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Ellen Belcher is the Dayton Daily News opinion pages editor. She writes about state government, education, the environment, higher education and all things Dayton.
Martin Gottlieb is an editorial writer and columnist for the Dayton Daily News opinion pages. He focuses on the political process itself and does such national issues as war, the economy, taxes and Social Security, as well as a hodge-podge of local and state issues.Home > Blogs > A Matter of Opinion > Archives > 2009 > November > 02 > Entry
Editorial: Climate-change regs could spur Ohio to help itself
The debate about climate change has developed civil war elements. People claiming to speak for the Heartland are saying: Whatever impact pending legislation might have on the two coasts — where most of the political support comes from — it would be disaster for states like Ohio, which are especially dependent on coal and manufacturing.
If you put restraints on carbon emissions associated with coal, you hurt Ohio. The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a “cap-and-trade” bill. It sets a national limit on the amount of carbon that can be released, then allows companies that can’t reduce their emissions to buy credits to release more.
Republican House leader John Boehner has said it would raise energy costs in Ohio — and worse. Specifically, he says it would put AK Steel out of business.
In September, Reps. Steve Austria , R-Beavercreek, and Jean Schmidt, R-Loveland, joined him at a Republican-sponsored hearing in Columbus to highlight these points.
All along, proponents have said the bill would — on balance — create jobs, by fostering new energy businesses and by fostering energy conservation, allowing money to be diverted in other directions.
Now comes a study that says the positive economic impact would not only be bigger than the negative, but would actually be greatest in states like Ohio.
“Heartland states will gain more by reducing imported fossil fuel dependence because they are generally spending a higher proportion of their income on this low-employment, high- price” source, says the study.
The point is that Ohio doesn’t produce oil, but it could produce plenty of sustainable energy forms, such as solar and wind, thus fostering new industries and keeping its money at home.
The study was done primarily by the University of California at Berkeley, and was funded by The Energy Foundation, which describes itself as a partnership of foundations interested in sustainable energy.
Promoting the study locally is the Ohio Business Council for a Clean Economy, an organization of businesses interested in the “green” field.
As for oil, Ohio uses more than it digs, says the study’s main author, David Roland-Holst. And, he says, the fossil fuel industry produces relatively few jobs, and they pay poorly.
Ohio businesses and universities are poised to move into the new world of sustainable energy in a big way. Central State University and the University of Dayton are among the eight designated as having “Ohio Centers of Excellence” in specific “green collar” realms. They’re participating in a state effort to have all electricity sold in Ohio by 2025 come from advanced or renewable resources.
Still, this country is falling behind others in the new technologies. Professor Roland-Holst says the great threat ahead for Ohio is not that its coal and manufacturing industries will be hurt by new laws, but that the state will miss the “green” boat while focusing on coal.
He recognizes that industry’s problems, but says it has been like the auto industry — which, for example, fought higher gas-mileage standards for many years — in failing to adjust to modern times.
The coal industry points to cap-and-trade studies with different conclusions than this one. Unquestionably, there will be downsides to cap-and-trade. Some attention must be focused on problems of communities now most dependent on the coal industry now.
But the times are changing. There will be winners and losers. Ohio can fear that, or it can recognize that few other states are more in need of change than Ohio.
Permalink | Comments (20) | Post your comment | Categories: Economy, Editorials, Energy, Local Business, Martin Gottlieb, National Politics
Comments
By Mel
November 2, 2009 8:22 AM | Link to this
Was it any surprise that the DDN would endorse the Democrats “Cap and Trade” bill? Does it bother DDN or the Democrats that this bill will cost Americans considerably more on their monthly utility bill? Do they realize that even if this bill passes that it will have little effect on the environment especially since India and China,the biggest offenders of the environment, will never endorse a similar plan! I cannnot believe the audacity of the DDN to even support a bill that will eliminate even more jobs and cost Ohioans even more money in this already broken economy!
By Skeptic
November 2, 2009 8:43 AM | Link to this
Mel, is it better to do nothing? Should we stick our heads in the sand and wish our problems go away? If we don’t take action now, we’ll suffer even more later. This is not a partisan issue. When we lead by example, the world will follow.
