Testimony
on SB315
Mid-term
budget review—energy & natural resources laws & programs
Before
the House Public Utilities Committee
Presented
by Alan R. Rosenfield, ScD, FASM
on
behalf of the League of Women Voters of Ohio
May
17,
2012
The
League of Women Voters of Ohio believes that SB315 provides a good
starting framework for Ohio's energy policy under rapidly-changing
conditions. We believe, however, that there are several parts of the
legislation that need improvement. This testimony is in two sections
– those sections that apply to ODNR responsibilities and those that
apply to PUCO responsibilities.
ODNR
Responsibilities
Composition
of Fracking Liquids We believe that all chemicals used in
fracking liquids be made part of the public record. The argument
about preserving proprietary secrets is not persuasive for two
reasons:
In addition, we believe that
suitable precautions need to be taken to account for radioactive
materials in the fracking waste. In order to obtain the best science
on this issue we are in the process of consulting with the U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission on their view of this problem. At a
minimum, SB315 should require a radioactive analysis of all such
waste.
Siting
of Wells In January of this
year, we wrote ODNR requesting that injection wells be located away
from population centers and critical infrastructure (e. g.
pipelines). Our concern arose from the earthquakes in Youngstown, the
third cluster of earthquakes in Northeastern Ohio widely believed to
be caused by injection wells during the last thirty years. While the
new ODNR rules may go a long way towards preventing earthquakes, we
feel that added precaution needs to be taken because of the
incomplete knowledge of geological faults in Ohio.
We are also concerned that
the proposed ODNR regulations for State Parks allow wells as little
as 300 feet from campsites and sensitive areas. In addition, SB315
allows drilling within urbanized areas. Considering the potential for
air and water pollution, as well as documented cases of excessive
noise and explosions, we recommend that a 1500 foot distance be kept
from population concentrations and critical infrastructure.
PUCO
Responsibilities
Reporting
The cost of renewable energy is believed by many to be excessive. At
the end of 2010 (latest multi- state data available), Ohio produced
the least amount of renewable energy of any state in our region. As
shown in the Attachment to this testimony, almost all of the other
states in our region have managed to increase their amounts of
renewable energy with rates lower or comparable to those in Ohio. The
reason for this result is that renewables are a small part of the
cost of generation, which is only one of many factors that affect
utility rates. The Attachment also shows that the
high-renewable-energy states have lower unemployment than Ohio. There
is no evidence that increased renewable energy levels cost jobs.
127-SB221
requires a report on progress in fulfilling its goals, including job
creation and economic impact. We support the idea of a report,
but were disappointed to see that the recent PUCO report (Draft
Report by the Staff of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio;
Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard Report,
April 2012) did not
include the amount of investment
in Ohio for renewable energy or the number of jobs created. We
recommend that SB315 add a requirement for an analysis of the effects
of 127-SB221 on utility rates. We are confident that a report
including this information will illustrate great benefits from
127-SB221.
Thank
you for your attention; I will be happy to answer any questions
ATTACHMENT:
DATA AND SOURCES
League
of Women Voters of Ohio Testimony on SB315
|
State
|
Industrial
Rate,
Cents/kWh
|
Renewable
Electricity, %
|
Unemployment,
%
|
|
Illinois
|
6.2
|
2.6
|
9.8
|
|
Indiana
|
6.4
|
3.0
|
9.0
|
|
Iowa
|
4.9
|
17.9
|
5.6
|
|
Kentucky
|
5.3
|
3.1
|
9.1
|
|
Michigan
|
7.2
|
3.7
|
9.3
|
|
Minnesota
|
6.3
|
13.9
|
5.7
|
|
Missouri
|
5.3
|
2.7
|
8.0
|
|
Ohio
|
6.2
|
0.8
|
8.1
|
|
West
Virginia
|
6.2
|
2.9
|
7.9
|
|
Wisconsin
|
7.1
|
7.1
|
7.1
|
States
included are Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky (no renewable law),
Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Sources
Bureau
of Labor Statistics: Local Area Unemployment Statistics, December,
2011
US
Energy Information Administration: Average Retail Price of
Electricity to Ultimate Customers by End-Use Sector by State, January
2012 and 2011
US
Energy Information Administration: State
Renewable Electricity Profiles 2010
