October 1, 2013 Chairman Bill Seitz and Public Utilities Committee Members Ohio Senate Building 1 Capitol Square,

Columbus, OH 43215 Chairman Seitz and Members of the Public Utilities Committee: Thank you for the opportunity to provide written testimony as you consider Ohios energy future and the future of the Ohio renewable energy and energy efficiency standards, embodied in SB221 and currently being discussed under SB58. The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) is a national science-based nonprofit organization with a network of over 13,000 supporters and 500 experts in Ohio who work with us to find practical solutions to many pressing issues facing Ohioans. To ensure a clean, reliable and affordable energy future, Ohio must diversify its energy mix. There are many risks associated with being over-reliant on coal and natural gas, as documented in the new UCS report Managing Risk in Ohio: Clean Energys Role in a Reliable, Diverse Power Supply that we submit to you today. Diversifying Ohios electricity portfolio by incorporating greater levels of renewable energy and energy efficiency can mitigate these risks, such as fuel-cost risks, reliability risks, and environmental and public health risks. Therefore, the current clean energy standards (codified in SB221) should not be weakened, as would occur with the passage of SB58. We encourage you to fully evaluate how SB58 would undermine the progress Ohio has already made toward a clean energy economy. Specifically, the bill would allow existing Canadian hydropower to count toward compliance with Ohios renewable energy standard, saturating the market with compliance credits and halting progress in Ohios clean energy business sector without any benefit to the states consumers, economy, or environment. Furthermore, the changes in SB58 to cost-recovery and shared savings would undermine the benefits of Ohios energy efficiency standard, leaving consumers with a bigger utility bill while denying Ohioans the benefits that come with a reduced electricity demand. We urge you and the committee to drop these provisions from consideration. Ohios current clean energy standards have achieved great success in the first five years of implementation and we encourage you to support Ohios clean energy sector, the jobs generated by this industry, and the benefits to consumers by keeping SB221 intact. In addition, we submit to you the attached letter signed by more than thirty Ohio scientists, engineers and other energy experts requesting Ohio maintain these standards and continue to move Ohio forward in its transition to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future. We appreciate the opportunity to provide input into this important process. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or for more information. Sincerely, Steve Frenkel, Midwest Office Director Union of Concerned Scientists 312-578-1750 x13 sfrenkel@ucsusa.org

September 20, 2013

Governor John Kasich th Rife Center, 30 Floor 77 South High Street Columbus, OH 43215-6117 To Governor John Kasich and members of the Ohio General Assembly, The signers of this statement are Ohio scientists, engineers, economists and public health professionals who have expertise in clean energy. All signers have advanced degrees in their respective fields. Maintaining Ohios energy efficiency and renewable energy standards will build on our current success creating new clean energy jobs, and spark new investment in our growing wind and solar industries. Continuing to ramp up renewable energy and improve energy efficiency will also reduce air pollution, improve public health, protect Lake Erie and other water resources, and help cut carbon emissions. For these reasons, as experts from across Ohio, we support the uninterrupted and ongoing implementation of Ohios renewable and energy efficiency standards. Utilities are making strong progress towards meeting Ohios current 12.5 percent by 2025 renewable energy standard, and are i just starting to tap our states vast and diverse renewable energy potential. The Buckeye State is already home to 1,100 renewable energy projects totaling more than 700 megawatts, enough wind, solar and biomass to power more than 100,000 ii homes. Thousands of Ohioans are employed by companies operating in the wind and solar supply chains and Ohio has quickly become a national leader in manufacturing renewable energy components. Ohios renewable energy standard is a key driver of this economic development and will continue to drive new jobs and investments. Ohios energy efficiency standard is also a success. For every dollar invested in energy efficiency programs, Ohioans have saved three dollars. Energy efficiency remains our cheapest, cleanest, and most readily available resource to cost-effectively meet future energy demand. Ohios dependence on coal is taking a toll on our economy, natural resources, and public health. More than 75 percent of Ohios electricity was generated from coal in 2011, and our state ranks among the three worst states for toxic pollution from coal iii iv burning power plants. Coal plants are also the largest source of mercury emissions in the Great Lakes region. Meanwhile, the economic cost of importing coal from other states is slowing our economic growth. We now have an opportunity to transition to cleaner sources of electricity. Nearly 6,800 megawatts of old, inefficient, dirty, and v uncompetitive coal generating capacity is scheduled for retirement in Ohio. We must embrace this as an opportunity to further diversify our energy sources in a way that reduces pollutio n and keeps energy dollars local by continuing to invest in Ohios renewable energy and energy efficiency resources. We encourage Ohio lawmakers to maintain our states renewable energy and energy efficiency standards and to continue moving Ohio forward in its transition to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future Sincerely,

