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Ohio Must Move Forward in All Energy Sectors, Favoring None
By Congresswoman Marcy
Kaptur (D-OH)
Ohio's Republican-led state
legislature is failing to lead Ohio to a job-rich,
broad-based energy future. Our state has a rare opportunity
to grow its energy sectors to meet our state and nation's
future energy demands. But the myopic wrangling in Columbus
throttles Ohio's robust energy future. Ohio's GOP is stuck
in the last century.
Statehouse Republicans have
proposed legislation to save the Davis-Besse and Perry
nuclear power plants in northern Ohio. But to do so, they
eviscerate state investment in new energy industries,
including renewables. This amounts to a death wish for
economic growth in our energy sector. While I agree that
nuclear power plants provide an invaluable energy resource
with many high-paying jobs in our state, the legislature
must find a path to not only save the power plants but also
to expand Ohio's new energy industries.
As the legislature finishes
debate on House Bill 6, Republicans in the Statehouse will
have to answer this vital question: Are they willing to
sacrifice Ohio's robust and promising energy future to
achieve stability in just one energy sector?
With Ohio's two major
nuclear power plants in its industrial north at risk of
closure, Ohio GOP leaders are flubbing the ball. Instead,
Ohio should be the state that masters all energy sectors,
produces the new electric car, achieves biofueled air flight
and leads both on renewable energy and carbon capture for
the sake of the nation.
In the U.S. House of
Representatives, I chair the Energy and Water Development
Appropriations Subcommittee. We fund the U.S. Department of
Energy and nuclear naval propulsion systems. Day in and day
out, I fight to support American innovation for a secure
American energy future.
But regardless of how much
federal support we can bring back to Ohio for research and
development, in deciding where to locate, energy companies
look closely at the investment climate and energy innovation
of various states and regions. Ohio needs to up its game.
By cutting renewable energy,
for example, Ohio's legislature is shifting the car into
reverse. Ohio holds a strong legacy of energy innovation
that has revolutionized the way our world creates power.
Ohio innovators such as Harold McMaster and Norm Nitscke
created the largest solar company in America - First Solar -
right here in Ohio. POET already operates four ethanol
refineries in Ohio with more possible. Other Ohio energy
firms produce cryogenic hydrogen, fuel cells, battery
storage systems and super conductivity components. LEEDCO
entrepreneurs in Cleveland are championing the first
offshore wind turbines in our nation. What Saudi Arabia is
to oil, Lake Erie and northern Ohio could be to wind energy
if we do not pull out the rug from renewable energy
technologies.
The Utica and Marcellus
shale gas and oil discoveries in eastern Ohio are the
largest on the continent. For fossil fuels, Ohio should lead
the nation on carbon capture technologies. With large-scale
conventional and bio refineries, gas peaking facilities and
easy access to Great Lakes ports along the St. Lawrence
Seaway and with a short seaborne route to Europe, Ohio could
export energy resources and energy technology to a world far
too dependent on hostile nations such as Russia and China.
Ohio must figure out how to
move forward on all energy cylinders with Ohio-based
companies driving the economic engine and our state forward.
Ohio could lead the nation in advancing our energy future.
That requires leadership and vision not only on the part of
our federal government and private industry but surely our
state lawmakers as well.
According to the U.S. Energy
and Employment Report 2019, Ohio already boasts more than
98,000 energy supply jobs, more than 81,000 energy
efficiency jobs and more than 166,000 jobs in motor
vehicles. For the sake of our state's economic future, let's
not turn back the clock. The state House and Senate must
remember their legislation sends a clear message about our
state's willingness to be part of America's new, diversified
and cleaner energy economy.
Let's fully embrace that
future. Let's not cede Ohio's energy future to other states
or nations. Let's build forward on Ohio's legacy of
progress!
U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur of
Ohio's 9th Congressional District has been in Congress since
1983. The Toledo Democrat is the longest-serving woman in
the history of the U.S. House of Representatives.
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