohio House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee will recommend Sub HB 133, the Drilling in State Parks bill, to the Ohio House of Representatives for a full House vote on Wednesday. Our Legislative champions in the House have asked that we pack the House gallery, and outside the chamber, to witness the vote.

CALL YOUR HOUSE MEMBER AND TELL THEM TO OPPOSE SUB. HB 133

Find your Ohio legislators using your zip code here:

Sub. HB 133 makes an already bad bill (HB 133) considerably worse:

1.     The Leasing Commission will now be even more industry friendly by replacing the Chief of Division of Mineral Resources Management with a member of the public with expertise in finance and real estate (i.e., LANDMAN--gas exploration and production professional).  There will be 5 members on the Commission, two of whom are designated to be from the oil and gas industry and only one of which is an environmental representative. Only 3 votes are required to lease a parcel, so environmental representation is still meaningless). The Chief of the Division of Geological Survey will sit on the commission; all other commission members will be appointed by the governor.

2.     Sub. Bill requires state agencies to try to remove any federal grant and private deed restrictions from state parks - these restrictions would protect the parks even if the original HB 133 had passed.

3.     There is still no allowance for public participation or objection.

4.     Sub. HB 133 still declares that oil and gas drilling in parks is the policy of the state - therefore, a government agency that does oppose a lease will be acting contrary to state policy.

5.     Allows the industry (Oil and Gas Leasing Commission) to be the arbiter of whether oil/gas development is compatible with a state park and what the environmental impact may be.

6.     Opens the door for drilling in Lake Erie, which was prohibited under the original bill.  Also requires ODNR to actively lobby Congress to lift the federal ban on drilling in Lake Erie.

7.     Still requires use of standard lease, totally inadequate to protect land and water from environmental impacts of deep well drilling and horizontal fracturing.

Tell Gov. Kasich: Don't Frack Up Ohio!

Lots of people across America are offering up false solutions to lowering gas prices--and oil subsidies and expanded offshore drilling top the list.

Last night, the Senate rejected a bill that would've cut about half of the $4 billion-a-year in tax breaks and subsidies to the five largest oil companies. Today, Republicans are advancing a bill to rapidly expand and speed up offshore drilling. In both instances, the relatively high current prices of gasoline are being used to make the case for making life easier on big oil companies.

Will these things actually do anything to solve the problem? Our friends at 350.org put together an infographic to help answer that question. 

Click here to see the whole infographic.

According to a Pew poll, four in ten Americans think Jesus Christ will return to Earth by 2050. That means more than 100 million Americans believe that Judgment Day is just around the corner.

It's no wonder then that a relatively long-term problem like climate change isn't a priority in the theocrats minds.

Related:

Cornell Study: "Fracking" Shale Gas Emissions Far Worse Than Coal For Climate

Rep. Markey Asks Do Republicans Plan To Legislate Against Gravity, Relativity?

The GOP's War On The Air We Breathe

Tea Party Wave Means GOP Climate Deniers Now Control The House

Ohioans pick a soggy day to tell lawmakers their idea is all wet

(Columbus, OH)-- As proposals to drill for oil and natural gas on public lands are being considered in both the state's biennial budget language and in companion House and Senate bills, conservation leaders and outdoor enthusiasts brought their case against drilling in state parks to the people's house today.

Ohioans were prepared to stage a "camp in" on the lawn of the Ohio Statehouse to send a clear message to lawmakers:  if drilling is going to keep us from camping in our state parks, then we will have to camp right here in your front yard.  Concerns about muddy conditions on the lawn forced the campers inside, but did not dampen their spirits.

The, "We Love Our Parks, We Love Clean Water," included a press conference and the circulation of petitions and postcards urging legislators to keep drilling rigs out of all Ohio state parks and off state nature preserves and state scenic rivers. 

The event also offered a second opportunity for lawmakers to publicly declare which state parks, state nature preserves, and state scenic rivers in their local legislative district they would vote to keep closed from oil and gas drilling or would vote to "convert from natural parks to industrial parks" and open up to extraction.

A coalition of environmental and conservation groups first posed the question in a letter to all 132 state lawmakers on April 21.

"These are simple questions that deserve simple, but clear answers--answers that may speak volumes about your willingness to forever protect or today open to industrial development, Ohio's most treasured and scenic natural areas," the letter concluded.

The letter was signed by representatives of Environment Ohio, National Wildlife Federation, Network for Oil and Gas Accountability and Protection, Ohio Environmental Council, and Sierra Club Ohio Chapter. 

Environmental and conservation groups will join outdoor enthusiasts from across Ohio on Tuesday to to support our parks and protest drilling proposals by staging a "camp in" on the Statehouse lawn.
 
As proposals to drill for oil and natural gas move their way through the legislative process, Ohioans will bring their camping gear and their support of park preservation directly to the legislative door step.
 
This all-day event will feature music, games, a picnic, a press conference, and an opportunity for legislators to sign a pledge declaring their support for keeping drilling rigs out of all Ohio state parks and off state nature preserves and state scenic rivers.  

There will be a press conference at 1 pm that will include speakers from environmental and conservation groups, as well as a number of Ohio state legislators.
 
The groups stress that oil and gas development simply is not compatible with the mission of Ohio's state parks to preserve natural and scenic areas and provide outdoor recreation.

We Love Our Parks--We Love Clean Water Day at the Statehouse
West Lawn of the Ohio Statehouse (High Street side)
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
10am - 4pm
Lunch of "frack-free" picnic fare served at 12 noon
Press conference beginning at 1pm

In this week's address, President Obama laid out his strategy to continue to expand responsible and safe domestic oil production, leveraging existing authorities as part of his long-term plan to reduce our reliance on foreign oil.

He is directing the Department of the Interior to conduct annual lease sales in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve - while respecting sensitive areas, to speed up the evaluation of oil and gas resources in the mid and south Atlantic, and to create new incentives for industry to develop their unused leases both on and offshore. Also, to give companies more time to meet higher safety standard for exploration and drilling, the administration is extending drilling leases in areas of the Gulf of Mexico that were impacted by the temporary moratorium, as well as certain leases off the coast of Alaska. And, he is establishing a new interagency working group to ensure that Arctic development projects meet health, safety and environmental standards.

The past few months, rising gas prices have put an added strain on American families. While there are no quick fixes to the problem, these are steps, along with eliminating taxpayer subsidies for oil companies and rooting out fraud and manipulation in the markets, that are worth taking.

Watch It:

Former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm was in Columbus recently to continue her national campaign with The Pew Charitable Trusts to highlight how clean energy policies can help create jobs, stimulate innovation, spur private investment and enhance America's competitiveness in the global clean energy race.

Gov. Granholm delivered the keynote speech at the University Clean Energy Alliance of Ohio's 5th Annual Conference. ProgressOhio met up with her after the speech and has video of her press conference:

Watch It:

Throughout her visit to Ohio, Gov. Granholm met with Ohio business leaders and conducted site visits at research centers developing clean vehicle technology, industrial energy efficiency, and other clean energy applications.

As reported by the Associated Press, "the former two-term governor delivered an impassioned plea for advocates not to miss a critical opportunity for setting national clean-energy policy goals. The Democrat is working with former U.S. Sen. John Warner of Virginia, a Republican, on the effort." Further excerpts:

[Pew] has steered clear of the most divisive energy policies, such as cap-and-trade emissions swapping programs and carbon taxes. "We're talking about these four pragmatic policies that have overwhelming support" [said Granholm].

The Pew policy goals are: requiring that 20 percent of energy production come from renewable sources by 2025; increasing fuel efficiency in vehicles to at least 50 mpg for model years 2017 to 2025; doubling the number of industrial facilities that recycle waste heat into power by 2020; and increase research-and-development funding from $3.8 billion to $15 billion by 2015.

Ohio was Gov. Granholm's second stop on a national campaign -- "Clean Power, Good Jobs, Energy Independence" sponsored by Pew -- to highlight the benefits of the clean energy economy and effective state policies as well as why America needs a national energy policy.

