Set mandatory minimum penalties for breaking environmental laws, as New Jersey did. Afterward, that state moved from 16th to 36th in the nation for facilities in noncompliance. Revise secrecy standards in the state's otherwise-reasonable brownfields law. Businesses now can clean up an area without publicly disclosing the nature and extent of contamination. With Ohio still among the states with the lowest compliance rate, the success of a total blackout must be questioned.
Public disclosure is a forceful incentive for ensuring the proper monitoring of cleanups.
Promote energy efficiency to reduce toxic emissions from antiquated power plants. By doing so, Ohio's energy use could be reduced up to 25 percent during the next two decades. Aggressively pursue comprehensive land-use plans, as Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland have done. Wise land-use planning can help limit the spread of pollution. The broader approach enables more efficient controls that reduce pollution.