Fall Report A clean for today and for the future Vote YES to protect Ohio’s treasured natural areas

Thanks to Ohio’s environmental leaders and the leadership of Gov. , Senate President Bill Harris and Speaker of the House , Ohio voters will have the opportunity this November to renew the Clean Ohio Fund.

Established in November 2000, the Clean Ohio Fund is a bond program that provides funds for protecting open spaces and sensitive ecological areas, preserving farmland, and improving trails for outdoor recreation. The Clean Ohio Fund also provides resources to continue cleaning up polluted properties across the state. The Clean Ohio Fund has helped to create 210 miles of recreational trails across the state. Environment Ohio staff are working with other environmental, community and 210 miles of recreational trails. which means that renewing the fund will and business leaders to ensure that the not increase taxes. Clean Ohio Fund passes this fall. We’ll be Not only does the Fund protect Ohio’s making the case in the media, asking key most beautiful places—it has funded more A YES vote for the Clean Ohio Fund will decision-makers to support the Fund, and than 700 preservation projects to date—it result in the allotment of $400 million: talking to thousands of Ohioans, urging has also created more than 6,000 jobs. $200 million will be used to preserve them to vote YES. wildlife habitat and farmland and create How it works recreational trails, and the remaining Clean Ohio Fund success stories Revenue for the Clean Ohio Fund comes $200 million will be used to clean up pol- The Clean Ohio Fund is a one of a kind from the sale of general revenue bonds, luted industrial sites across the state. program with a proven track record of cleaning up and protecting Ohio’s natural environment. more online From the Big Darby Creek in Franklin For more information about the Clean County to the Mill Creek Waterfall in Ohio Fund, visit our Web site. And don’t Cuyahoga County, the Clean Ohio Fund forget to vote YES on Nov. 4th! is preserving some of our greatest natural treasures. The Clean Ohio Fund has sup- Links to additional content are posted at: ported projects in 87 out of 88 Ohio coun- www.EnvironmentOhio.org/newsletters/ ties and protected 26,000 acres of wildlife fall08. habitat, 20,000 acres of family farmland

VOLUME 2 | NO. 3 Fall Report | 2008 To our members Recent action

By the time you read this, the elec- Ohio EPA takes action on sewage pollution tion will be just around the corner. I As Ohio’s summer heated up, and families fl ocked to Ohio’s beaches, the health don’t know about you, but I’m excited. threats posed by sewage pollution became a real concern. Environment Ohio Despite the candidates’ attacks and has been advocating for stronger laws to reduce sewage pollution and improve counterattacks, there’s real hope for our methods of educating the public about this signifi cant health threat. change—just in time, as we’re facing enormous environmental challenges. In June, the Ohio EPA responded to Environment Ohio’s requests and enhanced their Web site to include additional information on sewage overfl ows across the After our own review and careful con- state, including a map of each of the overfl ow locations. They also agreed to sideration, we endorsed Sen. Barack require sewage overfl ow warning signs at all overfl ow locations. Obama for president, due in large part to his commitment to a clean energy plan Additionally, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to ensure families that can solve global warming. We’re heading to the beach will no longer be left in the dark about sewage pollution. working to register, persuade and turn The Sewage Overfl ow Community Right-to-Know Act requires public notifi ca- out enough voters to make the differ- tion when sewage is spilled into our waterways. To safeguard public health and our ence on Election Day. waterways, the Senate should pass this important sewage right-to-know bill.

As Nov. 4 nears and you make your own fi nal decisions, we hope you consider Senate Republicans block global warming bill our endorsement. We believe that an In June, the voted 48-36 to move forward on the Boxer- Obama administration offers all of us Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act, falling short of the necessary 60-vote our best opportunity to build upon the threshold and ending consideration of the global warming bill before it was able progress we’ve made together for our to come to a vote. Environment Ohio had been working over the past year to environment. Thanks again for your strengthen key provisions in the bill. In the end, what could have been a solid continued support. fi rst step toward a comprehensive global warming bill failed to overcome op- position from powerful polluting industries. Sincerely, After the vote, our federal global warming program director, Emily Figdor, told the media, “Faced with an urgent problem that demands action, the Senate passed the buck. Next time around, the polluters and their allies in Congress Amy Gomberg won’t get off so easy.” Environmental Advocate

Environment Ohio worked to require signage like this at all sewer overfl ow locations in the state.

Environment Ohio www.EnvironmentOhio.org/newsletters Interview: Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher

