Ohio

In partnership with

CONTACT Top

Amanda Woodrum
Energy Staffer and Policy Liaison
Policy Matters Ohio
awoodrum(at)policymattersohio.org
1372 Grandview Ave., Suite 242
Columbus, OH 43223

MISSION Top

Policy Matters Ohio is the Ohio partner for the Apollo Alliance, a coalition of environmentalists, businesses, unions and community groups pushing a clean energy revolution in America. Apollo reforms will reduce dependence on foreign oil; cut carbon emissions; help America lead in clean energy innovation and development; and create a new generation of well-paid, green-collar jobs for people across America.

Ohio’s world-class manufacturing infrastructure and workforce poises Ohio to become a leader in providing parts for renewable energy equipment, training workers for green-collar jobs, promoting conservation and innovation, and using renewable energy.

AGENDA Top

Create jobs that pay a living wage and provide benefits through manufacturing of component parts for renewable energy and energy efficiency equipment;
Train Ohio workers in advanced energy skills, from installation to engineering, and create green career pathways out of poverty for people with barriers to employment;
Require energy efficiency in resource planning and use, particularly in land use and public buildings; and
Capitalize on opportunity by building on Ohio’s existing strengths to seize competitive advantage in all areas of advanced energy.

PAST ACCOMPLISHMENTS Top

In October 2008, Governor Strickland threw his support behind The New Apollo Program.
Ohio’s new renewable energy standard was signed in April of 2008 and requires 12.5% of Ohio’s energy to come from renewable energy resources by 2025. The new energy efficiency standard in Ohio is one of the strongest in the nation, requiring Ohio utility companies to ramp up savings to 2% per year by 2019 and each year thereafter. Policy Matters research shows that Ohio’s new renewable energy standard will create a market for sustainable energy in which Ohio has a key manufacturing role. And if Ohio electric utility companies should fail to comply with this standard, they will be required to make alternative compliance payments into Ohio’s advanced energy fund to invest in re-energizing Ohio. The Ohio Apollo Alliance testified at the legislature in support of the renewable portfolio standards and energy efficiency standards. Governor Strickland referenced Apollo and its research when he unveiled his proposal. In
In October 2007, we co-hosted the first-of-its-kind Midwest Conference on Labor in the New Energy Economy, featuring local and national leaders. Read and hear some of the highlights here.
In the same month, we published a report titled Investing to Re-energize Ohio, describing why Ohio’s advanced energy fund should be strengthened and made stronger.
We’ve studied how the use of renewable energy nationwide could stimulate investment and job growth in Ohio. For more, read our Generating Energy, Generating Jobs report.
Our releases have generated media coverage on the green economy, and we testified to the Ohio legislature in support of good green energy policies.
Governor Strickland also worked with the Ohio Legislature to pass a bipartisan jobs bill that will, among other things, invest $150 million into Ohio’s advanced energy supply chain and $250 million into workforce development to help create green jobs in Ohio. However, we need to work to ensure these public sector investments are made in a way that is both transparent and accountable, and bring the best value to the community and Ohio’s workforce.

WHAT’S IN THE WORKS Top

Ohio Apollo Alliance will continue to encourage policymakers to:

Focus on green-collar jobs as a central strategy for advancing environmental, economic, and climate protection goals. Green-collar jobs consist of work within growing industries that are helping us to declare our energy independence, curb greenhouse-gas emissions, eliminate toxins, and protect natural systems. These jobs pay family-supporting wages and provide opportunities for training and career advancement. Green-collar jobs already exist in many sectors and industries, and build on the capacities of existing businesses and workers in Ohio—from manufacturing to construction and high-skill service jobs. From installing solar panels to planting trees, many green-collar jobs are difficult or impossible to outsource.

Increase demand for green-collar jobs with policies, investment, and incentives that expand the market for green products and services. Use green redevelopment strategies to create jobs that strengthen both our economy and environment.
Emphasize community-based investments that cannot be outsourced and contribute directly to preserving or enhancing environmental standards.
Create a Green-collar Jobs Taskforce. A successful green-collar jobs initiative requires the expertise, political capital, and resources of a wide variety of partners. Identify key leaders and consult, develop, reinvigorate or realign partnerships with potential leaders and organizations such as: community organizations, unions, businesses, workforce development programs, schools, and advocates.

Use Green-collar Job Creation as an opportunity to provide pathways out of poverty and strengthen the middle class. While some green jobs require advanced technical skills, most are middle-skill jobs requiring more education than high school, but less than a four-year degree. New opportunities and access to good jobs enable low-income people to take the first step toward economic self-sufficiency. These jobs are well within reach of many workers as long as they are accompanied by effective training and support programs.

Support policies that drive public and private investment in an inclusive green economy. Invest government resources in programs and initiatives that build an inclusive green economy, while leveraging and aligning existing public resources, and private sources of capital and finance, toward these same goals.
Prepare a green-collar workforce by building on existing training and apprenticeship programs that provide job seekers with “pathways out of poverty” and family-supporting, career-track jobs. Equip workers for high-demand jobs in the green economy by fostering partnerships with community groups, nonprofit organizations, climate change experts, businesses, unions and schools.

Issues we’re working on include: pushing a stronger energy loan fund, residential grants for efficiency, transit, identifying component manufacturing opportunities for the renewable supply chain that including Green Training.

To promote these ideas, we’ve partnered with the Ohio Blue-Green Alliance and the Ohio Wind Working Group. Find some of our other partners here.

STEERING COMMITTEE Top

Ned Ford, Sierra Club of Ohio
Lloyd MahHaffey, UAW Region 2B
Susan Helper, PhD, Case Western Reserve University
David Rinebolt, Ohio Partners for Affordable Energy
Kelly Kupcak, Hard Hatted Women

The George Gund Foundation provides generous support to this project.