If you’re a pro-environment voter in Ohio, this year’s U.S. Senate race is one you have to pay attention to. Senator Sherrod Brown, who has a near-perfect lifetime League of Conservation Voters score, is running against Congressman Jim Renacci, who has a terrible record on clean energy, protecting Lake Erie, and public land protection.
The Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund Endorses The Wood County Park District Levy
Bowling Green, Ohio — On May 8, Wood County residents will have the opportunity to vote for a park levy renewal that would increase funding by $200,000 annually without raising homeowners’ taxes. The levy would bring current annual funding from $2.8 million to $3 million and would allow for continued operations and maintenance. This renewal would not be a tax increase, but would renew the current levy set to expire at the end of the year.
The Woody County Park District operates 20 parks, nature preserves, and historical sites throughout the county, including the Bradner Preserve, the Carter Historic Farm, and Otsego Park.
“Increased funding is a vital step in the maintenance of Wood County’s precious natural landscape, and will ensure a safe environment for the community to enjoy for many years to come,” said Ricardo Granados, Public Lands Coordinator with the Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund. “We look forward to supporting the Wood County Park District in their efforts to conserve, enhance, and protect the natural and cultural resources of the county.”
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Senator Sherrod Brown: A Friend to Ohio’s Environment
Some may see our Senator Sherrod Brown as a working people’s champion. After all, he has stood behind trade unions, fought for better wages and safer working conditions, and has battled his entire career in Congress to see a return to steel manufacturing in cities like Lorain and Canton. Senator Brown has managed to do this while maintaining a lifetime LCV score of 93%
The Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund Announces Delegation Scores from LCV’s 2017 National Environmental Scorecard
Columbus, OH -- The Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund today released the Ohio delegation’s scores on the League of Conservation Voters’ 2017 National Environmental Scorecard. The Scorecard is the LCV’s primary yardstick for evaluating the environmental records of every member of Congress, and is available online at scorecard.lcv.org.
Bill addressing orphan wells will benefit Ohioans
OEC Action Fund Testimony on Ohio House Bill 393 (DeVitis, O’Brien)
Good afternoon, Chairman Landis, Vice Chairwoman Hagan, Ranking Member O’Brien and members of the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee; My name is Melanie Houston and I am Director of Climate Programs for the Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) Action Fund. Thank you for the opportunity to testify on Ohio House Bill 393 today.
OEC Action Fund/OOGA Statewide Media Call to Discuss Idle and Orphan Oil and Gas Wells and House Bill 225
The Ohio Oil and Gas Association (OOGA) and the Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund (OEC Action Fund) will host a joint press call to discuss the state’s idle and orphan well program, along with changes to House Bill 225. The bill was approved this week in a unanimous 92-0 vote by the Ohio House.
The Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund Announces Independent Actions Taken in Cincinnati Municipal Elections
Cincinnati, OH -- Over the last two weeks, the Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund launched direct mail and digital ads to support a greener Cincinnati. We sent out two rounds of digital ads and mailers to support the campaigns of our endorsed candidates: John Cranley for Cincinnati Mayor, and Derek Bauman, Greg Landsman, and P.G. Sittenfeld for City Council.
You can view a few examples of these tactics below.
These actions were not coordinated or authorized by any candidate or candidate’s campaign, and paid for independently.
Paid for by the Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund (www.TheOECActionFund.org) and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
OEC Action Fund Testimony Against HB 114
The world is undergoing a massive transition in how it generates, transports, manages and delivers electricity to homes, neighborhoods, and businesses. Consider that in 2015, global capacity for renewable energy surpassed that of coal for the first time ever in human history. About half a million solar panels were installed every day around the world in 2015. In 2015, China was installing two wind turbines every hour and continued that growth in 2016 to the tune of one turbine installation per hour.
