A new bill on Ohio's renewable energy standards is being drafted in the Ohio Senate. Ohio Public Radio's Andy Chow reports.
Those closely following energy policies in the state believe the Senate is preparing to unveil a new proposal that would freeze Ohio’s efficiency standards for several months.
A controversial bill to overhaul policies on renewable and alternative energy standards that were put in place in 2008 stalled in committee late last year.
Supporters of that bill, such as FirstEnergy, believed change was needed in order to protect ratepayers and utilities from climbing a steep hill to carbon reduction.
However, critics, like the Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, claimed the bill would’ve set higher rates for consumers while bankrolling the utility companies.
There seem to be various opinions among Republican senators on this issue. Another senator has a separate bill that calls on Ohio to repeal the standards altogether.
There’s talk that the new proposal is essentially a compromise among the Senate Republican caucus but nothing specific has been introduced yet.
