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COLUMBUS, OHIO: Ohio got blown last Sunday when wind gusts of up to 75 miles per hour from hurricane Ike rampaged through the state, leaving in its wake one million or more people living in an electrified world days to make do with out electricity to power the creature and operational comforts of modern society, not to mention the Internet, Blackberry’s and the cyber-digital ties that bind these days.

 I reentered the world of electrified life after having endured 48 hours of nearly societal solitude. My wife and I focused on self-survival – candles, flashlight, water, and food, small temperamental battery operated radio -- while grappling with self-consciousness of filling the hours left empty from the electronic filler that once kept them full. Others still live without electricity, trying their patience and souring their mood.

 But we were just two of many in Ohio were lost electric power when hurricane Ike, having pivoted over Houston, Texas, where it hit land then veering northwest, rampaged eastward through Ohio, leaving as many as 1.3 million people without power. With the mutual aid of nearby power companies who cam to help American Electric Power (AEP), the coal-fired electric power generator said it has restored power, as of Wednesday morning, to over 300,000 of its 650,000 customers whose lights went dark Sunday afternoon. Some AEP units sent to help in Texas suddenly found themselves turning home to bring power to the people again.

Ohio certainly is not at the top of states in terms of sunny days, and beset by problems of economics, from home foreclosures to job losses to a beleaguered state budget bracing to shore up my revenue shortfalls, sunny also isn’t the appropriate adjective that describes the worry many Ohioans have for their state or their nation, as voters look at headlines announcing major failures of major institutions and wonder whether either major party candidate can ride to their rescue in time.

ITC Extension Could Be Sunny Side of the Street

But for a state where two-thirds of the days are overcast, sunny would be the right word to use to help explain the enthusiasm Gov. Ted Strickland and legislative leaders have in the state’s burgeoning solar production industry. At last’s week conference in Columbus about restoring jobs and prosperity to Ohio, sponsored by the Brookings Institution and Greater Ohio, Strickland held up the efforts of First Solar, based in Toledo in northwest Ohio, and other solar-related business that have landed in Ohio as economic harbingers of a future of innovation Ohio is investing in, by crafting public policy to promote and encourage it.

Strickland and lawmakers wrangled over a new hybrid electric generation bill earlier this year that included achievement benchmarks for renewable energy production, that come 2025 will see 25 percent of energy portfolios made up of energy from wind, solar, bio-fuels and, possibly, nuclear power.

 What would help Ohio leaders, public and private, would be for Congress to extend the 30 percent solar investment tax credit for eight more years. A study released by Navigant Consulting Inc., showing that “green” jobs could juice up the economy of many states, including Ohio, by creating 1.2 million US employment opportunities, permanent jobs and $232 billion in investments. While the lion share of investments would benefit states like California, Florida, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, New Jersey, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, and Washington, Ohio could gain as many as 8,000 new jobs. The Great Lakes region, including Pennsylvania, Michigan and New York, would have 40,200 jobs blown their way, too.

The message about the future of our economy depending on investments in renewable energy sources like wind and solar power was the centerpiece of what David Foster, executive director of an alliance between the United Steelworkers and the Sierra Club, said about the importance of renewing the solar ITC.Captured by The Daily Reporter in Columbus, Foster said failing to extend these tax credits would be a "missed opportunity to simulatneously create jobs and make our country more energy independent, while at the same time doing our part to improve the environment for our kids and our grandkids."

Counting Jobs Matters

But even as  research groups like the Solar Energy Research and Educational Foundation, the non-profit that conducts research and analysis on solar markets and funded the Navigant study, tout how many new jobs will be created from extending the solar ITC, one tangible downside of tracking jobs created created, one readily admitted to by state development officials, is that they really can't track jobs created. Notwithstanding the legitemate argument about tax incentives in the first place or the curious inability of well-paid state bureaucrats with enough resources to do everything except count the chickens they say they've hatched, Ohio would stand to benefit from Congress, with the help of its 18-member delegation, approving the solar ITC extention.  

 Yet even though the ill-wind that was Ike may trigger thoughts about the need for alternative forms of producing electricity, other than the standard electric grid lines that topple when natural forces like hurricanes or ice storms bring havoc to us, forcing us in many ways to live life as it was before the light bulb was invented by Ohio native Thomas Edison in 1882, the message issued today by the Ohio Attorney General  to be wary of con and scam artists who may come calling in the guise of fake agents of authority or contractors.

Beware of Cons, Scams and "Public Officials," Ohio AG Warns Consumers

Nancy H. Rogers, now running the Office of Attorney General as interim director until Ohio elects a new on November 4^th, reminded Ohioans “to remember their consumer rights before they enter into contracts to repair storm damage.” While they may feel the need to begin rebuilding and repairing their home as quickly as possible, her office said in a media release that people should be aware of Ohio laws that will help them avoid complications and may prevent them from losing time and money.

 Among them was the right to an estimate, prior authorization for additional cost, you don’t have to pay up front, you have three days to cancel, get to know your contractor and understand that permits and licenses are required. Among the types of scans to be vigilant about was the con artist who portrays him/herself as a public official.

 With the call at last week’s conference for Ohio to reduce some of its 3,900 units of government to become more competitive, Ohioans would do well to be wary of faux government officials, and even the legitimate ones, as they are inflicting their own form of damage just by being who they are.

John Michael Spinelli is a former Ohio Statehouse government and political reporter and business columnist. He now serves as the OhioNews Bureau Chief for ePluribus Media Journal. Find ONB archives here.
Photo credits: (c) 2008 AnHarris, istockphoto

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