Roemer Calls to End E-Check Program in Northeast Ohio

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Bill Roemer (R-Richfield) is calling for the elimination of E-Check, a costly federal program that was implemented under the Federal Clean Air Act. E-Check is designed to test and identify motor vehicles that release high levels of pollutants into the air. 

“It’s time to end E-Check which unfairly penalizes hard working Ohioans living in Northeast Ohio, especially the working poor,” Roemer said. 

Per a recent air quality study from IQAir, a Swiss air technology company, the air quality in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio is significantly cleaner than that in Columbus. It is nonsensical that E-Check continues to be imposed on seven Northeast Ohio Counties. 

“We want all Ohioans to have clean air, but the continuation of the E-Check program isn’t the answer,” Roemer said. “The improvement in air quality in Northeast Ohio is thanks to advances in fuel efficiency, emissions reduction, and electric vehicles, not because of this burdensome EPA program, but because of advances from the private sector.”

“E-Check was proposed as the most cost-efficient measure to improve the air quality in seven Ohio counties, Cuyahoga; Geauga; Lake; Lorain; Medina; Portage; and Summit, all in Northeast Ohio,” Roemer added. “Many experts and tests have indicated no measurable improvement with E-Check, which costs Ohioans nearly $11 million per year.”

Roemer has previously sponsored multiple pieces of legislation throughout his tenure in the General Assembly to eliminate the E-Check program. Last year, Roemer also met with federal and state EPAs to urge them to end the program.