{"id":19057,"date":"2019-04-12T12:25:41","date_gmt":"2019-04-12T16:25:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/?p=19057"},"modified":"2019-08-20T12:27:33","modified_gmt":"2019-08-20T16:27:33","slug":"nightmare-on-capitol-square-new-coal-and-nuclear-bailout-bill-is-a-huge-blow-to-ohios-clean-energy-economy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/2019\/04\/12\/nightmare-on-capitol-square-new-coal-and-nuclear-bailout-bill-is-a-huge-blow-to-ohios-clean-energy-economy\/","title":{"rendered":"Nightmare on Capitol Square: New coal and nuclear bailout bill is a huge blow to Ohio\u2019s clean energy economy"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Ohio\u2019s electric industry is thriving and our energy supply is getting cleaner, with average power costs well below the national average<\/a>. This dreamy scenario is the envy of other states \u2013 but Ohio\u2019s legislators are plotting in the Capitol Square statehouse to turn this dream into a nightmare.<\/p>\n

This nightmare is a new bill that not only subsidizes uneconomic coal and nuclear plants, but also guts the renewable energy and energy efficiency standards that have led to<\/a> more than $1 billion in savings and thousands of new jobs for Ohioans. In an Orwellian twist, the legislators are trying to sneak this bailout through by calling it a \u201cclean air resource\u201d bill.<\/p>\n

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The bill allows money-losing power plants to receive a bailout via customer-funded subsidies, for reducing Ohio\u2019s greenhouse gas emissions. Ohio\u2019s two uneconomic nuclear plants don\u2019t emit carbon, so they qualify. But surprise, surprise \u2013 all coal plants in Ohio also qualify because they made past improvements required under federal clean air law. Wind and solar plants are \u201cclean air resources\u201d so they are covered too, right? Not so fast \u2013 the legislators severely restrict wind and solar plants from the bill.<\/p>\nNightmare on Capitol Square: New coal and nuclear bailout bill is a huge blow to Ohio\u2019s clean energy economy <\/a><\/span>Share on X<\/a><\/span>\n

The bailout is funded by all utility customers, even those who don\u2019t buy their electricity from the utility. Customers will no longer be required to pay for utility energy efficiency and renewable energy programs \u2013 Ohio\u2019s cost-effective and successful clean energy measures. Utilities\u2019 energy efficiency and renewable programs will now consist only of those customers who voluntarily opt to pay for them.<\/p>\n

The bill\u2019s sheer audacity is staggering:<\/p>\n