Gov. Ted Strickland visited Athens County yesterday to see a home entirely run by renewable resources just five hours after he announced his new energy bill.
The home, owned by Geoff and Michelle Greenfield, relies only on solar and wind energy. Strickland toured the Greenfield's house, asking questions about the family's home and life and using it as an example of what he wants to achieve with his Energy, Jobs and Progress Plan.
Strickland said Ohio's current rate-stabilizing plan expires at the end of next year, and if nothing is done, monopolies would be unregulated and put consumers at risk for exploding costs of electricity.
By 2025, Strickland said he hopes 25 percent of Ohio's electricity will come from renewable resources.
When the Greenfields moved into their home, there was no electricity offered in the area, and they decided to use their own system of solar and wind power, which led them to start their own business, Third Sun Solar and Wind Power Ltd., in 2000.
Their business promotes and installs solar and wind power systems. The company, which primarily uses word-of-mouth marketing, has grown to 15 employees.
Demand is higher than our capacity to meet it
Mr. Greenfield said.
Strickland said he hopes his energy bill, which would support businesses like the Greenfields', will create more jobs for Ohioans.
The economic and job-creating benefits are huge. I don't think we can let these opportunities bypass us he said.Ten years from now we can't look back and say we missed out on an opportunity.
Strickland also recommended American Electric Power's program of adding $1.40 a month to their customers' energy bills to have 20 percent of their energy come from renewable resources.
There are those who say we can't move in this direction
Strickland said to people who have criticized his plan as being costly. Not to move in this direction would be ineffective. We're being transitioned into new ways of energy usage.
The Greenfields, who said they strongly support Strickland's energy policies, and their two children have lived in their home for 10 years and have not paid an electric bill in that time.
I wanted to see what's happening here
Strickland said. This is a family who built a home and all their amenities are associated with modern living and they're doing it without paying an electric bill. Other families can adapt these technologies.
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Angie Weaver
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Geoff and Michelle Greenfield show Gov. Ted Strickland their wind- and sun-powered home in Athens County. The Greenfields haven't paid an electric bill in 10 years, and they run a company that sells solar panels and encourages the use of electric and wi
