On Thursday, Dec 9th, over 50 Ohioans demonstrated outside the statehouse calling on legislators to pass the OVEC coal bailout repeal bills, SB117 and HB351. These bills would stop the unjust bailouts, which cost Ohioans 233,000 per day. Up to 1 billion dollars will come from our pockets to cover the debts of OVEC owners, who run 2 dirty inefficient boondoggle coal plants from the 1950s.
The event began with a prayer vigil for a just transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. We heard from advocates, and then two legislators Rep. Smith and Rep Crossman addressed the crowd and thanked everyone for their advocacy—highlighting how vital it is to pressure the legislature that is so influenced by investor-owned utilities. The crowd then sent Santa and his elves into the statehouse to deliver stockings with coal to all the legislators; they are all on the naughty list until the coal bailouts are repealed. We sang adapted holiday carols (“deck the state with solar panels,” “we wish you a coal-less Christmas,” and held signs—with lots of support from passers-by.
The event ended with a brilliant poem from Travis Irvine, “Twas the night before coal-mas.”
The energy lobbyists were laughing, all counting their money,
But what they had done to Ohio, was really not funny.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
From a new group of folks who felt the environment mattered!
This event was a result of the collaborative work of many partners including Sierra Club, Ohio Citizen Action, Sunrise Columbus, Simply Living, Ohio Poor People’s Campaign, Columbus DSA, Students for a Democratic Society at OSU, YDSA at OSU, and United Methodist Church for All People. We will continue to work together and organize more Ohioans to secure the passage of the repeal bills--protecting Ohioans from unjust bailouts and holding the OVEC owners responsible.
Photos: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=pbecker&set=a.10102784834646060
Video of Santa after delivery and Travis’ poem:
