Ohio state Sen. Kris Jordan introduces bill to repeal state's RPS, says renewable energy mandate drives up cost of energy for residents, businesses, causes job loss

Rachel Carter

COLUMBUS, Ohio , September 8, 2011 (press release) – Today, State Senator Kris Jordan (R- Powell) introduced Senate Bill 216, which would repeal Ohio’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (AEPS).

“With one of the worst recessions in recent memory still fresh in our minds, the last thing we need to do in Ohio is drive up the cost of energy for both Ohio families and Ohio businesses, and that’s exactly what the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard does,” said Jordan.

A study by the Beacon Hill Institute showed that the standard would cost Ohioans $8.629 billion between 2016 and 2025, with almost $1.5 billion coming due in 2025 alone. These increased costs would cause the state to lose nearly 10,000 jobs by 2025, and will cost the average Ohio household $123 yearly in higher energy costs. The impact on industrial customers could reach as high as $51,596 per year.

Jordan continued, “Over the past three years, we’ve seen an emphasis on ‘green jobs’ at the state and federal level, but studies show that in countries such as Spain, similar efforts have led to the destruction of 2.2 jobs in other sectors for every one of these ‘green jobs’ created. Ohioans deserve our best efforts to lower energy costs for all consumers, and a positive environment for job creators to move Ohio’s economy forward, and this bill does just that.”

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