Environmentalists tout church's energy efficiency

Mar 21 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Dan Gearino The Columbus Dispatch, Ohio

 

An environmental group went to an Olde Towne East church yesterday to defend Ohio's energy-efficiency rules, pointing toward the ceiling not to invoke a higher power but to call attention to a lighting system that has saved the congregation thousands of dollars.

Environment Ohio is using First English Lutheran Church to show why state legislators should not weaken a law that sets annual benchmarks for energy efficiency and renewable energy. This comes as an Ohio Senate panel is holding hearings that could result in changes in the law.

"The cleanest and cheapest energy is the energy we never use -- that's energy efficiency," said Julian Boggs, state policy advocate for Environment Ohio.

His group released a report showing some of the results of the 2008 law, Senate Bill 221. The energy-efficiency rules have saved enough electricity to power 267,000 houses for a year, and the renewable energy rules have led to the installation of solar and wind power that can power 95,000 houses for a year, the report says, citing state figures.

Environment Ohio made its case at First English because the church's leaders have taken steps to reduce the energy footprint of the 100-year-old building at 1015 E. Main St. The church's annual energy costs are about $15,000, which is about $5,000 less than it would be without the energy-efficient equipment.

Sara Ward, whose husband is the pastor, is the leader of Ohio Interfaith Power and Light, an organization that helps churches find ways to reduce their electricity and natural-gas bills. She was also director of the state energy office within the Ohio Department of Development from 1992 to 2007.

"Energy efficiency needs policy support," she said. "SB 221 is a critical underpinning to this kind of work."

There was much less agreement about the merits of the law on Tuesday at a hearing before the Senate Public Utilities Committee.

"Forcing expensive renewable power upon Ohio consumers will have devastating consequences," said James Taylor, senior fellow at the Heartland Institute, a conservative research group. He is a frequently quoted critic of renewable energy, arguing that it will increase rates and harm the economy.

Under the 2008 law, the state's largest electric utilities must obtain 25 percent of their power from renewable or "advanced" sources by 2025. The utilities also must use energy-efficiency programs to reduce customers' energy usage by 22 percent by 2025. The companies must meet annual benchmarks on the way to those goals.

The costs of complying with the law are passed on to customers. So far, the cost comes to about $5 per month for a household served by American Electric Power.

FirstEnergy has led the charge to revisit the law. The Akron-based utility says that the costs for customers will skyrocket as the benchmarks rise. Several business groups have joined in criticism of the law because they are concerned about the effect on electricity bills.

Sen. Bill Seitz, R-Cincinnati, chairman of the Senate panel, has said he will listen to all sides before deciding how to proceed. Based on senators' questions and comments during the hearings, though, several of them are leaning toward easing the standards.

The law's main defenders are environmentalists and representatives of businesses connected to renewable energy and energy efficiency. They say the rules lead to cleaner air and water, and help to attract clean-energy jobs.

As evidence, they point to examples such as First English Lutheran Church.

"The best part is we've only scratched the surface of Ohio's clean-energy potential," Boggs said.

dgearino@dispatch.com

@dispatchenergy

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