Advice offered on Oberlin Issues 16, 17

Oberlin voters have important choices on Election Day, Nov. 7. Oberlin made a wise choice in 2008 by canceling its 50-year contract for coal-based electricity. The city replaced coal with renewable and carbon neutral sources that have renewable energy credits.

Replacing high-value RECs with low-value RECs provided the city with more than $2 million that can be invested to benefit citizens and the community. Many investment opportunities are available.

Carefully choosing options can begin to address longstanding economic inequities in Oberlin, while other options meet goals of the city’s Climate Action Plan (CAP). Some do both.

For example, by expanding POWER (Providing Oberlin With Energy Responsibly), hundreds of houses with the greatest needs can be made significantly more energy efficient, saving residents hundreds of dollars annually long into the future. These improvements also reduce heat-trapping gas emissions, the major goal of the CAP.

On Election Day, a “yes” vote on Issue 16 (“Ordinance changing Oberlin City Sustainable Reserve Program Ordinance”) and a “no” vote on Issue 17 (“Oberlin City Community Choice Program Ordinance”) ensure that all REC dollars go into the city’s Sustainable Reserve Program account.

The city, with citizen input and guidance, can invest thoughtfully to achieve the greatest return for the community.

Now most REC money will go to customers that use the greatest amount of electricity, including Wal-Mart, the Federal Aviation Administration, Oberlin College, and Kendal at Oberlin, through artificially reduced electric rates with little money to residents.

Investment is Oberlin’s wise choice. Carl McDaniel Oberlin