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
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Increasing the efficiency of electricity is often the cheapest and easiest way to reduce global warming pollution and conserve natural resources. Ohio now requires investor-owned utilities to file 3-year energy efficiency plans describing the programs the utilities will implement to help reduce energy consumption. ELPC is working in Ohio to ensure that utilities meet or exceed their energy efficiency requirements, and in the process reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, improve environmental quality, and save Ohioans money.
By 2025, 12.5% of Ohio’s energy must come from renewable sources, such as solar and wind. ELPC is helping to create the necessary markets for renewable energy development in Ohio and leveraging our solar energy efforts in other Midwestern states to create a policy that will help develop clean, renewable sources of energy in Ohio.
ELPC is working with a wide range of private, public, and non-profit partners to revise Ohio’s residential building code standards and help Ohioans live in more comfortable, cost effective homes. By setting stricter requirements for efficiency through minimum standards for insulation, windows, and heating and cooling, homeowners will save money while reducing fossil fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
In an era of high gasoline prices, expressway congestion at all hours, airport capacity constraints, and a shrinking pool of rural transportation choices, the Midwest needs improved passenger rail service now more than ever. With ten major cities within a 400-mile radius of Chicago, the Midwest represents the nation’s greatest opportunity to develop high-speed rail. A regional high-speed rail network would significantly reduce traffic congestion, travel time, air pollution, and urban sprawl. In Ohio, this can start with the “3-C Line.” Connecting Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati by passenger rail will allow Ohioans to quickly, easily, and efficiently move across the state. By starting with the 3-C Line, Ohio can be poised for expansion into a wider, regional high-speed transportation network.
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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