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Ohio: Ohio Environmental Council

June 1, 2009 - 01:24 pm
NEWS FEED: Columbus Dispatch

Drilling reform advances

By Spencer Hunt

"It went up and came back down on the foundation," said Thelma Payne, 85. "That was a very rude awakening."

The same could be said for state lawmakers, environmentalists and oil and gas industry lobbyists, who now refer to the explosion and evacuation of 19 nearby homes in Geauga County as the "Bainbridge incident."

The December 2007 explosion was caused when a cloud of natural gas in the basement ignited. No one was injured. State mining regulators found that gas from an improperly drilled oil and gas well leaked into groundwater and then into area basement water wells.

As a result, state lawmakers plan to advance a bill that would impose new restrictions and higher fees on oil and gas wells.

Read More at Columbus Dispatch >
There have been 44 comments posted in response to this story.

March 18, 2009 - 11:41 am
NEWS FEED: Columbus Dispatch

Ohio transportation bill slashed

By James Nash

The Senate's transportation committee did not, however, kill the most debated provision of the plan: a passenger-rail corridor connecting Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati.

The Republican-led Senate had been expected to change parts of Strickland's two-year transportation budget, which had passed the House with the support of Strickland's fellow Democrats and only one Republican.

However, the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee did more than work around the edges. It took out a provision allowing police to cite drivers for not wearing seat belts, even if that was their only violation. It eliminated a test program to monitor driver speed in construction zones and automatically cite violators. It took out provisions allowing local governments to set up authorities to charge tolls to drivers on new roads.

Read More at Columbus Dispatch >
There have been 25 comments posted in response to this story.

February 24, 2009 - 08:06 am
NEWS FEED: Columbus Dispatch

New-age energy? Coal burner seeks state loan

By Spencer Hunt

In Ohio, however, the electricity cooperative American Municipal Power says the term also applies to a 1,000-megawatt coal-fired power plant it wants to build along the Ohio River.

The Columbus-based company has asked for a $30 million, low-interest loan using money that state lawmakers and Gov. Ted Strickland set aside last year for advanced-energy projects.

State officials have yet to approve the loan, but they and American Municipal Power say the proposed plant qualifies because it would use a new type of scrubber that would capture pollutants that help create smog, soot and acid rain.

"We want to make sure that what is being built in Ohio is a next-generation technology that is as clean as can be," said Kimberly Gibson, assistant energy adviser at the Ohio Air Quality Development Authority.

Read More at Columbus Dispatch >
There have been 23 comments posted in response to this story.

January 28, 2009 - 07:52 am
NEWS FEED: Columbus Dispatch

Developers allowed to build closer to streams

By Spencer Hunt

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's plan to protect the streams from runoff pollution from construction sites, roofs and new roads used to call for a 100-foot buffer.

Last year, the state cut it to 50 feet. Now, it's 30.

"It's kind of a balance to be reasonable but also be protective," said Mark Mann, the Ohio EPA's storm-water program manager.

Environmental advocacy groups don't agree. Trent Dougherty of the Ohio Environmental Council said a 30-foot buffer won't protect a 22-mile scenic stretch of the river between the cities of Delaware and Worthington.

"That's way too close to streams, in our eyes, to guarantee protection," Dougherty said. "The Olentangy is already impacted by urban development.

Read More at Columbus Dispatch >
There have been 40 comments posted in response to this story.