The Pew Clean Energy Program seeks to accelerate the clean energy economy for national security, economic and environmental benefits.

Legislation Would End $4 Billion in Tax Giveaways to Big Oil, Use Savings to Reduce Federal Deficit

Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown outlined a bill Monday aimed at ending the more than $4 billion in tax deductions, subsidies, and royalty relief to big oil companies each year.

Brown announced his plan Monday at a gas station in Cleveland. It would end $4 billion annually in tax breaks, subsidies and royalty waivers for the five largest oil companies, his office said. "It's bad enough that Ohioans have to pay more than $4.00 a gallon at the gas pump because the price of crude oil rises due to price fixing by OPEC," Brown said in a statement.

"They shouldn't need to subsidize the oil industry through the tax code as well. Big Oil is reaping big profits while working- and middle-class Ohioans struggle to make ends meet," he said.

The bill targets the companies' ability to claim a lucrative deduction based on manufacturing and production income and quickly write-off certain drilling costs, among other provisions.

What is Fracking?  How will it effect the health of yourself, your family, and your community?  Why does it matter to Ohioans right now?

We will discuss these and other important questions at a special screening of the award winning documentary Gasland followed by a discussion on Fracking in Ohio featuring Cleveland area State Legislators and Environmental experts.

Gasland Screening and Discussion
Monday, May 9
6:30 pm
St. Paul's Community Church
4427 Franklin Blvd. Cleveland, OH 44113

Hosted by:
State Representative Nickie Antonio, State Representative Mike Foley, State Senator Mike Skindell, No Frack Ohio Coalition, ProgressOhio.org

Speaking from a hybrid vehicle transmission company in Indiana, the President explains how investments in a clean energy economy are the only solution to high gas prices in the long term.

Watch It:

What is 'fracking'?:

Hydraulic fracturing, or 'fracking', is a process used by oil and gas companies of extracting natural gas by drilling into the earth and breaking up rock formations by injecting tens of thousands of gallons of hazardous and proprietary chemicals into the ground.

Gov. Kasich has said hydraulic fracking would be a 'godsend' for Ohio. He could not be farther from the truth. In reality, fracking will benefit out of state workers and corporations, create boom and bust local economies, jeopardize the health of Ohioans, and disturb natural environments.

Some Facts About Fracking:

• Drillers are exempt from EPA guidelines like the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act
• Drilling releases Nitrogen Oxide and Volatile Organic Compounds, resulting in destructive surface smog
• Researchers have found almost 600 different chemicals in fracking fluid, including benzene, a known carcinogen
• Over 80,000 pounds of chemicals are injected into the earth's crust to frack each well. Wells can be fracked over a dozen times during the production cycle.
• Up to 80% of the Fracking Fluid remains in the ground and is not biodegradable
• Fracking may also be linked to hundreds of recent earthquakes in Arkansas
• The current horizontal fracking boom only began in 2005. Despite industry claims of a long track record, only 3 wells in Ohio are horizontally fracked.
• The United States EPA is currently doing a comprehensive fracking study that will have data in 2012 and a complete report in 2014

What You Can Do:

Sign our petition now to tell Gov. Kasich Don't Frack Up Ohio! Suspend all fracking in Ohio until the proper studies are done and safety regulations are in place!

At a time of high gas prices and massive oil industry profits, the President renews his call to end the $4 billion-per-year subsidies for oil and gas companies and invest in clean energy.

Watch It:

With gas at nearly $4 a gallon, oil companies are currently enjoying record profits. Yesterday, as House Speaker John Boehner was facing pointed questioning, he allowed that oil companies "ought to be paying their fair share."

This was surprising, given that in the past three months ago, the House GOP unanimously voted to keep our current generous oil subsidies and rejected an attempt to recoup $53 billion in recent subsidies.

What was less was surprising, was what happened earlier today when John Boehner's spokesman tried to walk the comments back. Oil companies booked nearly half a trillion dollars in profits between 2005-2009, yet Boehner found it necessary to back away from comments that they do their fair share.

[h/t ThinkProgress]

The President lays out his plans to address rising gas prices over the short and the long term, from a new task force to root out fraud and manipulation in the oil markets to investments in a clean energy economy.

Watch It:

Shale gas, produced by "hydraulic fracturing" or "fracking," could create as much as twice the greenhouse gasses as coal, according to a groundbreaking report from Cornell University researchers.

Over the past few years, the Washington D.C. consensus has been that shale gas is better for the environment than coal. President Obama has praised natural gas and given it partial credit in his proposed "clean energy standard". Gov. Kasich has said more drilling of the shale deposits located in Ohio would be "a Godsend".

But Cornell Prof. Robert Howarth argues in the new study that gas produced from fracking will create even more greenhouse gases than the burning of coal in the next two decades - a critical window in which society must reduce emissions to combat climate change.

While natural gas is often viewed as a "cleaner alternative" to conventional fossil fuels - and is often promoted as a "bridge fuel" by environmentalists and politicians alike - the new Cornell report explodes this myth.

Gas produced from fracking is not just a "bridge to nowhere," it turns out to be a highway to hell. The Cornell study makes clear that the widely-held perception that gas is the "cleaner" darling of the fossil fuel trio is a myth. With total methane emissions factored in, shale gas turns out to have the greatest climate impact of all the fossil fuels.

Related:

The 'Fracking' Of Ohio State Parks

John Kasich: A Fracking Mess For Ohio's Environment

The Columbus Dispatch Says Drilling is Risky Business

Video: Gasland: Will The Boom In Natural Gas Drilling Contaminate America's Water Supply?

Fracking Ohio, Are Fossil Fuels Worth All This Hassle?

Speaking from a UPS customer center as part of the new public-private Green Fleet Partnership, the President discusses his Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future to help free us from oil and boost the American economy.

Watch It:

When you hear Gov. Kasich say more drilling of the shale deposits located in Ohio would be "a Godsend", make no mistake he's talking about his plan to use the hydraulic fracturing method called "fracking".

This is not the same as vertical drilling which has been used in the past.

Fracking can cause long-term health and environmental problems affecting everyone in our state and beyond.

Some Facts About Fracking:

• A loophole in the 2005 Energy Bill exempts gas drillers from EPA guidelines like the Clean Water Act

• Drilling emits Nitrogen Oxide and Volatile Organic Compounds, resulting in destructive surface smog

• Researchers suspect that 65 of the compounds found in fracking are hazardous to human health

• Over 80,000 pounds of chemicals are injected into the earth's crust to frack each well

• Upward of 70% of the Fracking Fluid remains in the ground and is not biodegradable

• Fracking fluids calls for 2 million gallons of water transported by up to 100 water carriers.

So, how is the sellout of our health and water supplies to work?

First, limit the ability of the Ohio EPA to stand up against it by cutting their budget:

In Kasich's budget released yesterday, environmental protection would be cut by a total of $73.2 million in the next fiscal year.

Then you pass a bill through the Republican controlled legislature:

House Bill 133, introduced by Rep. John Adams, a Sidney Republican, is similar to one lawmakers advanced, but did not pass in 2008.

It would allow leasing state land, such as parks and universities, for natural gas and oil drilling.

In that bill you stack the decision makers in your favor:

The bill would create a five-person board that would include two voting members from the oil and gas industry and three members appointed by the governor.

Do you think, the environmental issues surrounding "Fracking" are bound to get the attention they deserve with that makeup?

The Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act (H.R. 2766), (S. 1215)--was introduced to both houses of the the United States Congress on June 9, 2009, and aims to repeal the exemption for hydraulic fracturing in the Safe Drinking Water Act.

It would require the energy industry to disclose the chemicals it mixes with the water and sand it pumps underground in the hydraulic fracturing process (also known as fracking), information that has largely been protected as trade secrets.

Today, Republicans in the House energy committee voted not once, not twice, but three times, against amendments recognizing that climate change is real, despite the broad scientific consensus that "climate change is happening and human beings are a major reason for it."

They then unanimously voted in favor of the Upton-Inhofe bill to repeal the EPA's scientific endangerment finding on greenhouse pollution.

