A bill signed two years ago has “stymied” solar power in the state, according to a group that released a new report ranking Ohio 29th in the country for solar power per capita, The Columbus Dispatch reports. The report, from Environment Ohio and “affiliated environmental advocacy groups,” shows Ohio has 10 watts of solar power per capita, which translates to “roughly one solar panel per 25 people.” Indiana, by comparison, “ranks 20th with 21 watts per person,” according to the article. Sam Gerard, a campaign organizer for Environment Ohio, said, “[t]he main thing we want to convey here is that solar power has potential to power our state. But we are still stymied by attacks from big utility companies that know solar jeopardized their industry.” When Senate Bill 310 was signed two years ago (see our June 13, 2014 blog post), it froze standards on renewable energy and energy efficiency benchmarks that required utilities to meet annual benchmarks for installing renewable energy including solar and wind power. At Environment Ohio’s recent event to mark the report’s release, Michael Smucker of Third Sun Solar was one of the speakers who “touted the economic benefits of solar power,” saying, “[i]t’s possible to preserve the planet and grow the economy at the same time.” For more, read the full article.
Ohio’s low ranking in solar-power report due to politics, environmental group says
