New Ohio Budget

[Towntalk]

They're doing just that my friend.

As for teachers using taped programs in the classroom that is not only permitted but encouraged and in point of fact are provided copies for classroom use.

[irishbobcat]

Then arrest almost everyone on the internet, every classroom teacher that records a program off tv, etc.........

[Towntalk]

That's no excuse for breaking the law.

[irishbobcat]

Newspaper sales are down...they ought to be happy anybody is reading their conservative paper.......

[Towntalk]

Dennis:

Do you have any understanding of copyright law.

DID YOU HAVE PERMISSION TO POST THE ARTICLES FROM THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH?

[irishbobcat]

July 18, 2009 UPDATE FROM GARY HOUSER -
    A breakthrough has just occurred in Ohio that should result in making solar energy systems affordable for quite a few more people. The main hindrance to wider utilization of solar systems has been the upfront cost. Tax breaks and other incentives have been helpful, but for some these are still not enough. The city of Athens has developed a plan - based on a successful model in California - to complement these incentives with a low interest loan that could be paid back over extended time. The source would be a "revolving loan fund", which would continue to support additional solar installations as the original ones are reimbursed.

    As this is a project that city council member Elahu Gosney and I started over a year ago, it has been gratifying to finally see it come to fruition with the passage of a state law that allows this funding mechanism to be used in Ohio. It was never our intention that this program only apply to Athens. Our hope was that this innovative funding mechanism could "open the gates" for a much wider use of solar systems (both electric and hot water) state-wide. This goal is very much succeeding in California and Colorado.

    Here is an excerpt from a state-wide press release sent out by Environment Ohio:
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Amy Gomberg, Program Director: "We hope the legislature will continue to oppose any attempts to pollute Ohio's renewable energy policy, and continue to enact proactive clean energy policies, like the new solar financing option included in the budget."

The new solar energy financing program will allow homeowners in participating municipalities to finance solar energy panels through their property taxes. This will enable homeowners to purchase panels without paying the upfront cost of the panel.  The City of Athens spearheaded the effort to enable this financing model through state law. 

"I believe that the passage of this legislation is not only a major accomplishment for the city of Athens and its supporters in the legislature but also a major step forward in the advancement of clean renewable energy state-wide," stated City Council Aide Gary Houser. "We hope that our project will inspire other cities across Ohio to follow our lead. I look forward to this chance for the city to engage in a leadership role for an issue that is of world-wide importance."

"The inclusion of the financing program for solar energy will allow more people to enjoy the benefits of clean, renewable resources that would have otherwise been financially out of reach," Ohio Consumers' Counsel Janine Migden-Ostrander said. "The opportunity to make solar energy more readily available will help Ohioans create more reliable electricity for themselves and save money in the long run."

Renewable energy companies are pleased with the new solar financing opportunity. Geoff Greenfield, president of Third Sun Solar and Wind, an Ohio solar and wind energy installation company, attended the bill signing with the governor in Dayton. 

"We expect that cities across the state will take advantage of this new solar panel financing program," Greenfield said. "This is a real job creator. As cities adopt this type of solar program, my company along with many others will be hiring more people to design and install these solar panels."

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   PIONEERING SOLAR LEGISLATION PROPOSED BY CITY OF ATHENS TO BECOME STATE LAW

    While viewing the city release, please note how well the city logo fits in perfectly with this new project. It has a bright yellow sun shining !!  We were amazed at this conjunction !
     To see how well this program is working in California, here is an article from the San Francisco Chronicle :    www.renewfund. com/node/ 91

    The city of Athens will now be approaching the federal and state governments for seed grants to start the program running. We are optimistic that three factors will help us:
A)  Passage of the state law and positive publicity about that;
B)  The revolving loan fund makes this project self-perpetuating - it is not a one time thing;
C)  The potential multiplier effect to other cities ( a "big bang for the buck" ).

