Thursday, January 29, 2009
In his recent State of the State address, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland listed passenger rail service between Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland as a key part of the plan to stimulate economic growth and make Ohio stronger. He received a standing ovation from the audience as he said:
“We will work toward the restoration of passenger rail service between Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland. Our goal is to link Ohio’s three largest cities by passenger rail for the first time in 40 years. This will be a first step toward a rail system that links neighborhoods within a city, and cities within our state.”
Ohio’s Department of Transportation and Amtrak have begun planning for rail service that would connect the state’s 3 largest cities by 2010. The state has requested federal stimulus funding for this project and for development of the more extensive Ohio Hub System. ELPC is working with partner organizations such as All Aboard Ohio to organize the already strong grassroots support for smart, efficient passenger rail transportation in Ohio.
Take Action: Ask Congress to adequately fund passenger rail in the economic stimulus
Full text of Governor Strickland’s speech is available here
Friday, September 5, 2008
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Farmers and rural residents can discover more about the new Farm Bill’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) as part of the Clean Energy Funding Opportunities Workshop to be held Sept. 12, at the Sawmill Creek Resort and Conference Center, 400 Sawmill Creek Drive, Huron, Ohio.
REAP provides funding to rural small businesses and agricultural producers to help finance the installation of renewable energy systems or energy efficiency improvements. Grants and loan guarantees are available for businesses interested in installing an on-site renewable energy generation system using wind, solar, biomass and/or geothermal technology. Funding is also available to install energy efficiency improvements designed to reduce energy use and better control energy costs.
The half-day workshop features keynote addresses from the USDA-Rural Development Undersecretary Tom Dorr and Ohio Ninth District Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo. Presentations from USDA, the Ohio Energy Office and others will help participants start the research, planning and grant application process for the upcoming 2009 program year.
The Clean Energy Funding Opportunities Workshop is sponsored by the Center for Innovative Food Technology (CIFT), USDA-Rural Development, the Environmental Law and Policy Center, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation and the Ohio Farmers Union.
Contact CIFT at www.cift.eisc.org for registration and more information. There is no cost to attend the workshop, but seating is limited.
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Monday, July 14, 2008
ELPC is working with allies in Ohio to further use the Federal Farm Bill’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP, formerly Section 9006). Ohio has received 28 grants for a total of $4.8 million from 2003-2008.
In May 2008, Ohio passed its Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (AES) that requires that 12.5% of the state’s electricity come from renewable sources by 2025. Ohio has a unique approach where “alternative” also include non-renewable sources which must also provide 12.5% by 2025. These alternative non-renewable sources include third generation nuclear power, energy efficiency, fuel cells, an so-called “clean coal” technology.
