Full Title: Powering Down: How Washington's Ozone Plan Will Snuff Out Ohio's Economic Recovery
Author(s): The Center for Regulatory Solutions
Publisher(s): The Center for Regulatory Solutions
Publication Date: August 1, 2015
Full Text: Download Resource
Description (excerpt):
The Obama Administration and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are currently considering a plan to dramatically tighten federal ozone limits to an unprecedented 65 to 70 ppb. If implemented, this plan would cause significant damage to Ohio’s economy, just as the state is putting the Great Recession in its rearview mirror. The very industries that buoyed Ohio’s economy through the economic downturn, manufacturing, energy, and construction, will be targeted by this regulation causing job loss, slowed economic growth, less tax revenue for the state, and an incentive for manufacturers to move elsewhere.
The proposed regulations would also limit the state’s access to federal highway funding, which means Ohioans may face more frequent traffic jams – especially in the Cleveland and Cincinnati metro areas. Furthermore, public opinion research shows a strong majority of Ohioans believe their air quality is already well above average, and significant majorities across the state oppose any plan that would cost the state thousands of jobs and billions in lost economic activity for no, or very little, environmental benefit in return.
For these reasons, Ohio businesses, labor unions, local officials, and state officials have come together to speak out against Washington’s ozone agenda.