Group Supporting Overturning House Bill 6 Drops Appeal, Swearingen Applauds Ohio's Clean Air Program
A group sought to overturn House Bill 6, Ohio’s Clean Air Program, by starting an initiative to put the legislation up for a statewide referendum. The referendum initiative officially ended when the group behind it dropped their appeal pending in court. State Rep. D.J. Swearingen (R-Huron) indicated his support behind Ohio’s Clean Air Program.
“For the 89th district and the entire state, the Ohio Clean Air Program provided so much,” said Swearingen. “The legislation was about saving taxpayers $1.3 billion dollars on electric bills, supporting jobs and the economy, keeping Ohio's energy production portfolio diverse and independent, and protecting Ohio’s environment for future generations.”
House Bill 6, which became effective last October, saves ratepayers $1.3 billion by removing expensive and failed electric mandates on customer billing. Additionally, over 4,000 jobs are tied to the state’s nuclear industry, which is more than $500 million in Ohio’s GDP. The two nuclear plants in the state provide 15 percent of the state’s electric generation, and even a larger 90 percent of its zero carbon generation.
The legislation also supported development of on-site wind projects and large scale solar projects – this further increases Ohio-generated, zero carbon power. Swearingen did indicate that keeping the Davis-Besse plant was also imperative for surrounding schools.
“The Davis-Besse plant was responsible for contributing 40 percent of Benton-Carroll-Salem schools’ annual tax revenues,” said Swearingen. “This is a complex issue that affected many people and components throughout the state, including our education system.”
Most recently, as the Davis-Besse plant has remained open through the Ohio Clean Air Program, it was announced in January the plant was chosen as a pilot site for hydrogen production research to test whether nuclear plants can produce hydrogen for industrial and commercial uses.
“This is a big development for our area and could even further expand Ohio’s industrial opportunities, and that is something we should all welcome and be grateful for,” said Swearingen.