OEC Action Fund Announces TV Ad Buy Calling on Ohio Lawmakers to Reject Power Plant Bail Outs
Columbus, OH -- Today, the Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund announced a statewide ad buy calling on members of the Ohio General Assembly to reject two proposals that would grant subsidies for power plants in Ohio, Indiana, and Pennsylvania.
Thanking Governor Kasich for Protecting State Parks and Public Lands
The following statement can be attributed in full, or in part, to Sarah Spence, Director of Government Affairs at the Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund:
“Today, the Governor vetoed a provision in the State Budget Bill that would have fast-tracked oil and gas leasing in state parks and public lands across Ohio. We thank Governor Kasich for standing up in defense of public lands that we all share in ownership. We cherish our state parks and state lands as places to hike, hunt, fish, and enjoy with our families, and the Governor’s veto keeps these lands safe from oil and gas development for the time being.
“The Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund remains steadfast in our efforts to protect public lands across Ohio for use and enjoyment for future generations.”
Urging Governor Kasich to Veto Budget Bill’s State Lands Drilling Amendment
“This week, the Conference Committee working on Ohio’s budget submitted Amended Substitute House Bill 49 (H.B. 49) to Governor Kasich. The bill includes an amendment that eliminates the governor’s authority to appoint members of the Oil and Gas Leasing Commission (R.C. 1509.71), the state body charged with leasing state lands to the oil and gas industry. The bill would give the governor’s appointment authority to the Speaker of the Ohio House and President of the Ohio Senate. Governor Kasich has declined to appoint members to the Commission since its creation in 2011.
Statewide TV Ad Buy Against Plan to Raise Ohioans’ Electric Bills to Bailout Failing Coal Plants
OEC Action Fund Testifying on House Bill 239 and Senate Bill 155
OEC Action Fund Testimony regarding the State Biennial Operating Budget (Substitute House Bill 49)
Chairman Jordan, Vice Chair O’Brien, and Members of the Ohio Senate Finance - General Government and Agency Review Subcommittee, my name is Sarah Spence, Director of Government Affairs for the Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund (OECAF). Thank for the opportunity to speak to the committee today on substitute HB 49.
OEC Action Fund Testimony Regarding Proposed Zero Emission Nuclear bailout
Chairman Seitz, Vice Chair Carfagna, and Ranking Member Ashford; I am Trish Demeter, Managing Director of Energy Programs for the Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) Action Fund. Thank you for inviting testimony on Ohio House Bill 178 (DeVitis), which would create a create a Zero Emission Nuclear (ZEN) program for the state of Ohio. The OEC Action Fund is opposed to this legislation, as it would diminish customers’ ability to experience the benefits of energy efficiency and distributed energy resources on their monthly electric bill, and would incur costs on customers without yielding any additional environmental benefit for Ohioans.
VIDEO: The 2017 State of the Environment presented by OEC Action Fund President Heather Taylor-Miesle
OEC Action Fund President Heather Taylor Miesle shares her story and urges citizens to continue to demand forward motion on the environment
"This entire event is close to my heart. I grew up in the shadow of an oil refinery. My school was literally on the cliffs right above this refinery, and on windy days the pollution would flow into our playground. Most of my friends had inhalers. Many of them had cancer, and one day the parents started to talk and realize that this was not normal. And they started to organize, and they started to ask questions, and they started to demand action," Heather Taylor-Miesle began her speech at the Ohio 15th District Town Hall meeting on February 23.
Ohio’s federal delegation a mixed bag on the environment: too many lawmakers continue to put polluter profits over Ohio families
What you need to know about the anti-clean energy bills moving through the Statehouse
Ohio Senate Bill 320 & Ohio House bill 554 holds Ohio back, increases electric bills, and puts Ohioans’ health at risk. When Ohio Senate Bill 310 was enacted in June 2014, the idea behind the two-year “freeze” on Ohio’s renewable portfolio standard (RPS), and energy efficiency resource standard (EERS) was to study the standards costs and benefits, and to craft a sound energy policy for the state of Ohio.