Lawrence Anderson, Ph.D. Professor and Chair Department of Physics and Astronomy University of Toledo James Andrews, Ph.D. Professor Department of Physics Youngstown State University Gordon Aubrecht, Ph.D. Professor Department of Physics The Ohio State University Nancy Bertaux, Ph.D. Professor Department of Economics Xavier University Robert Brecha, Ph.D. Professor Renewable & Clean Energy Program Department of Physics University of Dayton Wentworth Clapham, Ph.D. Professor Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences Cleveland State University Alvin Compaan, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus Department of Physics and Astronomy University of Toledo Bruce Craver Associate Professor Department of Physics University of Dayton Scott Cummings, Ph.D. Professor Department of Chemistry Kenyon College

Kevin Egan, Ph.D. Associate Professor Department of Economics University of Toledo Randy Ellingon, Ph.D. Associate Professor Department of Physics and Astronomy University of Toledo Enrique Gomezdelcampo, Ph.D. Associate Professor Department of Environment and Sustainability Bowling Green University Tyler Grassman, Ph.D. Assistant Research Professor Materials Science and Engineering The Ohio State University Kevin Hallinan, Ph.D. Director and Professor Building Energy Center Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering University of Dayton Robert Heath, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus Department of Biological Sciences Kent State University Michael Heben, Ph.D. Endowed Chair and Professor Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization Department of Physics and Astronomy University of Toledo Fred Hitzhusan, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics The Ohio State University

Louis Iverson, Ph.D. Adjunct Professor School of Environment and Natural Resources The Ohio State University Leanne Joblonski, Ph.D. Director Marianist Environmental Education Center University of Dayton William Katzin, Ph.D Clinical Associate Professor Department of Pathology Case Western University Sanjay Khare, Ph.D. Associate Professor Department of Physics and Astronomy University of Toledo Kelly Kissock, Ph.D. Chair and Professor Renewable and Clean Energy Program Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering University of Dayton Greg Kremer, Ph.D. Robe Professor and Chair Department of Mechanical Engineering Ohio University Elrod Matthew, Ph.D. Professor Chemistry and Biochemistry Oberlin College David Modarelli, Ph.D. Professor Department of Chemistry University of Akron

Anna McCreery, Ph.D. Lecturer Department of Sociology The Ohio State University Carl McDaniel, Ph.D. Visiting Professor Environmental Studies Program Oberlin College James Menart, Ph.D Professor Renewable and Clean Energy Program Wright State University Pamela A. Menges, Ph.D. Adjunct Professor School of Aerospace Systems College of Engineering University of Cincinnati Norman Robbins, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus Department of Neurosciences Case Western Reserve University Carol Skinner, Ph.D. Associate Professor (Retired) Biology and Health Services Department Edinboro University Colin Vogt, MS Professor Electro-Mechnical Engineering Technology Cincinnati State Technical and Community College

For example, see:

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). 2010. Estimates of windy land area and wind energy potential, by state, for areas >+ 30% capacity factor at 80m. Golden, CO. Online at www.windpoweringamerica.gov/wind_maps.asp; Chaudhari, M., L. Frantzis, and T.E. Hoff. 2004. PV Grid Connected Market Potential under a Cost Breakthrough Scenario. Navigant Consulting. Online at www.ef.org/docments/EF-Final-Final2.pdf.
ii

Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. 2013. Ohio Renewable Energy Resource Generating Facility Certification: List of approved cases. Online at http://www.puco.ohio.gov/puco/index.cfm/industry-information/industry-topics/ohioe28099s-renewable-andadvanced-energy-portfolio-standard/. Accessed April 11, 2013. Solar Energy Industries Association, Ohio Fact Sheet http://www.seia.org/state-solar-policy/ohio
iii

Natural Resources Defense Council. 2012. Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania have worst toxic air pollution from power plants. Online at http://www.nrdc.org/media/2012/120809.asp Accessed April 10, 2013
iv

Evers, D.C., Wiener, J.G., Driscoll, C.T., Gay, D.A., Basu, N., Monson, B.A., Lambert, K.F., Morrison, H.A., Morgan, J.T., Williams, K.A., Soehl, A.G. 2011. Great Lakes Mercury Connections: The Extent and Effects of Mercury Pollution in the Great Lakes Region. Biodiversity Research Institute. Gorham, Maine. Report BRI 2011-18. 44 pages. Online at: http://www.briloon.org/uploads/centers/hgcenter/hiddenrisk/BRI_2011-09_Osborne.etal.2011.pdf
v

Union of Concerned Scientists. (2012). Ripe for Retirement: The Case for Closing Americas Costliest Coal Plants. Online at: http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/smart-energy-solutions/decrease-coal/ripe-for-retirement-closing-americas-costliestcoal-plants.html