The goals are to conserve energy , protect the environment and save money, said County Executive Michael Hein.

?What we are looking here is to insure that the county itself reduces our carbon footprint and leads by example while at the same time reducing our costs, saving taxpayers money, making sure we are not incurring huge energy bills,? he said.

County Legislature Chairman David Donaldson said Hein is intensifying what the legislature began some time ago.

?About six years ago, we went on record when we actually began to purchase 10 percent of our energy use as renewable energy, so it?s part of an energy program that the legislature has begun and hopefully will continue with it,? he said.

Lawmakers will discuss a proposed conservation study at a special session on Wednesday afternoon.

A national group unveiled a report Wednesday that states Ohio could create 32,000 jobs by 2025 and save $19 billion through initiatives to improve energy efficiency.

The Washington, D.C.-based American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy is an independent nonprofit organization that focuses on energy issues.

“Ohio’s current fiscal and economic challenges do not preclude the state from garnering considerable benefits from energy efficiency,” their report stated. “Energy efficiency and demand response are the lowest-cost resources available to moderate short-term impacts and are also the quickest to deploy, meaning that efficiency resources begin to generate financial savings for the state and its consumers quickly.”

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