A study out this week shows kids are very worried about climate change. And there鈥檚 long been concern about the effect of some energy and environmental policies on low-income people and minorities. Two Democratic state lawmakers said they have a bill that would address both of those issues in Ohio.
that by 2050, all electricity generated in Ohio would come from renewable sources, and clean energy development would be directed toward communities most harmed by current energy policies.
Rep. Stephanie Howse (D-Cleveland) said it will speak to younger people considering leaving Ohio.
鈥淲hat do you think it would do mentally, emotionally?" Howse said at a press conference at the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland. "You鈥檇 be like, 鈥榶ou know what? They鈥檙e actually thinking about our future.鈥� They will actually have, plant seeds that 鈥業 want to be here, I want to raise my family here鈥�.鈥�
The bill would also make building wind and solar projects easier, give regulators more audit and investigation power over utilities and create an Office of Energy Justice to oversee decisions of the Public Utilities Commission.
Though the nuclear power plant subsidies in the sweeping nuclear power plant bailout known as House Bill 6 have been repealed, there are other elements of the law still in place, including subsidies for two coal-fired power plants.
Howse鈥檚 cosponsor Rep. Casey Weinstein (D-Hudson) said one place where he thinks there鈥檚 common ground between Republicans and Democrats is on coal.
鈥淲e are actively propping up, on the backs of Ohioans, a completely non-competitive source of energy that is shutting down everywhere else," Weinstein said. "And I鈥檓 proud to say there鈥檚 . We鈥檙e talking about the next step beyond that.鈥�
But natural gas is still a big part of Ohio鈥檚 energy policy. And in a legislature dominated by Republicans, many of whom voted to before in House Bill 6, this bill faces an uphill battle.
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