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Plan would trigger higher energy costs

DEAR EDITOR:

With rampant inflation affecting everything from the price of groceries to the cost of housing, Ohioans need to be ready to set aside even more money this winter as they face another burden: at least $480 million more in higher energy bills, our state’s portion of the $14.1 billion all Americans will pay this winter, according to a recent Consumer Energy Alliance analysis of the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Winter Fuels Outlook.

The higher energy costs placed on Ohioans are largely due to a lack of supply caused by shortsighted policy decisions that have discouraged investment in American energy development and blocked the building of pipeline infrastructure, while increasing the cost of producing and delivering energy.

Add in lawsuits and obstruction designed to stop current energy production by California-based groups like Earthjustice, as reported in the Tribune Chronicle, and Ohioans will see costs increase even more.

The goal of Earthjustice isn’t just to make natural gas more expensive for the 66 percent of Ohio households that rely on it for heating. Their goal is a complete ban on natural gas appliances — from furnaces to water heaters — as evidenced by their petition to the U.S. EPA. That will lead to increased use of higher-emitting energy sources to make up the supply shortfall, so restricting natural gas will actually harm — not improve — our environment.

Raising energy prices and preventing families from choosing the most cost-effective way of heating their homes during the frigid Midwest winters is an idea that should stay in California.

CHRIS VENTURA

Midwest Director

Consumer Energy Alliance

Columbus

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