On a cloudy day in Ohio’s capital, over 100 people from across the state gathered in front of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) to encourage the Commission to continue to deny bailout requests filed by utility companies to allow their continued use of dirty coal plants -- cases that are being debated as you read this right now. Over the past 10 months, Ohio’s citizens have been fighting for an economy more strongly based in clean energy, but their own Governor, John Kasich, and the bailouts filed by utility companies that provide Ohioans with their energy, are obstacles.
In June of last year Governor Kasich signed S.B. 310, which basically killed the renewable energy sector in Ohio for at least the next two years, causing damage that will resonate for years to come, long after the bill is no longer in effect. S.B. 310 keeps utility companies throughout Ohio from having to begin their transition to more environmentally-friendly and renewable energy sources. Despite the fact that this transition could create thousands of new jobs throughout the state and save Ohioans hundreds of dollars on their utility bills, by signing this bill, Kasich has forced Ohio to take a step backwards on their path to an economy based in clean energy. So, Ohioans are stuck, tethered to the old practice of burning dirty coal that provides nearly 70% of the electricity in Ohio, despite the fact coal is increasingly becoming noncompetitive and many citizens want to move more toward energy based in renewables.
Unfortunately, stalling this transition has not been enough for the utility companies across Ohio. Apparently, according to utilities, for some reason they need to keep their old, polluting, dirty coal plants operating. Even though renewable energy is a cheaper, more environmentally-friendly option that would benefit the economy by creating hundreds of jobs, utilities like AEP and FirstEnergy are going to the State Utilities Commission and asking for bailouts to keep these plants open. More than a dozen coalitions and 10,000 citizens across the state have submitted their comments and voiced their support for increased clean energy in Ohio, so it seems likely that utility companies would take the hint and begin their conversion to renewables, right? Wrong! Not only are they keeping these plants open, causing Ohio’s citizens to suffer from effects of pollution such as asthma, respiratory conditions, autism, and other learning disabilities, but they are also expecting the state’s citizens to actually pay to keep the plants running.
You read that right. The bailout plan AEP and FirstEnergy are fighting for would raise monthly utility bills for ratepayers across the state. So, we are left not only to deal with a stagnant, dirty way of creating energy because of S.B. 310, but, for the next 15 years, we’re expected to pay for the very plants putting us at risk.
Yeah, we don’t like the sound of that either. So that’s why, despite the grim weather, Ohioans from across the state came together to protest these bailouts, and protect our right to clean, healthy energy. We stood up, raised our voices, and gave rousing speeches as to why these bailouts are bad for us, and bad for the state of Ohio. Waving signs and leading chants, all different types of activists came together as a solidified front in defense of our State.
And it’s not just adults either -- even Ohio’s children understand the enormity of these bailouts, and the effect they have on our health and livelihood. They too are fighting for our clean air and water, as ads boasting their illustrations and calls to action, mixed with other Sierra Club posters, riddle kiosks throughout the city. Even businesses have joined our fight -- companies like Macy’s, Lowe's, and Staples are also speaking out against the bailouts.
The opposition to these bailouts has been unprecedented in Ohio. With our rallies, letters, comments and voices joined as one, we hope to defeat these giant utility corporations. In doing so, we can not only protect our state’s clean air and water, but bring a positive, renewable economic future to our home. Join with us, raise your voice, and Don’t Let Ohio coal Get a Bailout!