House Speaker Jon Husted was in a festive mood Tuesday as he met the statehouse scribblers for a 64-minute session that put a big ol' red ribbon on 2007 before sending it home for the holidays.

He came bearing gifts for reporters, jokingly pulling out a lump of coal before handing out tiny solar panels to all those in attendance. (The back of the solar panel said it was from a University of Toledo program, which technically makes a Husted a "re-gifter." Just saying.)

While Husted's main thrust was to propose a new $10-million-a-year Ohio Renewable Energy Authority, he touched on a number of subjects including his love for small pretzels dipped in white chocolate.

On whether renewable energy "benchmarks" will be added by House lawmakers to Gov. Strickland's energy proposal:

"We know that is on the table and that we know we have to have more clarity in that if we expect them to come to Ohio," Husted said. "This is an interesting part of the debate --predictability, reliability is important not only for consumers but for businesses that make investments. It's a two-way street on that."