nuclear-news

By ANDY CHOW • JUL 30, 2019  Ohioans Against Corporate Bailouts has filed its first round of signatures with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office to hold a referendum on the law that bails out nuclear plants and scraps green energy policies.

If their petition language is approved they will start collecting signatures to put the issue on the 2020 ballot in November. Ohioans Against Corporate Bailouts would need 265,774 valid signatures to qualify for the ballot.

The new law, created through HB6, would create a new 85 cent charge on monthly electric bills for residential ratepayers. Commercial and industrial ratepayers would also see a new fee which will generate $150 million for FirstEnergy Solutions’ two nuclear plants, Davis-Besse and Perry.

FirstEnergy Solutions has been seeking a significant subsidy from Ohio lawmakers for several years, saying it was one of the only ways to avoid shutting down both plants.

That new charge on electric bills creates an additional $20 million for existing solar farms.

The law also props up two struggling coal plants through language that allows utilities to charge customers up to $1.50 a month to subsidize the Ohio Valley Electric Corporation’s two coal plants, Kyger Creek in Gallia County and Clifty Creek in Madison, Indiana.

In addition to the new subsidies, the law rolls back policies that required investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency…..  https://radio.wosu.org/post/group-takes-first-step-toward-repealing-ohio-nuclear-bailout#stream/0