Ohio’s Resistance to Clean Energy Adoption

Ohio’s Energy Policies Favor Fossil Fuels Over Renewables, Community Concerns

In contrast with the neighboring states of Michigan and Illinois, Ohio’s political leaders have yet to fully embrace the economic and environmental advantages offered by solar and wind energy. The recent enactment of Senate Bill 52, giving communities the power to block renewable energy projects – a capability they lack regarding fossil fuel development – underscores this reluctance.

Economic and Environmental Impacts of Fossil Fuel Dependence

Ohio’s energy bill HB15, enacted in May, lacked several key provisions in support of solar energy, including a community solar program aimed at helping lower-income communities gain access to solar power. These developments are occurring in tandem with an ongoing assault led by the Trump administration on renewable energy, marked by a rollback of renewable-friendly environmental laws and policies, cancellation of incentives established by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, and the abrupt halting of renewable energy projects in various stages of construction.

Preference for Methane Gas Over Renewable Energy Sources

Moreover, Ohio’s Republican leaders recently proposed HB 294, a bill that would grant methane gas – a fossil fuel – the “clean energy status”. This could result in methane gas projects receiving preference over genuine renewable energy projects when it comes to permit applications to the Ohio Power Siting Board.

Methane, unlike solar and wind energy, is a greenhouse gas and generates another greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, when burned. A report by the World Nuclear Association shows that fracked gas produces 490 grams of CO2 per kW hr, the third highest among all energy sources. In comparison, utility scale solar produces 48 grams, residential solar produces 41 grams, and wind is the lowest emitter with 11 grams per kW hr.

Fracking also uses massive quantities of water and generates millions of gallons of toxic radioactive brine. Data from Harrison County state that 853 million gallons of surface water were used for fracking in 2023, accounting for 78% of the total water usage in the county.

Controversial Legislation and Climate Change Concerns

Simultaneously, Ohio politicians are working on legislation (HB 170 and SB 136) to grant the Ohio Department of Natural Resources control over carbon dioxide capture and sequestration in Class VI wells. If enacted, this legislation would result in millions of tons of carbon emissions being stored under Ohio lands, with taxpayers shouldering tax incentives of $85 per ton of industrial CO2 captured and stored.

These bills also infringe on private property rights by allowing “forced pooling”, which permits the injection of carbon dioxide beneath private properties. The construction of pipelines to carry carbon dioxide across the state from industrial facilities to these injection wells could potentially result in legal battles and public pushback, similar to the ongoing disputes faced by Summit Carbon Solutions in Iowa and the Dakotas over their planned pipeline routes.

Impact of Fossil Fuel Dependence on Ohio’s Citizens and Economy

Despite the U.S. Energy Association highlighting that “wind and solar power are two of the fastest-growing energy sectors in the U.S. and produced as much as 17% of the country’s electricity last year”, Ohio politicians continue to advocate for the use of fracked gas. This persistent favoritism toward fossil fuels over renewable sources may result in taxpayers shouldering the cost of the associated environmental, economic, and health impacts.