NE Ohio Sierra Club Newsletter July/August

The Green New Deal: Addressing Climate Chaos

(with Millions of New Jobs in the Process)

This forum is an opportunity to learn about the background and key components of a Green New Deal and to share thoughts about its importance. This proposal has captured the imagination of thousands of young people across the country who are insisting climate change be a key focus of the 2020 elections.

Hosted by the Berea group of the Cuyahoga County Progressive Caucus and the Northeast Ohio Coalition for a Green New Deal.

WHEN: Tues, July 2, 2019 at 6:30pm – 8:30pm

WHERE: Cuyahoga County Public Library, Berea Branch, 7 Berea Commons, Berea 44017,Large Meeting Room.There is plenty of parking in front of the library. Walk into the front door and make an immediate right turn.

CONTACT: Berea CCPC@gmail.com · (440) 263 3256

Feel free to just drop by, the public is welcome. Please invite a guest.

Cuyahoga County Progressive Caucus website: http://www.cuycpc.org

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HB 6 Threatens Ohio Renewable Energy while Bailing Out Nuclear Plants with Subsidies from Ratepayers

By Charlie Mitch

The Ohio General Assembly is currently working on a new law, HB 6, that would be a significant setback to the development of renewable energy for Ohio. The proposed bill would eliminate state standards for renewable energy while also bailing out Ohio utilities using noncompetitive nuclear power. Instead of the serious deficiencies imposed by HB 6, Ohio needs a better energy policy focused on increasing investment in energy efficiency and sustainable clean energy from renewable sources such as solar and wind. HB 6 would make it harder to increase the amount of electricity produced by economically competitive low carbon emission sources in Ohio. A better energy policy for Ohio would also need to provide for a just transition to support workers and communities impacted by closure of uneconomical nuclear and coal fired power plants.

HB 6 was recently passed in the Ohio House of Representatives and votes in the Ohio Senate are expected by the end of June (but have not occurred at the time of this writing). Senator Matt Dolan, whose district covers much of the Cleveland suburbs, will be a key vote on HB 6 in the Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee. Dolan recently told the Plain Dealer (June 21)that he is working on an alternative to HB 6 “that would not completely abolish Ohio’s energy efficiency and renewable-energy standards,” stating that his alternative “won’t undermine the development of alternative energy and clean energy in Ohio.” Details of his alternative legislation have yet to be disclosed, but will need careful scrutiny when released.

How did your State Representative vote on HB 6? The voting record for each of the Northeast Ohio representatives is listed below. Find your Representative or Senator here: https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/

Phil Robinson                     District 6         voted No

Tom Patton                         District 7         voted Yes

Kent Smith                          District 8         voted No

Janine Boyd                        District 9         voted No

Terrence Upchurch             District 10       voted Yes

Stephanie Howse                District 11        voted No

Juanita Brent                      District 12       voted No

Mike Skindell                      District 13        voted No

Bride Rose Sweeney          District 14        voted No

Jeff Crossman                    District 15         voted No

Dave Greenspan                District 16         voted No

Casey Weinstein                District 37         voted No

Gayle Manning                   District 55        voted No

Joe Miller                            District 56        voted Yes

Dick Stein                            District 57        voted Yes

John Rogers                       District 60        voted Yes

Jamie Callender (Sponsor) District 61        voted Yes

Darrell Kick                          District 70        voted Yes

John Patterson                    District 99        voted Yes

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You’re invited!

Outing at Put-In-Bay, Ohio

Saturday and Sunday, August 3-4, 2019

Sierra Club member Gabriela Kaplan will host up to 30 people at her cottage on the beach at Put-In-Bay, Ohio. There will be camping (bring tent and sleeping bag), swimming, bicycles, kayaking, music, bars, restaurants, Ohio State University Research Laboratory’s Fish Hatchery,South Bass Island State Park, Perry”s Victory and International Peace Monument, Lake Erie, and more.

Travel Details: Travel time is 1 hour 30 minutes from Downtown Cleveland (75 miles). Take I90 West and then Route 2 West to Port Clinton.

Then take the Jet Express from Port Clinton to Put-In-Bay (20 minute crossing).

Or take Miller Boat Line from Catawba, Route 53 North (20 minute crossing).

For more information and directions to Gabriela’s cottage contact Dennis Michael Plank at 216-939-8229 or dennislakeerie@aol.com

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