By Enon
November 2, 2009 9:39 AM | Link to this
Skeptic, you are the one with your head in the sand. For the last ten years already, we have been on a cooling trend. But that does not fit the global warming/anti-capitalism agenda of the left and main stream media. As for the “if we lead, the world will follow” theory, we have been showing the world how freedom works for over 200 years. Yet the despots and tyrants of the world have their own agenda. Kinda blows your theory, huh?
By Enon
November 2, 2009 9:39 AM | Link to this
Skeptic, you are the one with your head in the sand. For the last ten years already, we have been on a cooling trend. But that does not fit the global warming/anti-capitalism agenda of the left and main stream media. As for the “if we lead, the world will follow” theory, we have been showing the world how freedom works for over 200 years. Yet the despots and tyrants of the world have their own agenda. Kinda blows your theory, huh?
By questions
November 2, 2009 9:47 AM | Link to this
Would it be too much to ask for data that supports solar or wind for electricity in this region? Was anyone from DPL consulted as to their opinion, since they supply electricity? Why not consider clean coal innovations, as supply is close and abundant?
By joe_mamma
November 2, 2009 10:24 AM | Link to this
Martin…just an FYI. The Energy Foundation in the past has been a supporter of The Tides Foundation. The Tides Foundation has provided funding to radical left organizations such as ACORN, CAIR, and NARAL. The Tides Center’s chairman is leftist radical and activist Wade Rathke. The Energy Foundation has provided direct funding to Natural Resources Defense Council, Environmental Defense Fund, and the Earth Day Network. They certainly should not be viewed as an unbiased party. They can be quite reasonably viewed as having a far left agenda and being advocates of socialism.
By TRS
November 2, 2009 10:32 AM | Link to this
Of note, when one looks at the Energy Foundation website and its supporters, it is obvious these folks are environmentalists - so what kind of result would you expect from such a study? What exactly is this “green” industry thats going to produce so many jobs? So far, the environmentalists stand in the way of wind because they don’t like the big windmills nor the electric grids that need to be built, they don’t like nuclear, they claim to like electric until they see it takes more power generation to supply electric, we’ve got an abundance of natural gas but they don’t like that because it requires drilling - the list goes on. So tell us DDN, what jobs are they talking about, how quickly will they develop and why should the US fall on its sword when the rest of the world won’t?
By TRS
November 2, 2009 10:34 AM | Link to this
Of note, when one looks at the Energy Foundation website and its supporters, it is obvious these folks are environmentalists - so what kind of result would you expect from such a study? What exactly is this “green” industry thats going to produce so many jobs? So far, the environmentalists stand in the way of wind because they don’t like the big windmills nor the electric grids that need to be built, they don’t like nuclear, they claim to like electric until they see it takes more power generation to supply electric, we’ve got an abundance of natural gas but they don’t like that because it requires drilling - the list goes on. So tell us DDN, what jobs are they talking about, how quickly will they develop and why should the US fall on its sword when the rest of the world won’t?
By Kurt
November 3, 2009 6:40 AM | Link to this
Cap and tax, socialiized medicene, more slip and fall litagation, President Bush’s tax cuts going away, and democrats, who couldnt begin to run a business, wonder why we are losing jobs. Hell, most have never even worked in the private sector, hello dumbama, pelosi,biden, and reid.
By Kurt
November 3, 2009 6:41 AM | Link to this
Cap and tax, socialiized medicene, more slip and fall litagation, President Bush’s tax cuts going away, and democrats, who couldnt begin to run a business, wonder why we are losing jobs. Hell, most have never even worked in the private sector, hello dumbama, pelosi,biden, and reid.
By Champsummers
November 3, 2009 9:12 AM | Link to this
The issue is jobs. China and India have already stated they will not sign on to any Cap & Trade bill. This bill is a tax on all Americans and Ohio businesses. More manufacturing jobs will be lost if this passes. The only exports they will come out of Ohio will be OUR jobs.
By Bud
November 3, 2009 9:50 AM | Link to this
In Spain there are 2 jobs lost for every green job created. Every green job created costs the government about 3 quarters of a million dollars. Fits right in with this administrations agenda. Spend even more money we don’t have. Brilliant
By Mel
November 3, 2009 9:53 AM | Link to this
Lets face it, most human beings on the planet do care about the environment and don’t want to see it destroyed! The problem is do Americans think that politicians in D.C. have the right answers! NO! The people in D.C. have a whole lot of other motives than saving the enviroment. G.E., Al Gore, etc. stand to make millions and million s of dollars from this legislation.Every American can do their part w/o being taxed by the government. Right now, this country has some “bigger fish to fry”-the War in Afghanistan and this economy!