The 31 Republicans and three Democrats who voted in favor of H.R. 910 have received a grand total of $343,750 from Koch Industries, an average of more than $10,000 each.

It's not funny at all that our Congress is being bought off by the Loch brothers, but Rep. Markey adds a little levity by asking if they plan to legislate against gravity, relativity.

Watch It:

At the GreenGov Symposium this morning, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu announced that the the Obama White House will bring back solar power, removed decades ago by the Reagan administration. "The number one question we get when greening the White House, is whether we're putting solar panels on the roof," Council on Environmental Quality chair Nancy Sutley said in her introduction.

After noting the many practical steps the Obama administration has taken to restore the solar energy industry in this nation, Chu announced that the the "White House will lead by example" by installing solar panels and a solar water heater on the roof:

As we move towards a clean energy economy, the White House will lead by example. I am pleased to announce that by the end of this spring, there will be solar panels that convert sunlight into electricity and a solar hot water heater on the roof of the White House. It's been a long time since we've had them up there. These two solar installations will be part of a Department of Energy demonstration project. The project will show that American solar technology is available, reliable, and ready to install in homes throughout the country. Around the world, the White House is a symbol of freedom and democracy. It should also be a symbol of America's commitment to a clean energy future.

Watch it:

~ Wonk Room

At the Paris Motor Show today, electric cars are everywhere.

Chevrolet is showing off the Volt, its plug-in hybrid due in U.S. showrooms this December. (Motown music blared as a Chevy rep told me all about the car's performance.) Nissan is displaying the Leaf, its all-electric sedan scheduled to roll off assembly lines in Tennessee starting in 2012. Volvo has new plug-in models. So do Saab, Peugot and other European manufacturers. And as I walked through the gates in a huge crowd, the first paper put in my hands was a glossy newspaper describing the show under the headline "Un Mondial Electrique" ("An Electric World").

And even though I'm a Michigan Wolverine, my favorite might have been the sleek all-electric "Buckeye Bullet" built by a team at Ohio State University that broke records going 320 miles per hour on the Bonneville Salt Flats in August.

Read The Full Story Here

David Sandalow is the Assistant Secretary for Policy and International Affairs

Elections can be productive or destructive, but are rarely both.

And this year, it is particularly destructive.

These days John Kasich is employing a predictable campaign tactic - if his opponent, Gov. Ted Strickland, is for something he's against it. Doesn't matter what it is or what his rhetoric would mean for Ohioans if it ever came to pass.

So while there's no surprise that Rep. Kasich is blowing hot air on Gov. Strickland's energy bill that will create wind farms on Lake Erie, it is destructive nonetheless. It is sucking the air out of a bipartisan, job-creating policy, and is exactly the type of destructive political wind that far too often has set Ohio back.

Finally Ohio harnessed a natural asset, wind, for positive gain. Rep. Kasich's diatribe on the other hand, blew political smoke on a major industrial expansion for Ohio. How much longer must Ohio's economic sails be battered by political winds, instead of steered towards the jobs that clean energy industries will bring over the horizon?

This latest storm stemmed from recent public comments where Kasich referenced plans for "putting some sort of wind turbine in Lake Erie in a spawning area.... I know some people that fish up there at Lake Erie once a year - they're not gonna put windmills - that's just dumb. If the facts of that hold to be true, it isn't gonna happen. We're gonna fight it." He has since tried to explain and backtrack but still supports potentially changing the legislation.

General Electric, the world's second largest company, has a major division headquartered in Ohio, just miles from Lake Erie. They're hoping to become known not only for their light bulbs, television networks and jet engines, but also their wind turbines - particularly the five massive ones planned for a few miles off Cleveland's shore.

Usually politicians fight for jobs, not against them. What gives, John?

Alternative energy is a burgeoning industry in Ohio. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has signed off on protections. The wind is already there John, all we have to do is put the windmills up there for it to propel. The whole thing sounds politically fishy to me.

Governor Ted Strickland has signed an executive order eliminating property taxes for advanced and renewable energy project facilities.

The move was taken to make it easier for energy companies to develop projects in the state - and create jobs.

Under the order, projects that begin construction before January 1, 2012, and generate power by 2013 will not face tangible personal property taxes or real property taxes.

As well as renewable energy projects, the order also grants tax exemptions for nuclear, "clean" coal and cogeneration projects.

"As Ohio residents and businesses are fighting hard to recover from the crippling Wall Street recession, we must give promising companies every reason to develop and invest in Ohio as quickly as possible," Gov. Strickland said.

"I signed this order to implement these rules and help spur business investment immediately. This tax reform is part of our economic development strategy to strengthen Ohio's business climate and help create jobs for Ohioans in our growing industries like advanced energy."

Officials in the Governor's office said companies can submit applications for their projects now. Rules and application forms will be available at the Ohio Department of Development's website.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, Ohio's chief elections officer and the state officer responsible for licensing notary publics, today issued a directive to boards of elections that foreclosures cannot be used without further investigation to disqualify voters and revealed that she has referred specific instances of notary abuse occurring at Chase Home Mortgage in Columbus and by the Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. (MERS) to a federal prosecutor for investigation.

DIRECTIVE ON VOTERS FACING FORECLOSURES:
Secretary Brunner, in Directive 2010-66, instructed Ohio's 88 county boards of elections that they may not cancel an Ohioan's voter registration based solely on the fact that the person is involved in the foreclosure process.  The filing of a foreclosure action does not affect a voter's right to vote until there is a final judgment entry, including the passage of at least 30 days from the date of the entry because of the right of appeal, and verification that the person no longer resides at the property. Ohio continues to experience high residential foreclosure rates.

Those who lose their homes because of foreclosure may wait until Election Day to update their address. Boards are instructed in the directive how to help voters displaced because of foreclosure, based on whether they move (1) within the same precinct, (2) within the same county but to a different precinct, or (3) to a different county in Ohio.  Voters facing foreclosure may use their current location of residence as their residence for the purposes of voting.

The same day that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced that he did not have the votes to pass a cap-and-trade bill, even a scaled-down utility-only version, news broke that China has decided to institute its own cap-and-trade system.

Republicans have long argued that there is no sense in capping greenhouse gas emissions in the United States if major emitters like China refuse to impose caps of their own. The announcement appears to deflate that argument.

The state-run China Daily reported yesterday:

The country is set to begin domestic carbon trading programs during its 12th Five-Year Plan period (2011-2015) to help it meet its 2020 carbon intensity target.

The decision was made at a closed-door meeting chaired by Xie Zhenhua, deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), and attended by officials from related ministries, enterprises, environmental exchanges and think tanks, a participant told China Daily on Wednesday on condition of anonymity.

“The consensus that a domestic carbon-trading scheme is essential was reached, but a debate is still ongoing among experts and industries regarding what approach should be adopted,” the source said.

While U.S. senators continue to fiddle around and fail to pass legislation that will address global warming, China’s leaders are moving full steam ahead to develop solutions that can begin to address its energy and environmental challenges. This news comes on the heels of a number of reports that China is surging past the US in the deployment of clean energy.

Last year China overtook the US in clean energy investments and China’s domestic wind manufacturers have doubled their market share in the span of one year. I wonder what the facts will be next year if the Senate continues to discuss, while China moves forward.

This week, Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) “introduced bipartisan legislation to create a National Endowment for the Oceans, Coasts, and Great Lakes in order to protect and preserve these natural resources for future generations,” according to a press release.

The legislation would establish a new grant program to fund activities to preserve and restore our ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems to protect the communities and economies that rely on these areas.  The Endowment will include rigorous application and review procedures as well as performance accountability measures for funded projects.  It will be administered by the Secretary of Commerce in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Director of the Council on Environmental Quality, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the Director of the National Science Foundation. 

The Endowment “would be funded by interest accrued from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund and the dedication of 12.5 percent of revenues from offshore energy development, including oil, gas, and renewable energy.”