This summer, Environment Ohio’s Amy On May 1st, Gov. Strickland signed a Global warming Gomberg spoke with Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher, broad energy bill that includes a require- who also serves as Director of the Ohio ment for Ohio to develop 12.5 percent solutions that work Department of Development, about clean of its electricity from renewable energy energy and other environmental issues. resources, such as wind and solar. Do Global warming is the defi ning chal- you think this was an important step for lenge of our time. The latest climate How do you think developing homegrown Ohio, and why? science tells us that we need to reduce sources of electricity from wind and solar our emissions of global warming pol- will help improve Ohio’s economy and When Senate Bill 221 was signed by Gov. lutants quickly and dramatically if we our environment? Strickland, Ohio became the 26th state in hope to avoid the most catastrophic the nation to enact a renewable portfolio effects of global warming. Having just returned from the American standard policy. Most of our neighboring Wind Energy Association’s Windpower states have already enacted policies of their But with Congress stalling on a na- 2008 Conference, I am thrilled about the own. For Ohio to compete on a national tional global warming plan, Ohio can’t opportunities Ohio has for wind, in addi- and global scale for advanced energy jobs, wait. This summer, Environment Ohio tion to our already thriving solar sector. Senate Bill 221 and the portfolio standard released two reports on global warm- With Ohio’s talented workforce and key were critical. Gov. Strickland and I also ing that show how we can start solving location, the ability to produce energy wanted to ensure that existing Ohio busi- global warming now—and what could that is clean, green and locally-manufac- nesses and families could have predictable happen if we don’t. tured is as exciting as it is sensible. energy rates that protect consumers. The fi rst, “Global Warming Solutions Ohio is the fourth leading emitter of car- What else is the Strickland administra- that Work,” details what other states bon dioxide pollution, which fuels global tion doing to bolster the development of and countries are doing to reduce their warming. What do we need to do to re- renewable energy in Ohio? own greenhouse gas emissions. Our duce our emissions and avoid the worst second report outlines the potential effects of global warming? How can Ohio Gov. Strickland, Senate President Bill impact of climate change right here in reduce emissions while also creating jobs Harris and House Speaker John Husted Ohio. From a receding Lake Erie shore- and boosting the economy? recently announced the $1.57 billion Jobs line to increasing tornado and fl ooding Stimulus Package, which allocates $150 events, global warming could have The key for our state to continue to grow million to advanced energy. This funding disastrous effects for all Ohioans. economically while reducing emissions is aimed at supporting Ohio companies as will be in achieving greater energy effi - they expand and retool to make the com- “Global warming will cause serious ciency and promoting growth in existing ponent parts of these new technologies. harm to Ohio’s environment and advanced energy technologies as well as economy if we do nothing,” said Envi- research into new technologies. ronment Ohio Advocate Amy Gomberg. “Fortunately, we have the solutions to With Executive Order 2, which appoint- stop it. We just need Ohio’s leaders ed Mark Shanahan as the governor’s fi rst to step up to the plate and address energy advisor, and a new energy policy to global warming head on.” reduce consumption in state facilities by 15 percent over the next four years, Gov. Environment Ohio is encouraging Gov. Strickland emphasized his commitment Strickland to lead the state on curbing to an energy policy that would reduce our global warming pollution by joining consumption and create jobs. the majority of Midwestern gover- nors in the Regional Greenhouse Gas When coupled with Senate Bill 221 and More online Reduction Accord. the Jobs Stimulus Package, the energy Above, Environment Ohio’s Amy emphasis from Gov. Strickland and Advi- Gomberg with Lt. Gov. Fisher. sor Mark Shanahan will ensure affordable To read our latest reports on and stable energy prices for Ohio busi- Read the rest of our interview online global warming in Ohio, visit our Web nesses and safeguard Ohio families and at: www.EnvironmentOhio.org. site: www.EnvironmentOhio.org. future generations.

Fall Report | 2008 NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Fall Report BROCKTON, MA PERMIT NO. 430 VOLUME 2 | NO. 3 | 2008

203 E. Broad Street, Suite 3 | Columbus, OH 43215 www.EnvironmentOhio.org | (614) 460-8732

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Environment Ohio

Mission Statement We all want clean air, clean water and open space. But it takes independent research Energy effi ciency for Ohio and tough-minded advocacy to win concrete Energy effi ciency is the cleanest, cheapest and safest way to meet our growing demand results for our environment, especially when powerful interests stand in the way of envi- for electricity. By using energy-effi cient technology, we can meet Ohio’s energy needs ronmental progress. That’s the idea behind without building new and expensive coal, natural gas or nuclear power plants. Environment Ohio. We focus exclusively on protecting Ohio’s air, water and open space. On May 1, Ohio’s state leaders made it clear that energy effi ciency is a priority. We speak out and take action at the local, Environment Ohio stood next to Gov. Ted Strickland as he signed into law a bill state and national levels to improve the qual- that includes a strong energy effi ciency and renewable energy standard. ity of our environment and our lives. Credits This fall, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) will be developing the Photos: Front page, top: R.S. Ryan*; center: Doug Lemke*; bottom: David rules to implement the law. Help us tell the PUCO that we want strong energy Watkins*. Page 2, top: staff; bottom, staff. Page 3, top: Falcifer, under effi ciency and renewable energy programs that will benefi t all Ohioans. Visit our Creative Commons license; top right: courtesy of NASA; bottom: staff. Page 4, top: R.S. Ryan*; bottom: Armistead Booker, under Creative web site to take action. Commons License. * indicates under license from Shutterstock.com. Editor: Amy Gomberg. Contributors: Jim Amspacher, Zach Cullimore, Matt Curtis, Sara Landis, Jenna Perry Leschuk, Jesse Littlewood, Ryan Moeckly, Leana Nordstrom, Brittany Paris, Dan Platt, Nathan Proctor, Heather Shute, Drew Stephan, Jenne Turner. Publications Director: Want to learn more about Richard J. Hannigan. Design: Public Interest GRFX (215) 985-1113. potential energy effi ciency programs E-mail: [email protected]. Printed on recycled paper. for Ohio? Check out our Energy Effi ciency Headquarters at: www.environmentohio.org/eehq. Paid for by Environment Ohio at www. EnvironmentOhio.org. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.