Rep. Kent Smith and Democratic Members on Public Utilities urge veto of GOP attack on wind and solar energy development

State Rep. Kent Smith (D-Euclid) and the Ohio House Democratic Members of the Public Utilities Committee today sent a letter urging Gov. DeWine to veto Senate Bill (SB) 52, controversial legislation that would let local governments restrict wind and solar energy project development on public and private property, which Democrats say attacks clean energy jobs and limits the state’s ability to compete for emerging technologies. 

“SB 52 is bad for farmers, business owners and all Ohio's utility consumers. We are asking Gov. DeWine to veto SB 52 because this bills helps nobody,” wrote Rep. Smith. 

SB 52 would increase regulation on clean energy by permitting counties to designate wind and solar restricted zones where no development could take place. It would also allow county commissioners to prohibit the construction of a utility facility or limit the boundaries of the facility to a smaller geographic area.