Senators Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and George Voinovich (R-OH) “on Wednesday unveiled a bill that would create a 10-year, ‘self-financed’ $20 billion program to deploy commercial-scale carbon capture and sequestration technology,” Congressional Quarterly reports.

Developing technology on a commercial scale to capture and store carbon dioxide emissions at coal-fired power plants is considered essential to the continued use of coal, which produces about half of U.S. electricity and roughly one-third of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions.

A press release notes “five tenets” of the legislation:

• CCS Innovation Program – The program will authorize a cooperative industry-government research and development program in the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy to spur additional CCS-related research and development. The goal of this program will be to demonstrate new and innovative technologies to capture, use or store carbon dioxide. Industry partners would be required to match up to 20 percent of the government’s investment. This program would enhance existing DOE efforts led by the National Energy Technology Laboratory in Morgantown, West Virginia. Additionally, DOE would be required to report annually on the fossil energy program, the state of CCS deployment, and recommendations to speed technology deployment. DOE’s efforts would be reviewed annually by the Government Accountability Office.
• CCS Pioneer Program – The ‘Pioneer Phase’ of the plan calls for the deployment of 20 gigawatts (GW) of CCS capacity. During this initial phase of investment, early technology developers may face technological and economic risks with the deployment of CCS technologies. The incentives, including a self-financed $20 billion fund, in this title are designed to alleviate these risks and spur rapid deployment of CCS systems and equipment.
• CCS Early Adopter Program – Following the ‘Pioneer Phase’ of development, the technological risks associated with CCS should be retired but operational incentives would be required to mitigate the economic risks. The bill would provide tax credits based on the amount of carbon dioxide captured at facilities, providing price certainty for investors in power plants and industrial facilities.
• Technology Standard for Power Plants – After CCS technology is deployed on the first 10 GW of generating capacity, the next phase of deployment would require power plants permitted between bill enactment and completion of the pioneer program to be retrofitted with the demonstrated CCS technology.
• Long-term Stewardship and Liability – Senators Rockefeller and Voinovich spent months working with a diverse group of stakeholders to develop a proposal that provides a stable legal and regulatory framework for various stages of the projects during operation and post-closure. The absence of such a framework has been a significant barrier discouraging private sector investment in CCS technologies.

According to CQ, the two Senators “said they are introducing the bill as a stand-alone measure, but made it clear they hope to see it integrated into a Senate energy bill that Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., is assembling to address the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, promote renewable energy, and reduce greenhouse gases from electric utilities.”



(PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images)


New Orleans, Louisiana (CNN) - A federal appeals panel on Thursday upheld a district judge's order to block the Obama administration's six-month ban on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.

In a brief ruling just a few hours after the hearing, the three-judge appellate panel denied the government's request to reinstate the moratorium while the full appeal of the case continues.

The government declared the moratorium in response to the April 20 explosion and fire on a deepwater rig that led to the Gulf oil disaster, with millions of gallons gushing into the ocean and oil giant BP unable to stop it.

Full story

Full Transcript of the President's remarks below:

Why are Republicans so intellectually dishonest?  Last week I posted this, but only crickets from Ohio's biggest climate change deniers and globalonyists.

Newspapers Retract 'Climategate' Claims, Will Ohio Climate Change Deniers Do The Same?

Today we have further proof, but will Bizzy and Taxman do the right thing and own up to their errors in the past?  Probably not.

Pennsylvania State University today concluded that there is “no substance” to allegations of misconduct levied against Professor Michael Mann late last year by climate science deniers.

The Penn State Investigatory Committee’s final report found that Mann’s “scientific work, especially the conduct of his research, has from the beginning of his career been judged to be outstanding by a broad spectrum of scientists.”

The committee further determined that: “Dr. Michael E. Mann did not engage in, nor did he participate in, directly or indirectly, any actions that seriously deviated from accepted practices within the academic community for proposing, conducting, or reporting research, or other scholarly activities.”

Special Advisor to the Project on Climate Science Sherwood Boehlert, hailed the report, saying: “This exoneration should close the book on the absurd episode in which climate scientists were unjustly attacked when in fact they have been providing a great public service.” Boehlert, former Congressman (R- NY) and Chair of the House Science Committee, added, “The attacks on scientists were a manufactured distraction, and today’s report is a welcome return to common sense. While scientists can now focus on their work, policy makers need to address the very real problem of climate change.”

The inquiry by a panel of faculty members with impeccable credentials included an exhaustive examination of all of the stolen e-mails pertinent to Dr. Mann; extensive interviews of Dr. Mann and top scientists from other universities and institutions; as well as written materials and copies of e-mails sought from and supplied by Dr. Mann.

Mann’s scientific work came under intensive attack following the widely publicized theft of numerous e-mails stolen from a server at the Climate Research Unit of the University of East Anglia in Great Britain in November 2009. Various e-mails by Professor Mann were, as he said, “misrepresented, cherry-picked. . . [and] completely twisted to imply the opposite of what was actually being said.”

Penn State began its investigation almost immediately after it received numerous complaining e-mails, letters and phone calls in the aftermath of the November 2009 e-mail thefts, looking into four formal allegations synthesized from those complaints. Investigators earlier this year found no substance to the first three allegations, and today’s report affirms the integrity of Mann’s research on all counts.

This final Penn State report echoes the recent flurry of media retractions and various official investigations debunking the “Climate-gate” scandal.

All of the climate scientists targeted by the hacked e-mails from the Climate Research Unit of East Anglia University have been exonerated. The panels found that the scientists were innocent of any significant wrongdoing – and, furthermore, that none of the information in the stolen e-mails alters the fundamental scientific findings of their research.

Gov. Ted Strickland designated northwest Ohio as the solar energy hub in the state Wednesday to help attract new solar-related investment and jobs.

The announcement was made at the University of Toledo's Scott Park Campus of Energy and Innovation.

Northwest Ohio as the solar energy hub will now join Dayton as the aerospace hub and Cleveland as the health and technology hub.

The governor's designation includes a $250,000 grant to spark new connections between researchers, entrepreneurs and manufacturers.

Gov. Strickland said the hub will focus on promoting economic development by attracting new businesses in the solar industry. The partners include the University of Toledo, Bowling Green State University, and several other area colleges that will gelp the solar industry of Ohio continue to grow.

"Northwest Ohio has everything that's needed to attract and support clusters of connected solar businesses and new investments and while doing so to nurture on going and breakthrough research. We're focusing on solar right now because of history and current activities, Xunlight, Willard & Kelsey as well as First Solar," Strickland said.

Several educational institutions are hub partners, including the University of Toledo and BGSU.

Watch It:

President Barack Obama “will meet with a bipartisan group of senators on Tuesday on energy and climate change legislation,” The Hill reports.

Obama rescheduled the meeting that had been set for last Wednesday at the White House but had to be canceled in the wake of the controversy sparked by Gen. Stanley McChrystal.

Obama "will meet with a bipartisan group of senators to discuss the process for passing comprehensive energy and climate legislation this year," according to White House guidance.

Last week, Congressman Joe Barton (R-TX)—Ranking Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee—outraged America when he apologized to BP through its CEO Tony Hayward after President Obama got the company to set aside $20 billion in a disaster compensation fund for Gulf Coast residents and businesses and to protect taxpayers.

Since then, Congressional Republicans have tirelessly tried to convince America that Barton didn’t mean what he said. Barton even apologized to his fellow Republicans for apologizing to BP.

But this morning, Congressman Barton tweeted “Joe Barton Was Right”—linking to an American Spectator piece. Apparently, he isn’t really so sorry after all. Except to BP.

A timeline of Rep. Barton’s BP Apology:
June 17, 10:10 am [to BP CEO Tony Hayward]:

I am ashamed of what happened at the White House yesterday. I think it is a tragedy of the first proportion that a private corporation can be subjected to what I would characterize as a shakedown — in this case a $20 billion shakedown…I apologize.

June 17, 3:15 pm:

“I want the record to be absolutely clear that I think BP is responsible for this accident,” he said. “If anything I said this morning has been misconstrued, in opposite effect, I want to apologize for that misconstruction.”

