Tax Abatement Resolution

LWVO League Leaders Update
May 27 2009
ADVOCACY & EDUCATION
**NEW** Action Resolution on Energy Calls for Local League Action.
Resolving the energy crisis requires citizen participation to demonstrate to elected officials that there is a strong constituency for conservation. Otherwise government officials may focus only on providing the incentives required to ensure that the developer selects their jurisdiction without regard to energy conservation requirements, many of which may be cost effective. It is time that citizens act together to insure that energy conservation becomes an integral part of civic planning and urge local community officials to impose a modest and cost-effective restraint on incentives.
The Delegates to the 2009 State convention passed action resolution # 3 to encourage local Leagues to advocate in their communities for specific energy-conservation requirements to be incorporated into financial incentives offered by all state and local government entities. Local Leagues seeking assistance in this goal should contact LWVO Energy Specialist Al Rosenfield at alandpeg@alum.mit.edu . You can also view each of the Action Resolutions passed at the Convention on the LWVO website at www.lwvohio.org.
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LWVO Action Resolution # 3 - Energy Conservation

Lobby Corps proposing the resolution: Al Rosenfield, LWVO Alternative Energy Specialist

Specific League Position(s) the resolution supports: National positions -- “actions by appropriate levels of government to encourage.... energy conservation through...financial incentives...and mandatory standards”.

Background Information: Resolving the energy crisis requires citizen participation to demonstrate to elected officials that there is a strong constituency for conservation. Otherwise government officials may focus only on providing the incentives required to ensure that the developer selects their jurisdiction without regard to energy conservation requirements, many of which may be cost effective. It is time that citizens act together to insure that energy conservation becomes an integral part of civic planning. The action proposed in this resolution seeks to advance this goal by imposing a modest and cost-effective restraint on incentives.

Body of Resolution :

Whereas, the League of Women Voters supports “action by appropriate levels of government to encourage … energy conservation through … financial incentives … and mandatory standards”;

Whereas, State Government and municipalities in Ohio have been awarding incentives, such as tax abatements and Tax Increment Funding, to private concerns, often without regard to energy conservation; and

Whereas, energy-conservation technology for buildings has become inexpensive and widespread, be it therefore

Resolved, that the League of Women Voters of Ohio meeting in Dublin, Ohio in State Convention on May 2, 2009, encourage local Leagues to advocate in their communities for specific energy-conservation requirements to be incorporated into financial incentives offered by all state and local government entities.

National Electricity Predictions

The Energy Information Administration of DOE collects data and makes predictions. Here are some recent results:

Percentage of Electricity Production:

2008, 2030

Coal 49,47
Natural Gas 21, 20
Nulcear 20 18,
Renewables 8, 14

The percentage of renewables breaks down as follows approx.)

Wind 1, 2.5
Biomass 1, 4.5
Hydro 6, 7
Solar tiny, tiny

Basically a slow decline in traditional sources anda rapid rise in renewables. However, they predict that toal usage will rise from 16 to 36 %. In other words, we lose badly to global warming.