Ohio renewables should be on a winning streak right now, with wide open land calling them to help set global warming back. However, the opposite appears to be happening according to an article in Truth Out. The social improvement independent suggests renewables’ troubles began when Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill 6 into law on July 27, 2019.
House Bill 6 Moved the Goal Posts for Ohio Renewables
House Bill 6 imposed a surcharge on Ohio ratepayers from 2021 through to 2027. $150 million of this annual bonanza will go to a utility to subsidize two uneconomic nuclear plants. Six existing solar projects in rural areas will share the balance of $20 million between them.
Moreover, HB6 also imposes an additional surcharge according to Vox. The media alleges ratepayers will pay a further $1.50 a month to bail out a pair of aging, hyper-polluting coal plants. The monthly bill for large industrials could be as high as $1,500. However, Ohio House Bill 6 is not done yet. By 2026, the 12.5% renewable energy quota imposed on utilities will be phased out. Ohio renewables will then be on their own without credit for their environmental benefits.
More Corporate Pressure on Ohio Wind Energy
The Guardian referred to House Bill 6 as “the worst clean energy rollback” in the nation on July 29, 2019. That may be because it lowers the bar to a point Ohio utilities have already achieved, in a possible vote against progress.
Renewable companies say the state excludes them from planning meetings, but allows affected residents to intervene directly. Moreover, fossil corporates continue to publish claims the ‘wind turbine syndrome’ causes cancer and weight gain. We encourage all Americans to have a voice and express their view on energy planning. We are not against nuclear provided it is safe. However we do believe it is time to move on from fossil fuel.
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