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Joe
Uecker
State
Representative
01/18/06
Energy
Issues Remain a Top Legislative Priority for 2006
One
of the top priorities in the second half of the 126th
General Assembly, members of the House will continue to
focus on the transformation and revitalization of our
economy. In order to realize this goal, we will be
focusing on our energy policy. With
the current environment of fuel shortages and higher
petroleum and natural gas prices, it is important that the
Legislature explore all reasonable options for potential
cost savings. In the coming months, we will continue to
examine alternative fuel options, energy efficiency,
utilizing our state’s resources and programs that will
help Ohioans save on costs and become more efficient.
Identifying
alternative fuel options is essential in providing Ohioans
significant savings at the pump while also supporting
Ohio
’s number one
industry – agriculture. In the fall we introduced House
Bill 245, sponsored by Representative Steve Reinhard
(R-Bucyrus). The goal of this bill is to increase the use
of ethanol produced from
Ohio
corn or
biodiesel produced from
Ohio
soybeans.
This fuel burns cleaner, helps improve air quality
and supports
Ohio
’s economy by
strengthening markets for fuels that can be made from
Ohio
’s agricultural
products and other renewable resources. This bill includes
major benefits including decreasing the state’s
dependence on foreign oil, reducing air emissions and
engine wear. It also strengthens the bottom line for
Ohio
’s farmers and
supports the agriculture industry. This measure was passed
out of the House in October, and it continues to receive
debate and hearings in the
Senate Ways
and Means and
Economic Development Committee.
As
we research ways to make the most of our resources and
provide relief to Ohioans, we should also take an
innovative look at an
Ohio
product that has
sustained our economy for decades and continues to do so
today. Currently, 87 percent of
Ohio
’s electricity
comes from coal. Therefore, our efforts will also be
focused on providing
Ohio
’s coal
industry with the resources necessary to keep up with ever
changing science and technology. This will allow us to
continue supporting a major and valuable resource of
Ohio
’s economic
landscape.
In
this time of fiscal constraint, the House will also be
focusing on becoming more energy efficient. We currently
have a unique opportunity to save taxpayer dollars by
taking advantage of energy-efficient technology.
Through House Bill 251 that I introduced last year,
the House hopes to institute public policy that will save
both fiscal and natural resources well into the future.
This measure requires efficient energy use at all state
facilities, including colleges and universities and would
also give preference for the procurement of “energy
star” products that meet federal energy guidelines.
House Bill 251 is scheduled for a floor vote this coming
week.
For
those who are in desperate need of heating assistance,
legislators approved an increase of $75 million in
Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) to help fund
programs that assist families in paying high winter
heating bills. In addition to these funds, $80 million has
been set aside for the Ohio Home Energy Assistance Program
(HEAP). These combined funds will make an estimated
400,000 households eligible for assistance this winter. If
you would like to contact HEAP to learn more about this
program, you can reach them by visiting their website at
http://www.odod.state.oh.us/cdd/ocs/heap.htm or by calling
1-800-282-0880.
Joe
Uecker
State
Representative
Ohio’s
66 District
Representing
Batavia, Goshen, Miami and Union Townships as well as the
Cities of Loveland and Milford and the Villages of Batavia
and Amelia.(614)
466-8134
District
Office (513)-248-2565
Website:
www.JoeUecker.com
Email:
Joe@JoeUecker.com |