By Deb S
November 3, 2009 10:25 AM | Link to this
Many know the war in Iraq was mainly to control the oil fields and Afghanistan has the pipe line. If fossil fuels are so great for our econ why are we currently suffering? We must turn away from dirty fossil fuels ASAP or we can only see more devastation. News flash China is about to pass us in the green race b/c we are so busy in our denial or blame. Under the green econ (solar, wind, geothermal) we have 2 or 3 times the jobs at half the cost of things like the dirty lie of “clean coal”.
By scoobydo
November 3, 2009 10:42 AM | Link to this
Reps John Boehner, Steve Austria and Jean Schmidt, and the party of just say no are the problem. Create more jobs with clean energy; ignore that, keep the same low wages in the energy as is plan. This country is falling behind others in the new technologies, we are moving to the back of the world because of this foot and knuckle dragging status quo ‘drill baby drill’ mentality of an energy policy.
By Leslie
November 3, 2009 12:38 PM | Link to this
You guys must of missed the study that came out yesterday showing that the US is top in energy resources. We don’t have to depend on foreign oil our politicians and environmentalists make us do so. Didn’t this country start out with windmills for energy? How about nuclear power over wind and solar? Seems like nuclear would be more 21st century - wind more like the western cowboy days. Why listen to California - they deny farmers water.
By drunken orangetree
November 3, 2009 9:06 PM | Link to this
Leslie, a link to this study, please. As for Enon: we are warming up. There is no cooling trend, unless you listen to the liars on the right.
By S.G DAYTON, OHIO
November 5, 2009 4:23 PM | Link to this
If we sit around and do nothing will that mean the world will remain the same? If we let China and other countries create millions of jobs as we debate common fears of the unkown will we become more dependent on foreign oil? As other countries advance will we start begging for food and ask for donations to feed are kids? Has fear stopped us from being a country that was once a great power who then will be jobless and left behind. What ever happend to this country why all the fear now? You were born free people by your fathers father not because they feard others or stopped inventions or spoke for there God given rights as free people. Look around things have to change before it is to late so stop fearing fear and be part of the solution and not the problem. You know it is usually the goverment to who surpress their people not the citizens who would rather people do worse then them or hold others from advancing for a better tomorrow for their kids kids who might want to live as free people………………………as to have good paying jobs and healthy universe and not to be one of those kids on a comercial as to a dollar a day can help this kid eat for a week. Wake up Americans clean energy now for a tomorrow.
By S.G DAYTON, OHIO
November 5, 2009 4:25 PM | Link to this
If we sit around and do nothing will that mean the world will remain the same? If we let China and other countries create millions of jobs as we debate common fears of the unkown will we become more dependent on foreign oil? As other countries advance will we start begging for food and ask for donations to feed are kids? Has fear stopped us from being a country that was once a great power who then will be jobless and left behind. What ever happend to this country why all the fear now? You were born free people by your fathers father not because they feard others or stopped inventions or spoke for there God given rights as free people. Look around things have to change before it is to late so stop fearing fear and be part of the solution and not the problem. You know it is usually the goverment to who surpress their people not the citizens who would rather people do worse then them or hold others from advancing for a better tomorrow for their kids kids who might want to live as free people………………………as to have good paying jobs and healthy universe and not to be one of those kids on a comercial as to a dollar a day can help this kid eat for a week. Wake up Americans clean energy now for a tomorrow.
By dclay
November 9, 2009 1:19 PM | Link to this
This article contains a “missing the point” argument from the Energy Foundation. The EF claims that expanding renewable energy will reduce our dependence on oil. That is false. Oil and gas are both used primarily for transportation. Renewable energy sources, however, are used for providing electricity. Therefore, renewable energy cannot replace oil, and will take a long time before it can replace coal as an abundant energy source. We will continue to have a need for oil in order to sustain our transportation, manufacturing, construction, and commerce industries.