COLUMBUS, OHIO – Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) today announced the start of a statewide campaign designed to educate Ohio policymakers, families, and businesses about the benefits of energy and the central role it plays in their everyday lives and budgets.
CEA’s “Campaign for America’s Energy” will highlight the importance of affordable, reliable energy in the lives of families and businesses, and the consequences that result from bad policy decisions. It will continue to hold the energy industry in Ohio and throughout its neighboring states to a high safety standard while recognizing the need for continued innovation to advance the state’s environmental goals.
The launch of this national movement, aimed at changing the energy discussion so that those directly impacted – American families and businesses – have a greater voice in the dialogue. The effort will encourage elected officials and those in the Buckeye State to adopt policies that support energy production and delivery as well as sound environmental stewardship.
The campaign also aims to bring greater awareness to how rejecting or delaying energy production and infrastructure projects hurts lower-income households and those living on fixed incomes. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Ohioans spend over $3,600 annually on energy. For a low-income Ohioan living at the poverty line, that translates to nearly 30 percent of their individual income. These expenses often saddle households and those who can least afford them, like the roughly 16 percent of Ohio residents who are seniors.
“While some Ohioans mistakenly believe they must choose between a healthy environment or accessing energy, the truth is, no choice is necessary. We can have both,” said Guy Coviello, Vice President of Government Affairs at Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce. “We all want a cleaner environment and affordable energy, regardless of our political affiliation. That’s why it’s important that CEA’s Campaign for America’s Energy helps to remind our elected leaders of the opportunity Ohio’s energy resources provide and to understand how energy needs can be met while we also protecting our environment.”
“It’s time to talk candidly about energy. Ohioans shouldn’t have to choose between heating their home, buying a meal, or filling a medical prescription, yet for too many, that’s precisely what’s happening – and energy costs are a big reason why,” said Chris Ventura, Executive Director, CEA-Midwest. “Yes, we agree: We must push energy companies to innovate, reduce emissions and improve performance. Protecting and improving the environment is a must-do. But so is lowering the cost of energy, and we can only do this if Democrats and Republicans work together to push balanced legislation.”
CEA, an advocacy organization representing families, manufacturers, agriculture, transporters, distributors, energy producers, renewables and various other industries in Ohio and across the U.S., focuses on helping ensure stable prices and energy security for households across the country. The organization pushes energy companies to innovate and improve performance while supporting energy independence and a diversification of our energy resources, including renewables like solar and wind.
For more information on the campaign, visit www.consumerenergyalliance.org/Campaign-for-Americas-Energy/Ohio.
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About Consumer Energy Alliance
Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) brings together families, farmers, small businesses, distributors, producers and manufacturers to support America’s energy future. With more than 450,000 members nationwide, our mission is to help ensure stable prices and energy security for households across the country. We believe energy development is something that touches everyone in our nation, and thus it is necessary for all of us to actively engage in the conversation about how we develop our diverse energy resources and energy’s importance to the economy. Learn more at ConsumerEnergyAlliance.org.
Contact:
Emily Haggstrom
P: 720-582-0242
ehaggstrom@consumerenergyalliance.org