Update & Actions for HB 6

The sub bill makes a number of small changes but overall keeps the same basic structure - it guts the clean energy and efficiency standards while creating a new fund that will bail out the FES nukes. 

 

There is one bigger change that will increase the chances the new fund can be used to bail out coal plants. As noted previously, plants that made historic investments to lower carbon pollution could qualify. The new sub bill expands from considering just carbon pollution to also now include any air pollutant as defined by the federal clean air act. That's a big deal and really bad. 

 

New sub-bill, comp doc, and list of everyone that testified/submitted testimony can be found on the Committee's website  

What are our main points?

1. HB 6 guts Ohio's clean energy and efficiency standards - standards that are saving money, creating jobs, reducing energy waste, and lowering carbon emissions

2. HB 6 forces customers to pay more each month to bail out FirstEnergy's uneconomic nuke plants - plants that have already been paid for many times over

3. HB 6 opens the door for dirty coal plants to receive customer dollars as well

4. HB 6 is a new energy tax that rewards FirstEnergy's bad business decisions 

5. Ohio needs a comprehensive energy policy focused on how to reduce energy waste/increase investment in energy efficiency, expand clean energy development, and support communities disproportionately impacted by the transition away from, and retirement of, dirty energy generation.

 

Not clear. Chair Vitale ended Committee without any details of plans for next week. Speaker Householder keeps moving the goal posts, and it's remains to be seen if he has the votes, but his most recent statements have been wanting to move the bill out of the House by the end of the May. As such, we should be prepared for the House GOP to try to do something in the next two weeks just in case.

 

1. We need calls, LOTS OF CALLS, to the House Committee, Speaker Householder, Leader Sykes, and Governor Dewine. Becca is working on a call sheet. You can also use the hotline we set up to call your state rep directly: 1-512-562-9139

 

2. If you're on twitter, please use the hashtags #NoOnHB6, #HB6, or #NoNukeBailouts so we can find you and retweet you. Make sure you're also tagging any State Reps or Senators you follow

 

3. We need LTEs submitted to papers across the state opposing HB 6 - Again, Becca can help you here

 

4. Please consider drafting at least written testimony to submit to the committee opposing the bill if/when additional hearings are scheduled. Even if you've previously testified or submitted written testimony, you can do it again on this new sub-bill. We'll keep people informed on when the next hearing is scheduled and have details on how testimony can be submitted.

 

Please let us know if you have any questions! Contact Neil Waggoner at  neil.waggoner@sierraclub.org