Speaker Householder Issues Statement on House Bill 6

Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) issued the following statement today in response to news that backers of a referendum on House Bill 6 have failed to garner sufficient support to place the issue on the ballot:

“I am pleased that House Bill 6 will go into effect at midnight tonight and am confident it will produce positive results for Ohio.

First, HB 6 will save the operation of two Ohio nuclear power plants that produce 15 percent of Ohio’s power, employ thousands of Ohio workers and generate 90 percent of all carbon-free electricity generated in Ohio.

House Bill 6 will also benefit Ohio’s solar power industry. These solar projects that will be made possible by HB 6 will generate far more solar power than has been produced in all the years since the failed ‘RPS’ bill passed in 2008.

Ohio electric customers will save money because of HB 6, which will trigger a net reduction in charges on residential and business electric bills.

Despite the claims of a well-coordinated environmental lobby, the RPS approach – though well-intended – has not worked for Ohio as promised.  To a great extent, utilities have diverted money from Ohio customers to renewable projects in other states, and expensive renewable energy credits paid by our businesses have gone to wind producers in Texas instead of making Ohio investments. Ohio needs to develop a better approach to achieve results in our state with respect to renewable energy.

We should be focused on energy policy that works for Ohio and Ohioans. That’s what HB 6 begins to do. 

The Ohio House looks forward to working on future energy legislation which benefits our state and its people.”