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| Also listed in: Ohio Bloggers |
Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today announced his Energy, Jobs and Progress plan that will ensure predictability of affordable energy prices and serve as a catalyst to enhance energy industries in Ohio, bringing new jobs while protecting existing jobs.
The Energy, Jobs and Progress plan will achieve three objectives:
* Ensure affordable and stable energy prices to protect Ohio consumers and existing Ohio jobs
* Attract energy jobs of the future through an Ohio advanced energy portfolio standard
* Safeguard Ohio families by empowering consumers and modernizing Ohio's energy infrastructure.
Strickland's plan will ensure affordable and stable energy prices to protect Ohio consumers and existing Ohio jobs by taking a middle-ground approach to electricity regulation. The plan includes a market-based pricing option contingent upon the development of an efficient, open and competitive market. The plan also allows utilities to choose an electricity security plan, which would give the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio responsibility for approving rates that are based on the cost of doing business.
The plan's advanced energy portfolio standard will bring the energy jobs of the future to the state, creating new opportunities for thousands of Ohioans. It requires that at least 25 percent of the electricity sold in Ohio must be generated from advanced energy technology by 2025, and no less than half of that advanced energy must be created in Ohio.
The Energy, Jobs and Progress plan will also safeguard Ohio families by empowering consumers to demand greater efficiency, transparency and service from their utility companies. This can be accomplished by encouraging investment and modernization of Ohio's energy infrastructure, which is not only a benefit for consumers but also protects and secures the state's economy.
