Ohio’s Energy Efficiency Standard Has Saved Consumers & Businesses $100 Million, & Created Jobs
A new report out by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) this week finds that Ohion consumers and businesses have saved $100 million in avoided utility costs from the state’s energy efficiency standard. The policy has also created about 4,000 news jobs. And that number is expected to reach 32,300 by 2025 with full implementation of the energy efficiency standard.
“The report makes it even clearer that Ohio’s current energy efficiency initiative is also sound economic policy,” said Dylan Sullivan, a scientist for Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and co-author of the report. “Not only does Ohio’s strong energy efficiency portfolio standard result in cleaner air and healthier Ohioans, it stimulates the creation of new jobs and puts millions back into the pockets of the state’s businesses and consumers. Ohio’s energy efficiency policy is a common sense measure lawmakers should strengthen and support.”
The full report can be downloaded here: Energy Productivity: Efficiency Benefits to Power Ohio Jobs and the Economy.
Here’s a little more from the NRDC’s news release:
The report, “Energy Productivity: Efficiency Benefits to Power Ohio Jobs and the Economy,” was authored by respected energy economist John A. “Skip” Laitner on behalf of NRDC and the Ohio Environmental Council (OEC). It assesses and projects energy productivity gains already achieved and the resulting number of jobs created since Ohio’s energy efficiency portfolio standard was implemented in 2009. It also forecasts potential gains and job creation through 2025 assuming full implementation of the current standard.
The data show that as Ohio’s electric distribution utilities invest in promoting efficiency programs – an estimated $300 million through 2012 – consumer investments in energy efficiency upgrades also increase. For example, in 2012, utility programs leveraged $300 million of investments from consumers, which are projected to reduce energy consumption by an additional 1.1 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh). This reduced consumption means big savings. The energy efficiency technologies put in place under the standard will reduce Ohio’s energy bill by $3.3 billion by 2025.
Cost-effective efficiency programs redirect money from the job-poor electric utility sector into labor-intensive economic sectors throughout the rest of the state’s economy, thus stimulating employment opportunities. Data show that net gains in jobs have risen steadily since the implementation of the state’s efficiency program, from 1,800 jobs in 2009 to 4,250 in 2012. By 2025, the program is expected to account for 32,300 jobs.
Image: Cleveland, Ohio via Shutterstock
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