Issue Position: Energy

Issue Position

Issue Position: Energy

Since the industrial age, the United States - the world's largest economy - has relied largely on foreign oil and domestic coal as the chief energy source. To free ourselves from dependency on foreign oil, and to address the global climate change crisis, we must build a system where our energy is home grown, readily available, clean, and affordable.

On June 21, 2007, the Senate passed H.R. 6, the Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007. This was a long overdue step in the right direction. The bill would set aggressive targets to reduce our consumption of oil, expand renewable fuel standards, and invest in alternative energy research and development.

I authored the Renewable Energy Innovation Manufacturing Partnership amendment which was included in the final bill. The amendment would provide competitive grants to non-profit institutions and private manufacturers that work together to develop renewable energy manufacturing technologies.

By investing in manufacturing capabilities for alternative energy components parts, we not only advance important alternative energy development, we also build a new industry for Ohio, and that means new jobs.
Energy Production and Ohio Coal

Roughly 90% of Ohio's electrical generation comes from coal. As more and more alternative energy projects and developments come on line, any long term energy plan must work to make coal cleaner and with carbon sequestration. Not only will this enable Ohio to transition to more alternative energy, it will enable clean coal with carbon sequestration projects to power Ohio's high energy production facilities and its long standing coal industry, in a environmentally responsible manner.

Cheaper, cleaner, and renewable energy efforts must be supported at the same time with increased energy efficiency for our existing electric production facilities.

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