June 17, 4:30 pm [written statement forwarded from House Republican Leader John Boehner’s office]:

“I apologize for using the term ’shakedown’ with regard to yesterday’s actions at the White House this morning, and I retract my apology to BP,” it began, and finished: “I regret the impact that my statement this morning implied that BP should not pay for the consequences of their decisions and actions in this incident.”

June 23, 9:30 am:

Joe Barton apologizes to the House Republican Conference

June 23, 11:22 am [via Twitter]:

RepJoeBarton - Joe Barton was Right.

June 23, 12:30 pm:

Joe Barton deletes “Joe Barton was Right” tweet.

"The largest domestic natural gas drilling boom in history has swept across the United States. The Halliburton-developed drilling technology of "fracking" or hydraulic fracturing has unlocked a "Saudia Arabia of natural gas" just beneath us. But is fracking safe?

When filmmaker Josh Fox is asked to lease his land for drilling, he embarks on a cross-country odyssey uncovering a trail of secrets, lies and contamination. A recently drilled nearby Pennsylvania town reports that residents are able to light their drinking water on fire. This is just one of the many absurd and astonishing revelations of a new country called GASLAND. Part verite travelogue, part expose, part mystery, part bluegrass banjo meltdown, part showdown."

GASLAND will be broadcast on HBO through 2012.

Watch The Trailer:

Columbus, OH--Governor Ted Strickland continues to lay a foundation for a growing advanced energy economy, announcing today the establishment of new $6 million green job training program and that he plans to sign legislation later today that eliminates the tangible personal property tax and real tax on generation for advanced energy projects in Ohio.

"Our plan to create Ohio jobs includes both supporting growing industries like advanced energy and helping Ohioans get the skills and education they need to secure employment in those industries," Strickland said.

Advanced Energy Tax Exemption to Make Ohio More Competitive

Strickland called for the elimination of the uncompetitive taxes on advanced energy projects in his 2010 State of the State address and made this a top priority in his 2010 job creation agenda. He will sign SB 232 tonight.

"The elimination of this burdensome tax strengthens Ohio's competitiveness in the growing energy production industries," Strickland said. "I appreciate the legislature's commitment to strengthening our advanced energy industry in Ohio.  I believe the elimination of these taxes will make it easier for advanced energy companies to do business and create jobs in Ohio."

State Senator Chris Widener sponsored SB 232, which eliminates Ohio's tangible personal property tax and real taxes on generation for advanced energy project facilities that begin construction before January 1, 2012, produce energy by 2013 (or 2017 for nuclear, clean coal and cogeneration projects) and create Ohio jobs.  Reps. Roland Winburn, Debbie Phillips and Tom Letson also provided leadership in advancing this legislation. The bill allows companies that are seeking to build advanced energy generation facilities in Ohio to make an annual payment in lieu of taxes, thereby bringing Ohio's tax rates for these kinds of projects in line with surrounding states.

New Energizing Careers Job Training Program

Governor Strickland and Ohio Department of Development Director Lisa Patt-McDaniel also announced today the start of a new $6 million jobs program, the Energizing Careers Program, for training Ohio's workforce for green energy careers.

Today Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) apologized to the head of BP.

Watch It:

Why did this Republican tell a foreign CEO on the floor of Congress that he was “ashamed”? Rep. Barton said it was a “tragedy” that President Obama pressured BP into paying to fix the worst environmental disaster in US history.

The line has never been clearer. Some politicians are more concerned with hurting the feelings of big corporations and big donors than doing right by ordinary people.

Help us hold Ohio politicians accountable.

Call these Representatives and ask them if they agree with Rep. Barton that BP shouldn’t be pressured to help the people living on the Gulf Coast. 

After you call, tell us what you heard, so we can find out who has been bought and paid for by Big Oil.

• Rep. Steve Austria – 202 225-4324
• Rep. John Boehner – 800 582-1001
• Rep. Jim Jordan – 202 225-2676
• Rep. Steve LaTourette – 202 225-5731
• Rep. Bob Latta – 202 225-6405
• Rep. Jean Schmidt – 202 225-3164
• Rep. Pat Tiberi – 614 523-2555
• Rep. Michael Turner – 202 225-6465

Remember to tell us what they said by clicking here.

Sarah Palin's solution to plugging the gusher: bring in the Dutch!

You know, because they build dykes!

Watch It:

"Well, what the federal government should have done was accept the assistance of foreign countries, of entrepreneurial Americans who have had solutions they wanted presented.... The Dutch, they are known, and the Norwegian, they are known for dikes, for cleaning up water, and dealing with spills. They offered to help. And yet, no, they too, with the proverbial, can't even get a phone call back."

For the record, the government did accept the assistance of foreign countries, including skimmers and boom from Mexico, three sets of Koseq sweeping arms from the Dutch, and eight Norwegian skimming systems.

The Gulf Coast catastrophe underscores the need for comprehensive energy and climate reform to rein in Big Oil and reduce our reliance on dirty and foreign fuels.

A new poll released by the Pew Research Center shows the American people strongly support comprehensive energy legislation that includes provisions encouraging alternative energy production and limits on carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions. From the poll:

• 87 percent of Americans support requiring utilities to produce more energy from renewable sources

• 78 percent support comprehensive energy legislation that includes tougher efficiency standards

• 66 percent support putting limits on carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions

Columbus, OH – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland released the following statement on the passage of Senate Bill 232, a bill that eliminates Ohio’s tangible personal property tax on generation for advanced energy project facilities that begin construction before January 1, 2012, produce energy by 2013 (or 2017 for nuclear, clean coal and co-generation projects) and create Ohio jobs.

Strickland called for the elimination of the uncompetitive tax in his 2010 State of the State address.  He made this a top priority in his 2010 job creation agenda.

“The elimination of this tax improves Ohio’s competitiveness and will spur job creation in the growing energy production industries.  I appreciate the legislature's commitment to growing the advanced energy industry in Ohio.  I look forward to signing this bill as soon as it reaches my desk,” Strickland said.

See Also: Ohio House And Senate Agree On Tax Incentives For Clean Energy

President Barack Obama returned from a tour of the oil-stricken Gulf Coast on Friday and vowed to do all he could to help area residents and businesses clean up the mess and recover financially.

"We want to stop the leak, we want to contain and clean up the oil, and we want to help the people in this region return to their lives and livelihoods as soon as possible," the president told reporters.

Flanked by more than a dozen Gulf-area politicians and officials, the president - the sleeves of his shirt rolled up - called the oil spill that began April 20 and continues today "an assault on our shores, on our people, on the regional economy and on communities like this one.

"This isn't just a mess that we have got to mop up. People are watching their livelihoods wash up on the beach."

Watch It:

Drilling mud, not oil, appeared to gush from a ruptured undersea well 17 hours into an effort to halt a growing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, a BP executive said.

After BP began pumping heavy mud into the leaking well, executives said that there had been no problems so far, but they said engineers would not know until at least Thursday afternoon whether the latest remedy was having some success.

If the risky procedure, known as a top kill, stops the flow, BP would then inject cement into the well to seal it. The top kill has worked above ground but has never before been tried 5,000 feet beneath the sea. BP pegged its chance of success at 60 to 70 percent.

"We're doing everything we can to bring it to closure, and actually we're executing this top kill job as efficiently and effectively as we can," BP chief operating officer Doug Suttles said.

Earlier today, the Los Angeles Times reported:

“Engineers have stopped the flow of oil and gas into the Gulf of Mexico from a gushing BP well, the federal government’s top oil spill commander, U.S. Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, said Thursday morning.

The “top kill” effort, launched Wednesday afternoon by industry and government engineers, has pumped enough drilling fluid to block all oil and gas from the well, Allen said. The pressure from the well is very low, but persists, he said.

[For the record ... an earlier version of this story termed the effort "successful." Officials clarified that neither government nor BP officials had declared the effort a success yet. They caution that only after the cementing is complete and the well is sealed can the top kill be called successful.]

