Most can agree on renewable energy

I read with great interest the Feb. 5 op-ed “Ohio conservatives value renewable energy” by Mike Hartley. Renewable energy is not a partisan issue. It is as close to a consensus as our society gets.

The Yale Program on Climate Change Communication tracks public opinion about climate change across the country. According to its research, 82 percent of Ohioans support funding for renewable energy research, 74 percent support regulating carbon dioxide as a pollutant, 68 percent support setting strict limits on carbon emissions from coal plants, and 65 percent support requiring utilities to produce at least one-fifth of their electricity from renewable sources.

In Franklin County support for these policies is even higher.

Across the country, 54 cities, six counties and one state have committed to getting 100 percent of their energy from renewables by 2050 or before.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the fastestgrowing jobs in the country are wind turbine service technician and solar panel installer. Why would we not want these jobs in Ohio? Why would we not want to make this happen in Columbus?

Renewable energy is the way forward to a strong economy, clean environment and healthy city and state.

Cathy Cowan Becker Grove City