Gov. John Kasich says he feels the two-year halt in the progress of the energy standards -- which he calls a “pause” and not a “freeze” -- was the right solution to concerns about the utilities’ claims that the alternative energy standards were costing them too much money.
“I think it’s a victory for Ohio’s economy, it’s a victory for those that care about renewables," Kasich said, "and frankly I find that most people are unhappy with it – which means I got it in exactly the right place.”
And Kasich said he didn’t think requiring utilities to get 25 percent of their power from alternative energy sources by 2025 was realistic. Environmental activists, green energy businesses, consumer organizations, manufacturers, and even faith leaders had asked Kasich to veto the bill.
Supporters of it say the two-year pause will allow for a cost-benefit analysis of the green energy standards, but opponents fear it’s the first step toward eliminating them entirely.
