Electricity costs are rising, renewable energy solutions are being blocked, and Ohio families are paying the price. It’s time for a comprehensive energy policy that prioritizes affordability and independence.
Rising Costs, Shrinking Solutions
Ohio families and businesses are facing a perfect storm of energy challenges. Electricity prices in Ohio have increased 56.5% since 2021, driven by rising utility profits and record-breaking executive compensation. At the same time, renewable energy projects that could bring costs down are being denied across the state at alarming rates.
The challenge is urgent. Energy is now the #1 driver of inflation nationwide, pushing prices up nearly 18% over the past year. That spike shows up everywhere – in utility bills, at the gas pump, and in the price of everything delivered by truck or ship. When costs rise, corporations can pass that along to consumers. Working families can’t.
This isn’t inevitable. Ohio has the opportunity to be a leader in energy affordability and independence. We need a comprehensive energy policy that embraces all available forms of electricity, reforms the siting process to ensure fair treatment across fuel sources, and creates a clear pathway to bring cheaper clean energy onto the grid.
Ohioans deserve an energy policy that works for everyone – families trying to keep the lights on, businesses trying to stay competitive, and communities trying to protect their resources. That policy must:
Reform the siting process to ensure a level playing field for all energy sources, not picking winners and losers.
Accelerate clean energy deployment by removing barriers to solar and wind projects that could bring costs down fastest.
Demand accountability from utilities to ensure profits don’t come at the expense of working families struggling with rising bills.
Our elected officials have a unique opportunity right now to be leaders in energy affordability and independence. We do not power our future by stifling innovation. We do it by ensuring cheaper forms of electricity make their way to the grid, and the benefits of energy independence make their way to our consumers.