Leading Ohio health systems – including Cleveland Clinic, Mercy Health, Mount Carmel Health System, and TriHealth, along with the the Ohio Hospital Association’s energy and sustainability program – have joined Ohio energy companies in urging state lawmakers to strengthen the state’s commitment to renewable energy and energy efficiency investments, as well as to remove barriers to renewable energy growth, such as the state’s overly restrictive setback requirements for wind energy developments.

In a letter to the Ohio Legislature, the health systems emphasized that reliable access to renewable energy and advanced energy technologies for hospitals “ensure the lights stay on during natural disasters and that we can deliver on our commitment to provide care to those in need.”

Ohio is already experiencing the impacts of climate change, such as longer and hotter summers along with increased precipitation and flooding, so ensuring access to renewable energy and advanced energy technologies is critical for hospitals to be able to deliver uninterrupted care to their patients and communities.

The letter also pointed out the health benefits of transitioning to renewables, noting that clean energy is good for both patient health and the Ohio economy: “Public health reports conclude that investing in Ohio’s renewable portfolio standard and energy efficiency resource standard through 2029 would prevent 335,770 lost work days.”

Investments in clean, renewable energy and energy efficiency are not only good for Ohio’s economy by promoting healthy workers and creating green jobs, but “reduce operating costs and create better patient outcomes” for hospitals. The letter points out that, for these reasons, “many hospitals and health systems are accelerating their investment in these technologies, hoping the gains they reap will translate to better health outcomes at lower costs to Ohioans.” A recent example is Cleveland Clinic’s new 10-year carbon neutrality goal, which they plan to achieve through increased reliance on renewable energy and investments in efficiency.

As state lawmakers move to consider energy legislation before the end of the year, including bills that would weaken the state’s ability to invest in renewable energy and efficiency technologies (House Bill 114) or subsidize aging coal and nuclear facilities (House Bill 381, Senate Bill 128, and House Bill 239), the joint letter asks state lawmakers to consider the energy needs of Ohio hospitals and the health of Ohio workers and communities and to strengthen – not weaken – investments in clean, renewable energy and advanced energy technologies.

Ohioans, please share the letter with your state representatives.