   It is our hope that the rate of global transition to clean, green energy will happen in time to prevent the worst impacts of the planetary climate crisis. This project will be trying to "shine a light" here in the Athens area, and we will try to spread the concept across Ohio. It is our hope to make the solar option available to the mainstream, and we ask for your  support. One avenue for doing so will be involvement in the newly forming Citizens Advisory Committee for an Athens Climate Action Plan. Further details can be shared as the project evolves.

State budget gives potential boost to solar heating of homes
Law allowing special-improvement districts stretched to fit 'green' projects
Columbus Dispatch
Sunday, July 18, 2009
By Spencer Hunt


Homeowners who want to put solar panels on their roofs but can't afford to might soon be able to pay for them through their property-tax bills.

A change in Ohio law tucked into the state budget bill would let city and township residents create special-improvement tax districts to help pay for the pricey solar power systems.

Typical home solar systems use between 12 and 40 panels and cost between $20,000 and $40,000, according to Dovetail Solar and Wind, a renewable-energy installation and service company.

The initiative expands Ohio's special-improvement district law, which allows neighbors and businesses to band together to pay for such things as sidewalks, speed bumps and fancy streetlights through annual property-tax payments.

The idea originally came from Athens city officials, who say it can help homeowners cut electricity costs and reduce global-warming pollution from coal-fired power plants.

"We think it's really going to open the gates and allow for a lot more residential use of solar systems," said Gary Houser, an Athens City Council aide who helped draft the plan.

The tax incentive also covers solar water-heating systems, which ease reliance on natural-gas- powered water heaters.

Houser said he thinks more people would install solar panels if it weren't for the cost. He said the plan is needed even though federal tax credits and grants can cover up to 60 percent of panels' costs. If an individual is able to pay for 60 percent of a $30,000 system with grants and tax credits, Houser said, Athens would pay the remaining $12,000. The homeowner could then repay Athens with $480 annual assessments over the next 25 years.

Depending on the number of panels installed, a homeowner could cut utility bills by 10 percent to 50 percent, said Amy Gomberg, program director at Columbus-based Environment Ohio.

Athens intends to apply for as much as $8 million in state and federal alternative- energy grants to help create a solar-power loan fund. Houser said the property-tax payments would replenish the fund and let the city make more loans.

Environmental groups love the idea.

"If all of Ohio's major cities adopted this financing model, it would allow for millions of Ohioans to take advantage of solar energy," said Gomberg. As Athens moves forward with its plan, Gomberg said her group plans to encourage other cities to offer these incentives to their residents.

Erin Miller, Columbus' environmental steward, said the assessments sound like a good idea, but she and other officials need to examine how it would work before they would offer them here.

"Financing is usually the most difficult part, especially for something like solar panels," Miller said.

[Towntalk]

You should be happy my friend, and all the more reason why you should run for State Representative to expand upon the work started.

[irishbobcat]

You now mean they are finally getting around to doing something.....

[Towntalk]

Dennis, you keep harping on the fact that Ohio isn't doing anything about your pet issues, well you're wrong and here's the proof:


NEW OHIO BUDGET

$50.5 billion plan packed with changes that will help or hurt virtually all of us

http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/07/19/BUDGET_EFFECT.ART.2_ART_07-19-09_A4_DHEGQFN.html?sid=101


IF YOU WANT TO GO GREEN
You can finance solar-energy panels through your property taxes if you live in a participating municipality (such as Athens), which means you won't have to fork over the costs upfront.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE
Your parents can pay to keep you on their policy up to age 28. And new caps on how much insurance companies can charge individuals with chronic conditions such as diabetes and cancer will lower premiums for private coverage.

State budget gives potential boost to solar heating of homes

http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/07/18/solar.html?sid=101

Strickland signs Ohio budget

http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090717/NEWS16/907179955


Little-noticed provisions of Ohio budget expand health coverage

http://dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/07/16/coverage.ART_ART_07-16-09_A1_NMEG61N.html?sid=101