Ohio Solar Businesses Ready to Roll with Clean Power

Environment Ohio

COLUMBUS, OH – 18 Ohio solar businesses issued a letter to the White House today, endorsing limits on carbon pollution from power plants and advocating that solar energy become a focal point of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed Clean Power Plan.

“As solar power installers, manufacturers, designers, aggregators, product suppliers, and consultants, we welcome the EPA’s unveiling of the Clean Power Plan,” reads the letter, organized by the advocacy group Environment Ohio. “This plan is a critical step toward transforming our energy system to one that protects our health and environment, and that of our children.” 

To address the growing threat of climate change, in June the U.S. EPA proposed its Clean Power Plan, which would require power plants in Ohio to cut carbon emissions 28 percent by 2030. The plan is open for public comment until December 1st, and could be finalized by next year.

States will have the flexibility to meet the limits introduced by the Clean Power Plan as they choose. Businesses signing the letter said the proposal could dramatically accelerate the development of clean energy across Ohio.

“The Clean Power Plan is a huge opportunity for Ohio to massively increase its solar capacity. We’re ready and eager to plan a role,” said Geoff Greenfield, President of Athens-based Third-Sun Solar.

Solar power is on the rise across the state, where it’s grown an average of 47%/year each of the last three years. According to the latest solar jobs census from the Solar Foundation, the solar industry employed more than 3,800 people in Ohio in 2013. [FROM WWW.SOLARSTATES.ORG]

“Ohio ranks 16th in the nation for solar capacity with 94 MW installed.  That’s great progress, but we’ve barely scratched the surface of what’s possible.  With our industrial might, we should be a leader in the fast-growing solar PV industry,” said Steve Melink, President of Melink corp. one of the several signatories from across Ohio.  

Environment Ohio’s counterparts around the country recruited more than 500 solar businesses nationwide to the sign the letter, which was delivered today to the White House.

“The climate crisis demands that we fulfill our vast potential for solar energy,” said Christian A., organizer with Environment Ohio, “and the businesses here in Ohio and across the nation are ready to rise to the challenge.”

The letter and signers may be viewed here: http://bit.ly/1s5eyc2

 

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Environment Ohio is a statewide, citizen based advocacy organization working for a cleaner, greener, healthier future.