View Live Stream:

Live cam stream from WKRG via livestream.com.

Obama will also announce new offshore oil drilling regulations. Obama wants a more thorough safety inspections of drilling rigs and more regulation in regards to the permitting process.

The President will head to the Gulf Coast on Friday, making it his second visit since the rig exploded and caused an environmental catastrophe.

Environmentalists Roll Out National Ad Targeting Mountaintop Coal Mining

When most of us flip on the lights (or type into our computers, for that matter), we aren’t thinking about how those simple acts might affect those living in coal country. Yet nearly half of the country’s electricity is generated by coal, and increasingly that coal is being extracted not by removing the coal from the earth, but by removing the earth from the coal.

In Appalachia, that means blowing the tops off mountains to get at the coal seams inside — a process that cuts company costs, but also ravages neighboring communities, poisoning wells and waterways, contaminating air, killing off wildlife and flooding nearby homes. Leading scientists say the effects are irreversible.

This week, a coalition of Appalachian environmentalists launched a campaign they hope will mitigate the disconnect between the electricity Americans use and the devastating processes that keep it so cheap, unveiling a national TV ad that could bring mountaintop removal into living rooms nationwide. The idea is simple: If consumers knew they were contributing to the destruction of the country’s oldest mountains, perhaps they would demand an end to the practice.

Over 500 of America’s oldest mountains have been destroyed by mountaintop removal coal mining – but a majority of Americans don’t realize that they are connected to this destruction through their electricity. We need to get this message out across the country and put the pressure on Washington to end mountaintop removal.

Watch It:

From The House Floor:

We are now in the 36th day of a man-made environmental disaster which is fast becoming an ecological apocalypse for countless species of marine life. The ecosystems of the Gulf of Mexico cannot survive wave after wave of toxic substances hitting the beaches.

The ultimate surprise is not that it happened. Oil companies, and Democratic and Republican administrations, refuse responsibility and rejected alternatives. In this privatization of the natural world, damage to sea life is the cost of doing business. The ultimate horror is that we can't stop the oil flood, won't stop consumption of oil products and fail to admit the limits of technology.

This is a morality play writ large as environmental collapse becomes the new normal. Can we realistically look to Washington alone to protect the natural world? More permits for offshore drilling have been issued. We must look to the consequences of our own demand and consumption: the energy we use, the kind of cars we drive, the products we buy, the food we eat, and our individual impact on the natural world.

We can seize this moment. We as individuals can begin a green wave of sustainability to save the planet--and ourselves.

The bipartisan National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling is tasked with providing recommendations on how we can prevent – and mitigate the impact of – any future spills that result from offshore drilling.

Watch It:

Transcript of the President's remarks below:

Strickland will join other leading wind energy governors from across the country for a panel discussion on national and state policies needed to promote wind power followed by a media availability session with his fellow governors.

During the panel discussion, Governor Strickland will make a groundbreaking announcement regarding offshore wind energy in Ohio.

The U.S. Coast Guard says 20 tar balls have been found off Key West, Fla., but the agency stopped short of saying whether they came from a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Some 5 million gallons of crude has spewed into the Gulf and tar balls have been washing ashore in several states along the coast.

Scientists are worried that oil is getting caught in a major ocean current that could carry it through the Florida Keys and up the East Coast.

Limbaugh: "We still don't know what Obama's done" on oil spill besides "making speeches"

Rush: Media "ma[de] up things I said" about the ocean cleaning oil spill naturally, Obama didn't do anything for 12 days

Rush Limbaugh: Gulf Coast Oil Spill "Truther"

Limbaugh: "I'm not trying to minimize [the oil spill] here," but "sea water is pretty tough stuff ... oil has a tough time surviving."

Limbaugh: "Some" people are saying that "the sea will take care of" the oil spill

Limbaugh on Obama response to oil spill: "A crisis is the playground of a tyrant"

Climate Bill negotiations starting in earnest?

President Obama said several times during his presidential campaign that he supported expanded offshore drilling. He noted in his State of the Union address in January that weaning the country from imported oil would require “tough decisions about opening new offshore areas for oil and gas development.”

Obama to Open Offshore Areas to Oil Drilling for First Time

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is proposing to open vast expanses of water along the Atlantic coastline, the eastern Gulf of Mexico and the north coast of Alaska to oil and natural gas drilling, much of it for the first time, officials said Tuesday.

The proposal — a compromise that will please oil companies and domestic drilling advocates but anger some residents of affected states and many environmental organizations — would end a longstanding moratorium on oil exploration along the East Coast from the northern tip of Delaware to the central coast of Florida, covering 167 million acres of ocean.

Under the plan, the coastline from New Jersey northward would remain closed to all oil and gas activity. So would the Pacific Coast, from Mexico to the Canadian border.

The environmentally sensitive Bristol Bay in southwestern Alaska would be protected and no drilling would be allowed under the plan, officials said. But large tracts in the Chukchi Sea and Beaufort Sea in the Arctic Ocean north of Alaska — nearly 130 million acres — would be eligible for exploration and drilling after extensive studies.

The proposal is to be announced by President Obama and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on Wednesday, but administration officials agreed to preview the details on the condition that they not be identified.

The proposal is intended to reduce dependence on oil imports, generate revenue from the sale of offshore leases and help win political support for comprehensive energy and climate legislation. 

From our friends at Repower America:

This week we are sending our Senators a clear message of support for clean energy, climate protection and 61,000 new Ohio jobs in a clean economy. This Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday make sure they hear your voice by calling 1-877-9-REPOWER and tell them to take bold action on clean energy and climate legislation now.

Tell your friends to join: post "Call 1-877-9-REPOWER" now to tell your Senators that you support comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation!" to your status on Facebook or Twitter.

With a comprehensive clean energy and climate bill due in the Senate in the coming weeks, volunteers at 9 locations across Ohio will be working the phones for the Climate Protection Action Fund’s Repower Ohio campaign to let Senators Brown and Voinovich know that constituents in Ohio want to pass strong legislation without delay.

Over 72 hours, the phone bank is expected to drive hundreds of thousands of calls nationwide to our Senators in support of comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation. The drive is a coordinated effort between a broad and diverse coalition including veterans, business owners, union members, faith leaders and students to bring clean energy to Ohio. Comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation can create 61,000 jobs in Ohio, increase household incomes, reduce pollution and make America more secure.

Another Ohio righty blogger goes on record in an effort to prove that he is definitely not smarter than a fifth grader:

For the month of February, the average warm temperature was 34.1 degrees versus an historical high of 43.1 degrees. The average low was 19.7 degrees v the historical low of 25 degrees. So we, in fact, have proof that our scientific consensus is accurate.

But hey don't take my word for it. Unlike Phil Jones, I didn't destroy the evidence. You can look it up here.

And you know what he's right . . . for Cincinnati, Ohio!

Maybe he's just ignorant of what the word "global" means?

The pace of global warming continues unabated despite images of Europe crippled by a deep freeze and parts of the United States blasted by blizzards.

"January, according to satellite (data), was the hottest January we've ever seen," said Nicholls of Monash University's School of Geography and Environmental Science in Melbourne.

"Last November was the hottest November we've ever seen, November-January as a whole is the hottest November-January the world has seen," he said of the satellite data record since 1979.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said in December that 2000-2009 was the hottest decade since records began in 1850, and that 2009 would likely be the fifth warmest year on record. WMO data show that eight out of the 10 hottest years on record have all been since 2000.

Britain's official forecaster, the UK Met Office, said severe winter freezes like the one this year, one of the coldest winters in the country for nearly 30 years, could become increasingly rare because of the overall warming trend.

Scientists say global warming is not uniform in all areas and that climate models predict there will likely be greater extremes of cold and heat, floods and droughts.

"Global warming is a trend superimposed upon natural variability, variability that still exists despite global warming," said Kevin Walsh, associate professor of meteorology at the University of Melbourne.

Or, maybe he's an obsessed John Fogerty fan?

