renewable energy
Farm bill season arrives: What’s the outlook for 2023?
WASHINGTON — Over the course of the next year, lawmakers on the U.S. House and Senate Agriculture committees will draft a new federal farm bill that will shape food, farm, conservation and nutrition programs across the country for the next five years. The omnibus law that began 90 years ago as crop supports now has […]
Landmark federal climate bill could change Ohio’s energy landscape
On Sunday, the U.S. Senate passed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, a bill that will reduce spending while at the same time offering nearly $370 billion in new initiatives to fight climate change. While Ohio has many options for mandating clean power and pricing carbon that will reduce carbon emissions, the Inflation Reduction Act […]
Climate spending in new reconciliation deal a ‘turning point’ for the U.S., supporters say
Environmental advocates largely praised the climate provisions in Senate Democrats’ massive taxes, health care and energy bill released last week, saying even with provisions to help the fossil fuel industry, the measure represents a historic step toward addressing the climate crisis. The 725-page bill — made public mere hours after U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin III and Senate […]
3 big reasons why the Biden climate agenda is floundering
President Joe Biden’s climate agenda took a hit this month when the Interior Department said it would open 144,000 acres of federal land up for oil and gas development to comply with a court order to restart fossil fuel development. The announcement marked yet another setback for a presidential climate plan that was once seen […]
Creating a better future demands better climate action, including smart siting of renewable energy
By now, you know that Intel plans to build the world’s largest computer chip factory just northeast of Columbus, making it the biggest economic development project in Ohio’s history. Part of their commitment includes eventually powering 100% of its operations with renewable energy. They are just one of dozens of companies that call Ohio home, […]
Whaley snags pre-primary endorsement from environmental PAC
The Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund has endorsed Nan Whaley in this year’s governor’s race. The move, coming ahead of the primary election, is the first such endorsement for a statewide candidate in the organization’s history, and it marks a substantial bet on the former Dayton mayor’s gubernatorial chances. The organization emphasized opposition to HB […]
Energy efficiency scorecard shows slight improvement and notable drops for large Ohio cities
A recent scorecard tracking energy policies among 100 of the country’s biggest cities offers a mixed bag for Ohio. The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy reviewed six cities — the three Cs plus Dayton, Toledo and Akron. Columbus and Toledo improved slightly, but the others held steady or slipped. The ACEEE formed in […]
How can Ohio fight climate change today?
The Union for Concerned Scientists has an incredible interactive map that provides county-by-county projections for how temperatures will change in the United States over the 21st century. Historically, most of Ohio experiences 11-25 days when the heat index is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, which is the threshold at which sun stroke, heat cramps, and heat […]
World science community watching as natural gas-hydrogen power plant comes to Hannibal, Ohio
There are not a lot of people living in Hannibal, Ohio. It is a tiny port stop on the Ohio River, with just 1,000 people living in Ohio Township, and just about 14,000 in Monroe County. About 35 miles upstream is Wheeling, West Virginia, and about 45 miles downstream is Marietta, Ohio. But this tiny […]
Local control, or killing renewables? Bill sparks debate
A bill that would allow neighbors to block wind turbines and solar arrays in the rural corners of Ohio is sparking an intense debate over land owners’ rights and local control. Two bills are making their way through the legislature that would allow small groups of citizens to block solar and wind farms after they’re […]