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Report: Ohio should help companies pay for energy conservation

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Staff report 11:35 AM Wednesday, November 18, 2009

COLUMBUS — The state should provide financial assistance to help manufacturers pay for energy-conservation devices that could cut their costs and reduce emissions of polluting gases that contribute to global warming, the nonpartisan policy research organization Policy Matters Ohio says.

In a new report, the organization concluded that manufacturers often don’t put into effect the energy-efficiency recommendations made to them because paying for them would use up money that is needed for other purposes.

Policy Matters Ohio said its analysis of data from the University of Dayton, which does energy-use audits and recommends potential savings for companies, found that only about half of energy efficiency recommendations for industry typically are put into effect. That is even though the average cost per manufacturer, about $120,000, could be recouped within a year from reduced energy costs.

The Ohio Department of Development considers it a priority to promote development of alternative energy sources and reduction of industrial emissions, spokesman Bob Grevey said Tuesday, Nov. 17.

State Rep. Mike Foley, D-Cleveland, is sponsoring a bill that would expand Ohio’s advanced energy fund to assist companies with costs of energy-saving programs. The bill is before the Ohio House alternative energy committee.

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