On September 21, 2009, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce held a dialogue on climate change legislation called Managing Ohio’s Energy Future. Environmental groups, including the Sierra Club, worked with Chamber members to plan and carry out the day-long discussion between economists, business representatives and environmental advocates, presented to about 200 members of the Chamber and the public. Held at the Makoy Center in Hilliard, several panels of experts addressed proposed cap and trade legislation, the role of fossil fuels, renewable energy, and energy efficiency in our economy and related issues.

The day started with Senator Voinovich warning that proposed climate legislation would hurt Ohio’s economy and fail to address global warming. The senator was soon followed by a panel of 3 economists, 2 of whom articulated clearly both the necessity for and positive repercussions of proposed climate change and energy legislation. Quoted from the Gongwer story of 9/21, Andrew Keeler, professor at the Ohio State University's John Glenn School of Public Affairs, said, “The money we would spend reducing green house gases pays economic benefits no matter how you model it. Cap and trade creates broad and efficient incentives for us. Using market signals as a part of our response to climate change is good public policy. It is the most flexible and least intrusive. We are better served if we embrace this in a forward looking way.’"

The advocates for climate legislation continued to gather steam as the day went on, with an AEP representative expressing his company’s support for the Waxman-Markey federal energy bill, while businesspeople and environmental advocates talked of the current strength and potential growth of clean energy businesses in Ohio. Steve Melink, owner and president of Melink Corporation in Milford, explained how his company has embraced energy efficiency and renewable energy and has seen positive economic returns and the expansion of his business.

Overall, the strongest presentations of the day seemed to be in support of a new energy economy, jump-started through federal legislation that puts limits on carbon and provides support for clean energy.