Western Cuyahoga Audubon Newsletter Vol. 14 Issue 4 November 2016 Vol. 14 Issue 4 November 2016

Help Western Cuyahoga Audubon End Ohio’s Clean Energy Freeze! Nov 2016-Jan 2017 Field Trips……….. 2-3 Christmas Bird Count 4 Maps and Directions 5 Programs…….….. 6 News…………….... 7 New Member Form… 8 > CONNECT WESTERN CUYAHOGA AUDUBON SOCIETY 4310 Bush Ave. Cleveland, OH 44109 > ​[phone] > ​[email protected] > ​www.wcaudubon.org > FIND US ONLINE facebook.com/wcaudubon twitter.com/wcaudubon youtube.com/wcaudubon flickr.com/wcaudubon >​ wcaudubon.org Tom Romito, President Emeritus, Western Cuyahoga Audubon “Properly-sited wind turbines, rooftop solar photovoltaic panels, and solar photovoltaic plants could supply all of our energy needs within decades.” Audubon scientists have found that climate change threatens the survival of nearly half the bird species in North America. Renewable energy and energy efficiency are crucial to stopping the worst effects of climate change, growing the economy in Ohio, creating jobs, and protecting public health and the environment. In 2008, the Ohio General Assembly responded to Ohioans’ demand for renewable energy sources by passing a clean energy portfolio with a near unanimous vote. As a result of this law, the clean energy industry grew to employ 89,000 people in 7,900 business establishments. Ohio’s alternative energy portfolio standard supported grassroots movements and protected our interests by creating an environment conducive to strong growth in the clean energy sector. As a result, Ohio has great potential to become a leader in the clean energy industry. Properly-sited wind turbines, rooftop solar photovoltaic panels, and solar photovoltaic plants could supply all of our energy needs within decades. This would drive new job growth, healthier communities, and a cleaner environment. In 2014, Ohio bowed to pressure from oil and gas industry and dragged us backwards, giving us the dubious distinction of becoming the only state in the country to destroy our own advances in the clean energy industry. Senate Bill 310 froze the standards for clean energy we had adopted for our state, halted our job growth, harmed our environment, and put our communities in jeopardy. In 2015, a General Assembly committee did an even greater disservice to Ohio by recommending...​Continued on Pg.2 The Feathered Flyer 1 ​<