LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Don’t blame solar firms for fumble

12/15/2013

In response to your Dec. 1 article “Solar firms prove costly investments; Tens of millions wasted on fledgling industry”: When it comes to solar industry jobs in northwest Ohio, The Blade keeps readers in the dark about an important reason that some job numbers have not met expectations.

As the Ohio Senate recently considered a measure that would have rolled back successful renewable energy and energy efficiency standards, it’s clear that the biggest factor hurting the job-growth plans of companies such as Isofoton is Ohio’s uncertain policy and regulatory landscape.

The Turning Point solar project was put on hold by Gov. John Kasich’s appointees to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, including chairman Todd Snitchler, who has close ties to the Koch-funded American Legislative Exchange Council. The project was held up against the commission staff’s recommendation, under pressure from Ohio utility FirstEnergy.

Isofoton’s loans from the state, which were approved during the Kasich administration, were based on expected orders from Turning Point and from anticipated growth in the local solar industry.

While The Blade implies that companies such as Isofoton fumbled, it’s actually policy makers and regulators who are hurting business.

JUDITH ALBERT

Executive Director Environmental Entrepreneurs New York