Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today signed Executive Order 2007-02 establishing an energy advisor to the governor to coordinate the state’s efforts to create jobs through becoming a leader in the production of next-generation energy.
“One of the core principles of my Turnaround Ohio plan is to invest in Ohio's strengths,” Strickland said. “Clearly, energy production is one of those strengths. I am convinced that we can create thousands of good-paying jobs by encouraging next-generation energy production in Ohio including ethanol, clean coal, wind and solar.”
The governor’s energy advisor will coordinate the administration’s energy policy. Each executive agency will designate a deputy director-level or higher liaison to work directly with the energy advisor to coordinate their agency’s energy policy. In addition, the energy advisor will sit on the Third Frontier Commission as the governor’s science and technology advisor.
“The energy advisor will work directly with the agencies to secure maximum efficiency, coordination and consistency across state government,” Strickland said. “This advisor will keep energy a state priority while creating a better environment and boosting economic development in energy and manufacturing sectors.”
Strickland today designated Mark Shanahan, executive director of the Ohio Air Quality Development Authority, as the governor's energy advisor.
In addition to naming an energy advisor, the executive order establishes measurable goals and deadlines for Ohio state government's energy consumption. The order instructs state agencies to immediately implement energy savings policies that recently became law instead of waiting until April 13, 2007.
The Ohio Department of Administrative Services must work with the energy advisor to establish a tool for state agencies, boards and commissions to measure their energy consumption, which must include means of calculating each organization’s “carbon footprint.” This process must be in place by March 16, 2007.
Each state agency, board and commission must also complete an energy audit of all of its facilities by June 2007. Upon completion of the energy audit these organizations must perform an overall reduction of 5 percent in building energy use for its facilities within the first year of the next biennium and 15 percent by the end of four fiscal years.
The executive order also instructs ODAS to reduce the state’s consumption of petroleum by increasing the number of state vehicles that use alternative fuel sources and prepare plans to establish E85 and biodiesel fuel pumps. E85 is fuel made up of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, and biodiesel is diesel fuel made from vegetable oil or animal fats. ODAS must develop and implement a plan to raise biodiesel fuel consumption to at least 25 percent of the state’s diesel purchases by no later than January 1, 2008.
“By using the purchasing power of the state and transforming our energy infrastructure to use biofuels from sources here in Ohio, we will decrease our dependency on foreign sources for oil and help our agricultural industry in the process,” Strickland said.
Lastly, the executive order launches the Governor’s Higher Education Energy Challenge, and creates an award and recognition program to encourage energy efficiency innovation at Ohio’s colleges and universities. The energy advisor will establish a competition for teams of students, faculty, administrators and staff to develop energy savings initiatives on their campuses.
“We must engage Ohio’s future leaders to face the energy challenges of today so they can create the energy possibilities of the future,” Strickland said. “Alternative fuels and energy innovation are the future of Ohio jobs, and this executive order lays the foundation to ensure Ohio is ready.”