As Dayton Daily News cited recently, the National Solar Foundation released its latest Solar Jobs Census with some exciting news for Ohio. Ohio was ranked as one of the top 10 states for solar jobs in 2013. According to the report, Ohio was ranked eighth in the nation with 3,800 solar jobs — over 900 of those added just last year. These include manufacturing, installation and project development.
These are great trends, but we should take steps to ensure that Ohio’s solar market continues to grow into the future. If we set a goal to get 10 percent of our cities’ electricity from solar power by 2030 and put the right policies in place we will significantly add to the number of solar jobs in the Buckeye State. Developing our homegrown solar market will boost employment while reducing harmful air pollution.
Ohio's mayors and city councils should act to make it easier for homeowners and businesses to go solar, as well as set examples for the citizens by adding solar to city buildings and schools. I am proud of Ohio's progress toward a clean energy future, but I know we can do better. CAROLINE E. JOCHUM, SPRINGFIELD
Gas prices and oil future remain volatile
The DDN has published three articles in the last couple of months expressing the opinion that gas prices would stay low or go lower because of reduced demand, better fuel efficiency, refinery production, cheaper winter gas production requirements, lower crude oil prices, etc. Each time the article appeared the oil companies raised their gas prices by 10 percent the next day. It’s almost like the oil companies are out to show us who is really in charge. The factor you never included is the greed of the oil companies, the key factor that enables oil companies to register multi-billion dollar profits each year.
The important feature that allows the oil companies to get away with this is they have violated federal anti-trust laws by joining together to create a monopoly and eliminate competition. When they change prices, every station between Columbus and Indianapolis and from Cincinnati to Toledo change their prices at the same time and by the same amount. How could this possibly happen without collusion between companies?
How nice would it be if we owned a highly needed product and there was no competition for that product and we could charge whatever we wanted to. I am a big supporter of free enterprise, but only where there is competition for products.
Unfortunately, neither our current administration, nor either political will take on this problem because the oil companies contribute huge amount of money to candidates for election and nobody wants to cut off that money. As much as I hate federal control of anything, I believe the only answer is government control of prices. Hillary Clinton proposed a big tax on oil companies, but that would not achieve anything because the oil companies would just add enough to the price of gas to cover the tax. STEVE SMITH, SPRINGBORO
Speak Up
Can anyone recall how long it has been since then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President Obama said that President Assad of Syria must go and that his days were numbered?
President Obama's "My Brother's Keeper" initiative is a wonderful idea. Why didn't he do this five years ago? I have felt his largest failure was in not seizing his unique opportunity to inspire young people in the inner city to do the right thing. Instead, he has spent five years spewing the same old liberal rhetoric that everything is my fault.
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