Governor urges Valley to back his energy policy

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Ohio Governor Ted Strickland (D-Lisbon)

Governor urges Valley to back his energy policy

BOARDMAN — Gov.Ted Strickland said today the Mahoning Valley can play a key role in his recently unveiled energy policy.

Strickland wants to pass legislation to provide significant state funding for research and development for alternative fuel sources and options to reduce electricity cost.

Those industries will need components and other parts that could be made by Valley residents, Strickland said today after delivering the key note address at the Regional Chamber Salute to Business breakfast.

Strickland noted that some state legislators are hesitant to embrace his program. The governor urged the nearly 700 people at the breakfast to get behind his program.

He said the policy would create thousands of new jobs and turn around the state’s struggling economy. “We are not a status quo state,” he said. “We can’t wait because we’ll look back in five years and wonder why we didn’t do this earlier.”

For the complete story, see Friday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.