Energy Efficiency Improvements Will Create Thousands of New Jobs While Saving Ohio Billions According to ACEEE

COLUMBUS, OH--(Marketwire - March 25, 2009) - Ohio could save over $19 billion by using energy efficiency strategies that are available right now, says a study released today by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), an independent, Washington, D.C. nonprofit research group. Ohio could also create more than 32,000 net new jobs by 2025, including well-paying trade and professional jobs needed to design, install, and operate energy efficiency measures. In total, the direct and indirect jobs created would be equivalent to nearly 250 new manufacturing plants relocating to Ohio, but without the demand for infrastructure and other energy needs, the study says. Investments in energy efficiency policies and programs have the added benefit of creating new, high-quality "green-collar" jobs in Ohio and increasing both wages and Gross State Product (GSP).

The study, "Shaping Ohio's Energy Future: Energy Efficiency Works," was conducted by ACEEE researchers with support from a team of national experts in energy use. The 183-page report outlines policies to reduce electricity demand through improved energy efficiency, combined heat and power, and demand-response recommendations that reduce peak demand. The energy efficiency policies would reduce peak demand by 18% by 2025, while the demand response savings policies would reduce conventionally generated electricity by an additional 11%, for a total reduction of 29%.

ACEEE suggests a suite of ten innovative programs and policies in addition to approaches that are already beginning to be implemented by the state's utilities. Together these policies and programs will allow Ohio's investor-owner utilities to meet the State's Energy Efficiency Resource Standard (EERS) savings targets (as required by SB 221), which require at least 22% of electricity consumption savings by 2025.

"Energy efficiency is the most affordable energy resource in Ohio," said Dr. R. Neal Elliott, Associate Director at ACEEE and lead author of the report. "While 22% efficiency savings may seem challenging, other states are already reducing electricity growth at higher rates than that, at a cost of less than 4 cents per kilowatt-hour. Energy efficiency resources are available in this cost range in every state, including Ohio." He cited using strategies such as installing energy-efficient windows, using compact fluorescent light bulbs, purchasing ENERGY STAR® appliances, and expanding installation of combined heat and power at factories and institutions across the state that could almost offset the future growth in electric demand.

According to Max Neubauer, Research Assistant at ACEEE and lead researcher for the report, "Energy efficiency is the first fuel in the race for affordable and clean energy, because it is the cheapest and fastest to deploy." He continued, "When combined with demand response programs, efficiency offers Ohio a sustainable energy future that provides greater energy security, costs less, pollutes less, and supports economic growth better than its current course."

The study recommends ten key policies as building blocks for this new energy future:

A.  Energy Efficiency Resource Standard

           1.  Advance residential buildings initiatives by expanding
               current Ohio programs like Ohio's Electric Partnership
               Program and Home Weatherization Assistance Program, and
               provide incentives to improve efficiency for homes that are
               unable to participate in current programs.
           2.  Advance commercial buildings initiatives by going beyond
               simple equipment upgrades to identify opportunities in
               system design, equipment interaction, and building
               operations.
           3.  Establish Manufacturing Centers of Excellence by partnering
               with universities to overcome three key barriers: the need
               for assessments to identify energy efficiency opportunities,
               access to expertise, and expansion of trained workforce.
           4.  Establish rural and agricultural initiatives such as
               developing educational programs on energy efficiency,
               offering a rural audit program, and creating a pool of
               matching funds for USDA grants.
           5.  Expand Combined Heat and Power (CHP) through continued
               regulatory reform, and by finding solutions that make CHP
               more attractive to customers.

B.  Complementary Policies

           6.  Continue the ongoing workforce development efforts by
               developing an inter-agency stakeholder group to coordinate
               workforce development activities.
           7.  Employ energy efficiency measures in Ohio's state and local
               government facilities, which make up 31% of Ohio's
               commercial electricity consumption.
           8.  Develop state-level appliance and equipment efficiency
               standards that expand upon the federal appliance standards.
           9.  Implement building energy codes that align with federal
               recommendations and help to build higher quality
               energy-efficient homes.
          10.  Expand utility demand response programs to help shift energy
               use from peak periods to off-peak periods through customer
               education, financial incentives, and increased coordination
               with federal and Ohio agencies.

The report includes a summary of past experience with energy efficiency programs in Ohio's electricity sector, a discussion of the key issues that must be addressed in shaping a new set of electricity policies on energy efficiency, and detailed recommendations. The report is based on ACEEE's nearly 30 years of experience working with many other states across the U.S. on similar issues, and reflects the organization's experience with evaluating program "best practices" from around the country.

"Shaping Ohio's Energy Future: Energy Efficiency Works" is available for free download at www.aceee.org/pubs/e092.htm or a hard copy can be purchased for $60 plus $5 postage and handling from ACEEE Publications, 529 14th St, N.W., Suite 600, Washington, D.C. 20045, phone: 202-507-4000, fax: 202-429-2248, e-mail: aceee_publications@aceee.org.

About the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy:

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting economic prosperity, energy security, and environmental protection. For information about ACEEE and its programs, publications, and conferences, contact ACEEE, 529 14th Street N.W., Suite 600, Washington, D.C. 20045 or visit www.aceee.org.