Iberdrola Renewables built these wind turbines as part of the Blue Creek Wind Farm in Van Wert, Ohio. GOP lawmakers have slowed down wind development in Ohio since 2014, changing the state’s renewable portfolio standards and enacting restrictive wind turbine setback rules.Gov. Kasich vetoed legislation in December that would have added two more years of delay. Now lawmakers have released another bill to limit renewable energy standards. (Plain Dealer file)
CLEVELAND — “The Republican majority in the Ohio House is moving again to get rid of the state’s renewable energy rules.
In a bill sponsored by a Cincinnati Republican and released late Tuesday, the House would make voluntary the mandates that now require power companies to generate or buy and sell a percentage of power from wind, solar and other renewable technologies.
…As originally written in 2008, the mandate was aimed at forcing utilities to help customers reduce consumption through new more efficient technologies, whether in the home or in the factory.
The bill is said to be ‘fast-tracked,’ meaning the House intends to conduct hearings soon and set a vote on the legislation. The House leadership believes it has a veto-proof majority, meaning it can override a veto by Gov. John Kasich.
Kasich vetoed similar legislation during the Christmas holidays and is expected to veto this bill. ”
— John Funk, Cleveland Plain Dealer
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