Doo doo doo Lookin' out my back door.
There's a giant doing cartwheels a statue wearin' high heels.
Look at all the happy creatures dancing on the lawn.
A dinosaur Victrola list'ning to Buck Owens,
Doo doo doo Lookin' out my back door.

--- Credence Clearwater Revival. Lookin' Our My Back Door

Join us Tuesday for a public forum with former Senator John Warner (R-VA):  "Solving Global Climate Change Can Help Ensure America's Security"

WHAT:  Public forum with former Senator John Warner (R-VA)
WHERE:  OSU Faculty Club, 181 South Oval Drive, Columbus, OH 43210
WHEN: March 2, 1:30 - 3 p.m.
WHO: Sen. John Warner (R-VA), the Pew Project on National Security, Energy and Climate, and The Ohio State University's John Glenn School of Public Affairs
RSVP: Click here to let us know you're coming

Senator Warner will speak to the critical links between national security, energy and global warming and to new strategies for combating climate change, protecting our national security, increasing our energy independence, and preserving our nation's natural resources.

Click here to RSVP

Former Senator John Glenn (D-OH) will personally introduce Sen. Warner at the forum. The two are military veterans and old colleagues who shared a friendship across the aisle.
 
This is a free forum open to the public and an opportunity for both networking and learning about Ohio opportunities for addressing energy and climate issues that increasingly factor into national security and military planning.

Click here to RSVP 

Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today announced that the Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Alan Schriber informed his office that the PUCO will move to restore the all-electric homeowner rate discount at its commission meeting next week. 

“Many Ohioans are still reeling from the impact of the global recession and I am concerned that Ohio’s all-electric homeowners are unable to absorb excessive rate increases due to the elimination of the discount that has, until recently, been in effect for decades.

“While First Energy was looking out for its own bottom line, the PUCO acknowledged this issue didn’t get the attention it deserved among other considerations and, until yesterday, the Consumers’ Counsel failed to stand up for these homeowners.   I am deeply disappointed that the system failed Ohio’s all-electric homeowners.

“What happened here is completely contradictory to what we have been able to accomplish in Ohio by passing an electricity reform bill to keep electricity rates from exploding like they have in other states.

“Last week I called on the PUCO to fix this thing and I’ve made it clear that I believe First Energy should immediately restore all-electric homeowners to the rates they have been paying.

“I appreciate that Chairman Schriber has agreed to work to have First Energy reinstate the original rates in time for these homeowners’ next billing cycle.  The next step is for all parties to work together to determine the long-term solution to this problem.”

Last fall, President Obama asked all Federal and military personnel to join in the GreenGov Challenge to share their ideas on how we can lead by example, green the government, and meet the goals of the Executive Order on Federal Sustainability.  Today, the President is calling on us to turn those ideas into action to put the Federal Government on the path to a clean energy future, and to meet our greenhouse gas pollution reduction target of 28% by 2020.

The GreenGov Challenge gathered more than 5,300 ideas and 165,000 votes from thousands of our colleagues in the Federal and military community from every agency, across America and around the globe.

The top ideas are summarized in the GreenGov Final Report.  Among the most popular ones were expanding teleworking, landscaping with native plants that require less watering, making use of digital signatures to reduce printing documents, replacing non-recyclable materials with biobased cups and other service items in Federal cafeterias, and installing solar panels of Federal buildings. An initial summary of the GreenGov Challenge was presented to the Steering Committee on Federal Sustainability at a recent meeting, and each Federal Agency’s Senior Sustainability Officer is already working to incorporate your suggestions into their annual Sustainability Plans.

Today President Obama is issuing a new challenge to Federal and military personnel to put these ideas to work. To get started, check out the GreenGov Challenge Final Report and pick an idea you can champion in your workplace. Then sign up for the GreenGov Collaborative to work with colleagues across the government to put your ideas into action. You’ll be able to share your strategies, ask questions, and create a “green team” in this online community.

You answered the GreenGov challenge, now be part of the GreenGov transformation.

On her February 12 program, MSNBC host Rachel Maddow responded to Glenn Beck's claim that "nobody's saying" the Washington, D.C. snowstorm disproves climate change by noting that Beck himself previously forwarded such a suggestion. In response, Beck accused Maddow of selectively editing his remarks -- by airing a clip of her show, but editing out the portion where she aired his own comments in which he used the Washington, D.C. snowstorm to cast doubt on climate change science.

Watch It:

Once again, climate change deniers, the east coast of the US is not THE WORLD. China, hot. Middle East, hot. Africa, hot. Turn Off The FOX propaganda and learn something.

America spends $1 billion a day on crude oil from other countries.

Depending on foreign oil puts both our national security and our checkbooks at risk.

We’re funding those who want to see our county fail.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

A real clean energy bill will put us back in control by using energy that’s made in America and works for Americans.

A real energy bill will create 1.7 million new jobs and put us back on track.

This isn’t politics, this is common sense. Watch this video to find out why American energy is safe energy.

The Buckeye State is leading the pack in Clean Energy Jobs! Click here to listen to Jen Miller’s radio interview, which was featured on radio stations statewide.

Ohio Making its Mark as a Green Jobs Powerhouse?

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Call 'em clean, call 'em green - jobs in renewable energy industries are booming in the Buckeye State. The Council of State Governments recently ranked Ohio as Number One in the nation for green job creation, with nearly 2,500 jobs created or retained through home weatherization.

Jennifer Miller, conservation program coordinator for the Sierra Club's Ohio Chapter, says that's just the tip of the employment iceberg.

"Energy efficiency is actually the strongest driver of clean energy jobs because it involves manufactures, retailers, construction workers, utilities, HVAC companies. And it's cost-effective, because every dollar spent creates at least $3 in savings."

Some Ohio companies that are leading the way in creating these jobs include First Solar in Perrysburg, Cardinal Fastener in Cleveland and DuPont, which just announced the conversion of a Circleville VCR plant to solar manufacturing technology.

Miller says there has been a great deal of bipartisan support for energy-efficiency measures from state lawmakers, but more help is needed as Ohio begins to transform its energy market.

"There are lots and lots of investments still possible in energy efficiency and renewable energy that will put our workforce back to work, will increase our energy independence and will save our companies and our homeowners money."

According to Miller, some ideas to help Ohio solidify its position as a green energy leader include raising minimum building requirements to include more energy-efficiency measures, increasing the advanced energy loan fund, and ensuring that Ohio utilities develop cost-effective programs to create jobs and energy savings.

Visit The Sierra Club Ohio Chapter

Received via email from our friends at Americans United For Change:

What happened in Massachusetts yesterday is a call to action, not a cause for retreat.

The people of Massachusetts voted for change and they are frustrated with the seeming lack thereof. They are hurting and they have not yet seen Congress come forward to ease their pain, punish those who caused this crisis or make sure it cannot happen again.

Unfortunately, they picked the wrong side to blame. Regardless of how you feel about the way the health insurance reform effort has played out, it's important to note that most Democrats in Congress, and certainly the White House, supported swift, bold and effective change. The majority of Democrats in the Senate, for example, support the public health insurance option. But they couldn't get it done because the minority Republicans blocked an up-or-down vote.

When it comes to financial reform, the Obama Administration and Senate Banking Committee Chair Chris Dodd proposed strong legislation to reign in the abuses of the big banks that led to this mess in the first place. The banking committee's Republican leader, Senator Richard Shelby said "no way, no how, not ever."  

You get the idea: Lack of change is not for lack of trying on the part of the majority of congressional Democrats. But despite being the majority, the Republicans have blocked them from voting.

Scott Brown is only going to make it harder to do what we need to do in America - like clean up Wall Street and provide good, affordable health care for all. He has shown on the campaign trail that he will stand firmly with his Republican colleagues in favor of the Bush-era policies and politics that got us into this mess in the first place.

And if that doesn't scare you into fighting even harder, I don't know what will.

Call your member of Congress at 202-225-3121 or write your Senators and Members of Congress through our website.

Tell them to fight hard against Wall Street, the insurance companies and those elected officials who carry their water.

