Sierra Club endorses clean energy ballot initiatives in Columbus, Grove City
Clean energy is on the ballot in Columbus and Grove City, Ohio. This November, voters in the 14th largest city in the country will decide on Issue 1, while voters in Central Ohio’s largest and fastest-growing suburb will decide on Issue 10. Both initiatives would enact Community Choice Aggregation for 100 percent renewable energy.
If approved, Issue 1 and Issue 10 would allow each city to obtain bulk purchase rates for electricity for all eligible residents and businesses, without raising taxes or electric bills. By pooling together their electricity demand, Columbus and Grove City could get a better product for the same or lower price.
But there's more. Through Community Choice Aggregation, these cities could work with a utility that’s ready to build out a local supply of renewable energy – new solar and wind projects that would create good-paying jobs in manufacturing, construction, and maintenance here in Ohio.
While Grove City is waiting until after the election to seek a utility supplier, Columbus has moved forward with the selection process. In its request for proposals, the city sought a utility that could provide 100% renewable energy with new construction of wind and solar projects in Ohio, while creating equity programs for eight opportunity neighborhoods: Franklinton, Hilltop, Linden, Near East, Northeast, Northland, Southeast, and the Southside.
Of four utilities vying for the Columbus aggregation contract, the city selected AEP Energy, which plans to invest $1 billion in building out 700 megawatts of new solar and wind energy that will displace the use of fossil fuels. This will create hundreds of good-paying jobs in construction, manufacturing, and maintenance, kicking off a clean energy industry in Central Ohio.
Moving each city’s electricity to 100% renewable energy will significantly lower carbon pollution in Central Ohio. If voters in Columbus approve Issue 1, the city’s emissions will be reduced by 1.2 million megatons annually or 19 percent. It’s equivalent to taking 260,000 cars off the road. Passing Issue 10 in Grove City would be like taking almost 16,000 cars off the road.
More than 400 local communities in Ohio have aggregated their electricity supply. Last year, voters in Worthington approved electric aggregation for 100 percent renewable energy, saving residents and businesses there almost $100,000 in the first 10 months of the program.
Issue 1 in Columbus and Issue 10 in Grove City gives voters the choice to save money, create jobs, lower pollution, improve our health, and invest in our own community -- all in one program. Anyone who doesn't want to participate can opt-out at any time with no penalties or fees. The choice is always ours.
Clean energy. Economic development. Our choice. Sierra Club Ohio Chapter is proud to endorse Issue 1 in Columbus and Issue 10 in Grove City. If you would like to volunteer for either campaign, please sign up here or link directly: http://bit.ly/Issue1-Vol