COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A mysterious clean-energyinitiative headed toward Ohio’s 2014 ballot is a
one-of-a-kindnonpartisan measure driven by a group of concerned Ohio residents, astrategist for the campaign
said in an Associated Press interview.Ifapproved, the Ohio Clean Energy Initiative would require $1.3
billionin annual investments over a decade in infrastructure, research anddevelopment related to solar, wind
and other energy sources.A private entity called Ohio Energy Initiative Commission LLC, a Delaware
corporation, would pick eligible projects.GermanTrejo, a spokesman for Yes for Ohio’s Clean Energy Future
campaign,said the commission’s corporate structure makes it free of politicalinfluence."The positive
side of having an entity that is notcontrolled by politicians is that we’ve seen the gridlock that
happensevery day in Washington," he said. "We’ve seen the partisan politicsthat Republicans and
Democrats play in regards to administering money,and sending state money to individuals that support their
campaigns andso forth."The corporation would receive $65 million a year inoperational expenses under
the ballot proposition. Individuals involvedin the endeavor are not traceable through Delaware business
records orcorporate filings with the Internal Revenue Service.Trejo declined to name those involved in the
corporation, saying he is not employed by them but by the campaign.Hesaid speculation that the campaign
involves big coal, oil or nuclearinterests, billionaires, major corporations or offshore entities issimply
untrue."This is a truly citizen-driven idea, and not having the hand of politicians is very
important," he said.Trejorecently moved back from Washington, D.C., to Ohio, where he attendedOhio
State University, to run the campaign. One of his media companiesis Battleground Strategies, which works
primarily with Democraticcandidates and causes. He helped run the successful 2006 campaign inOhio to
increase the minimum wage.But he said the 2014 initiative is nonpartisan."Thisinitiative is totally
independent," he said. "It doesn’t have anypolitical ties to any of the current and past state
Legislatures or anycurrent or past governors’ administrations."The effort comes asthe state Senate is
debating a major overhaul of Ohio’s clean energystandards, targets that major electric companies must meet
for the useof alternative energy forms. A bill proposing changes to the standardsstalled in the Senate
before the holidays, and debate is expected tocontinue when lawmakers return in January.Trejo said the
ballot initiative is unrelated to that debate.___Online:Yes for Ohio’s Energy Future: www.yesforohiosenergyfuture.orgCopyright
2013 The Associated Press. All rightsreserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten
orredistributed.