Breaking news in the Ohio Capital Journal, revealed today how documents show state utility regulators sought edits to draft versions of an audit they commissioned, prompting the removal of declarations that a ratepayer-funded bailout of two uneconomic coal plants was a bad deal for Ohio electric customers. The lines removed from the final report stated that “keeping the plants running does not seem to be in the best interests of the ratepayers.” This latest revelation reveals that the PUCO was not acting in the public interest.
For the last few years, we at OSBC have been sharing with you news about the ratepayer bailout related to HB6 and the corruption that surrounded it. Today’s news shows the depth of the corruption that impacts the lives and businesses of all Ohioans. The lessons of this scandal are clear, we need transparency and reform to fix the system.
Last week, Ohio legislators introduced the Energy Jobs and Justice Act. Co-sponsors unveiled the 200 plus page piece of legislation that they argue encourages clean energy growth and energy waste reduction (energy efficiency) while curbing utility influence over policy making and regulatory actions. Abuses at the heart of the House Bill 6 scandal.
“Unfortunately huge chunks of that bill are still in place,” said State Rep. Casey Weinstein (Hudson), “and the environment that created it is still in place so we have big steps anti-corruption steps for transparency, accountability, and regulatory reform.
Another element of the bill will bring jobs statewide with energy policy that embraces renewable energy by removing regulatory restrictions.
A workforce development component will train workers for clean energy jobs. Establishes incubation training hubs in communities that are low income or adversely impacted by the closure of an electric generating facility or a decline in the extractive fossil fuel industry. “Solar installers and wind technicians are two of the fastest-growing jobs in the country.” says, co-sponsor, State Rep. Stephanie Howse (Cleveland).
“I think there is truly a bipartisan opportunity to take the next step and say now that we’ve kicked that bad energy policy to the curb what do we want Ohio’s energy future to look like now,” Weinstein said. Transparency and energy reform is an issue that Ohioans of all leanings can support. Results from the 2019 Ohio Conservatives Statewide Survey, commissioned by the Ohio Conservative Energy Forum, found that “Conservatives in Ohio are strong supporters of renewable energy, with a clear majority (70%) wanting fifty percent or more of their energy to come from renewable sources. They also view renewable energy as a job creator in the state.”
The detail of the Energy Jobs & Justice Act categorizes revisions in Ohio law into three primary policy pillars that provide the accountability and transparency necessary to ensure an equitable energy landscape that exists to serve all Ohioans; Equity, Carbon Emissions Reduction, and Transparency and Accountability.
House Bill 469 Clean Energy and Energy Justice Text of the Bill – Press Release
The other bill to repeal HB 6 has been introduced by Rep. Laura Lanese (Grove City) is a straightforward repeal. House Bill 18 – 134th General Assembly Repeal HB 6 of the 133rd GA
Contact your representative and encourage them to become a co-sponsor. Find your district and representative.
To learn more and get involved with our action on this legislation leave us a comment below or send us an email.
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