Columbus, OH – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland will be a keynote speaker at the EnergyBiz Leadership Forum, a gathering of national energy industry leaders and policy makers, on March 1 in Washington, D.C.

The only U.S. governor currently scheduled to speak at the forum, Strickland will discuss how aggressive advanced energy requirements and targeted industry investments are positioning Ohio to be a leading global supplier of clean energy and clean energy technologies.

“Ohio spurred glass manufacturing, and today we’re home to the nation’s largest thin-film solar panel manufacturing facility. Ohio perfected the manufacturing process for automobiles, and today – using that process – we’re the #2 state in potential for manufacturing wind turbines and components. We’re using the knowledge gained from generations of inventing and producing to meet the world’s growing demand for clean energy solutions,” Strickland said. “Pairing Ohio’s strengths with aggressive policies is creating good jobs for people who work for a living while establishing Ohio as a leading supplier of clean energy.”

The 2010 Forum will examine the fallout of the global economic downturn, look at results from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act investments, and discuss the country’s progress in developing a new energy economy.  The Forum is produced by Energy Central, which publishes EnergyBiz magazine, a leading national energy trade publication.

“Ohio is perhaps at the forefront of efforts to transform a troubled Midwest industrial belt into a vibrant 21st century economy showcasing energy efficiency and renewables,” Martin Rosenberg, editor-in-chief of EnergyBiz magazine said. “Gov. Ted Strickland represents the kind of forward-looking leader who wants to spur this transformation even as his region and the nation emerge from a nasty economic downturn.”

Strickland was invited to keynote because of Ohio’s growing strength in advanced energy development and policy. Signed in 2008, Ohio’s landmark energy legislation established the third-most aggressive renewable energy standard in the nation, and the most aggressive energy efficiency requirement in the nation. Ohio’s goal is for 25 percent of the electricity sold in the state to come from advanced energy sources by the year 2025 and at least 12.5 percent must be renewable – with at least half of the renewable energy being generated in Ohio.

The Ohio Bipartisan Job Stimulus Plan, also signed in 2008, designates $150 million to advanced energy development. And, as state co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission, Strickland hosted the 2009 national ARC fall conference in Athens in October, titled “New Energy. New Jobs. New Opportunities for Appalachia”, which brought leaders from around the country together to discuss the region’s potential and commitment to growing an advanced energy economy.

Other forum speakers include representatives from utilities, government, consumer advocacy groups, research laboratories, energy associations, businesses, regulators, and the energy vendor community.

The Forum will be held in Washington, D.C., February 28 through March 2, 2010, at the Mandarin Oriental.

For more information go to http://www.energybizforum.com.

Funds Will Help Train Workers for Good-Paying Jobs in Clean Energy Industry

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown and Congresswoman Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15) joined U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis to announce that Ohio will receive a significant share of nearly $24 million in new few federal funds to help train workers for jobs in the clean energy economy.

The funds will support training programs in the cities of Cleveland, Columbus, Toledo, Akron, and Youngstown, as well as the counties of Allen, Auglaize, Carroll, Champaign, Clermont, Clinton, Crawford, Cuyahoga, Defiance, Erie, Fulton, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Highland, Huron, Jackson, Knox, Logan, Lorain, Lucas, Madison, Montgomery, Morrow, Noble, Paulding, Pike, Preble, Putnam, Richland, Ross, Sandusky, Seneca, Shelby, Summit, Trumbull, Union, Van Wert, Wayne, Williams, Wood, and Wyandot.

"These funds will help prepare Ohio workers for the clean energy jobs of the 21st century," Brown said. "Ohio already has a skilled workforce and a rich manufacturing heritage. These funds will ensure that Ohio's workers and suppliers can be a part of our nation's clean energy economy. These funds are targeted for communities that have been hit hardest by job loss in the auto industry. They will lead to good-paying jobs and will help Ohio become the Silicon Valley of Clean Energy Manufacturing."

“It’s critical for Ohio to continue creating jobs and remain in a leadership position for our new energy economy,” said Kilroy. “These grants are great for jobs, energy independence, and our environment.”  

In Kilroy’s district grants were awarded for the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) to prepare workers for careers in public transportation and for The Ohio Green Renewable Opportunities for Workers (GROWs) project in Madison and Union counties.  The GROWs project utilizes 19 existing industry training centers to provide green skills training to dislocated and incumbent workers in Ohio.

Obama to discuss jobs and the economy with Ohioans on January 22

Sorry to the cliimate change deniers around Ohio, but Bradford Plumer explains why the recent cold snap in North America doesn't disprove global warming:

Even though the 2000s were the hottest decade on record, there were a lot of record lows set in the United States during that time. It's just that there were even more record highs—and the ratio of highs to lows was greater than the ratio during the 1990s, which was, in turn, greater than the ratio during the 1980s, and so on. Note also that the United States is just a small patch of the globe, and while we're bracing ourselves against freakish cold, the central Pacific has been seeing freakish highs. The thing to watch is the overall trend.

HT: Daily Dish

The EPA leaves a little coal ash in everybody's stocking for another year.

A year ago, a massive coal ash spill took place in Tennessee. About 5.4 million cubic yards of ash ended up in a river and covering the private property of local citizens. The EPA this week called the spill at TVA's Kingston plant "one of the worst environmental disasters of its kind in history."

Now the EPA is delaying it's decision on whether to  regulate the toxic waste.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The Obama administration announced Thursday it would delay the release of proposed new rules on the handling and disposal of toxic ash from coal-fired power plants.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson had promised the rules proposal would be issued before the end of the year.

In a prepared statement, EPA did not offer a new timeline, but said the delay was for a "short period" and that the proposal would be issued "in the near future."

EPA cited the "complexity of the analysis" involved in the issue and said agency officials are "still actively clarifying and refining parts of the proposal."

 Merry Christnas to all from the EPA.

Watch It:

COPENHAGEN — With time running out on the stalled Copenhagen climate negotiations, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton gave new hope that an agreement might still be reached when she announced Thursday that the United States would help raise $100 billion a year by 2020 to enable poor nations to combat climate change.

Mrs. Clinton’s announcement signaled the first time the Obama administration had made a commitment to such an extensive financing effort, even though she did not specify the amount the United States would contribute along with other nations. She also cautioned that the United States’ participation was contingent on reaching a firm agreement this week, one that would require a commitment from China about greater transparency in its emissions reporting.“A hundred billion can have tangible effects,” Mrs. Clinton said. “We actually think $100 billion is appropriate, usable and will be effective.”

The $100 billion figure is in line with estimates by Britain and the European Union of the needed contributions, although the amount is at the low end of the range that European countries have suggested.

But Mrs. Clinton warned that the United States would not participate in such a fund-raising effort without certain assurances from China.

“It would be hard to imagine, speaking for the United States, that there could be the level of financial commitment that I have just announced in the absence of transparency from the second-biggest emitter — and now I guess the first-biggest emitter — and now nearly, if not already, the second-biggest economy,” Mrs. Clinton said.

China recently surpassed the United States as the largest emitter of carbon dioxide and is expected to surpass Japan next year to become the second-biggest economy in the world.

Watch It

Together Against Climate Change

COLUMBUS, OHIO – At an event in Columbus, Ohio this afternoon, Secretary Chu announced that the Department of Energy is awarding nearly $79 million for projects in Ohio to demonstrate advanced Smart Grid technologies and integrated systems that will help build a smarter, more efficient, more resilient electrical grid. 

This announcement is part of $620 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that will support 32 demonstration projects across the country. 

These projects will include large-scale energy storage, smart meters, distribution and transmission system monitoring devices, and a range of other smart technologies and will act as models for deploying integrated Smart Grid systems on a broader scale.

This funding will be leveraged with $1 billion in funds from the private sector to support more than $1.6 billion in total Smart Grid projects nationally. In Ohio, this funding will support a total of more than $157 million in projects.

Secretary Chu also released a video on YouTube, which explains what investments in the Smart Grid can mean for American consumers

Watch It:

The full list of selected projects, including projects in Ohio, is available HERE.