ENERGY CONSERVATION
PROJECT
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
OF OHIO
Jean Byrd & Al Rosenfield
The League of Women Voters
of Ohio has long positioned itself as a steward of our
natural resources. In this, we are following LWVUS
positions, which state:
"The League supports:
• use of a variety of
energy sources, with emphasis on conserving energy and
using energy-efficient technologies;
• the environmentally
sound use of energy resources, with consideration of the
entire cycle of energy production;
• action by appropriate
levels of government to encourage the use of renewable
resources and energy conservation."
This year Governor
Strickland has issued an executive order requiring a 15%
reduction in energy usage by all state agencies by
2010.* We propose that the LWVO take up this executive
order as a challenge to incite Ohio’s local Leagues to
become active in energy conservation.
The League of Women Voters
of Ohio has launched an energy-conservation program. It
is focused on learning about energy consumption at the
county and municipal levels, with the objective of
guiding LWVO in its advocacy efforts at the state level.
We are asking for volunteers to survey local officials
and have produced a questionnaire for them to use.
Volunteers should be
League members, who will be energy contacts with local
governments and schools, with one at least one Leaguer
per jurisdiction.
Jurisdictions will
include:
Local cities and towns,
counties, and
school districts.
The program is aimed at
answering two questions:
What, if any, new
legislation is needed to encourage energy conservation
by local jurisdictions? Bills currently before the
General Assembly are only directed at conservation by
individuals. We hope to be able propose bills/amendments
based on what we learn.
How can League members
promote energy conservation by local jurisdictions? We
plan to produce a report on what knowledge has been
gained. Hopefully, the volunteers will share this report
with the people who they have interviewed.
If you have any questions,
please call or e-mail either Jean or Al.
Thank you again for your
cooperation.
Jean Byrd (614) 261-0601,
jeanbyrd@sbcglobal.net
LWVO
Natural Resource Specialist
Al Rosenfield (614)
486-8892,
alanpeg@alum.mit.edu
LWVO
Alternative-energy Specialist
*Governor Strickland’s
executive order:
http://governor2.ohio.gov/Portals/0/Executive%20Order%202007-02S.pdf
Energy Conservation Project Links:
Energy Conservation Project
Description
Energy Conservation Survey
Energy Conservation Sample
Letter
Useful Energy Conservation
Websites
