According to "Energizing Ohio's Economy: Creating Jobs and Reducing Pollution with Wind Power," a new report released by nonprofit environmental organization Environment Ohio, a 20% commitment to wind energy by 2020 would bring numerous benefits to the state of Ohio.
The study found that the use of wind would result in a gain of 40,000 person-years of employment, an additional $3.7 billion in wages paid, an increase in the Ohio gross state product by $8.2 billion, generation of up to $1.5 billion dollars in property taxes to county governments, an increase in rural landowners' income by $200 million, and the avoidance of 170 million metric tons of global warming pollution.
"Diversifying our electricity mix by requiring at least 20 percent of Ohio's energy come from clean renewable sources like wind would create more jobs, provide a bigger boost to our economy and make Ohio more energy independent than staying the course," says Amy Gomberg, environmental advocate with Environment Ohio.
