Ohio
Ohio House passes bills to ax coal fees, attract new energy to the state
Lawmakers agree: Ohio must create more energy to avoid blackouts and high electric bills while still powering new data centers and technology.
But they have slightly different ideas about how to attract new energy generators to Ohio while cutting the fees that consumers currently pay.
During a Wednesday debate on the House floor, lawmakers focused on fees tacked onto Ohioans’ electric bills for two coal plants, including one in Indiana.
“This is the last pillar of the largest scandal in our state’s history,” said Rep. Josh Williams, R-Sylvania Township, referencing a pay-to-play scheme that sent former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder to prison for 20 years. “An industry is going to understand when you get caught, not making a bad deal but bribing an official, these members in the House are going to work hard to remove any benefit you got.”
But not everyone was convinced. Former Speaker Jason Stephens, a Kitts Hill Republican who represents the area where the Ohio plant is located, said it was “totally unfair” to end the coal plant fees immediately. Rep. Don Jones, R-Freeport, said the coal plant fees should continue − or at least give companies time to adjust.
After that debate, lawmakers in the Ohio House of Representatives passed House Bill 15, 90-3, which aims to tackle many of the state’s energy policy problems. The Ohio Senate unanimously passed a different proposal, Senate Bill 2, last week.
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Both proposed laws have faced dozens of revisions and could face several more before any sweeping energy policy is delivered to GOP Gov. Mike DeWine’s desk.
What would House Bill 15 do?
The House’s sweeping energy bill, sponsored by Rep. Roy Klopfenstein, R-Haviland, would:
- Eliminate fees on Ohioans’ electric bills for two coal plants, including one in Indiana. Ohioans have already paid more than $670 million for the two Ohio Valley Electric Corporation coal plants, which are owned by several utilities, since 2017, according to an Ohio Manufacturing Association report. Eliminating the fee would save Ohioans $591.4 million through 2030, according to a fiscal analysis. In committee, lawmakers rejected an amendment that would have ended the OVEC fees on Dec. 31, 2026, instead of immediately. Committee chairman Adam Holmes said Ohioans couldn’t afford to extend the deadline. “We have to speak for them.”
- End a solar energy generation fee, which has collected more than $60 million from Ohioans. Most of that money hasn’t been spent, according to Cleveland.com. The House plan would give Ohioans refunds for these fees. Both fees were included in a 2019 law, called House Bill 6, which also included a $1 billion bailout for nuclear plants. That law was at the heart of a federal investigation into corruption at the Ohio Statehouse.
- Reduce taxes on property owned by new energy generators from 24% to 7%. Existing power plants would be taxed the same, alleviating a concern from local school boards that they would lose money.
- Reduce taxes on new transmission and distribution property from 88% to 25%.
- Require more scrutiny of fees added to Ohioans’ electric bills by eliminating electric security plans, which tack on charges that receive less review from utility regulators.
- Require utilities to refund fees once the Ohio Supreme Court finds them unlawful, imprudent or improper. The refunds would start when the court issues a decision, not when they were first applied.
“Today is a big win for the pocketbooks of Ohio,” said Rep. Sean Patrick Brennan, D-Parma.
How are the House and Senate bills different?
Both bills want to improve access to energy in Ohio and protect ratepayers. But they approach them in slightly different ways. Those changes must be hashed out before DeWine can sign these policies into law.
Speaker Matt Huffman, R-Lima, said those conversations will happen next month, but both chambers agree: “We’re not subsidizing directly utilities anymore.”
Those differences include:
- Tax rates. Senate Bill 2 would eliminate the tangible personal property tax, which is assessed on business property, for energy first generated in 2026 or later. The House bill would tax it at 7%.
- What happens with solar fees already collected. The House would refund customers. The Senate proposed giving the money to schools to improve their energy efficiency.
- New ideas. The House version would create a Community Energy Pilot Program, which would allow customers to opt into smaller, local projects for solar, wind, natural gas generators, biomass, hydroelectric or fuel cells.
- Where anaerobic digesters can be placed. The Senate version would allow county commissioners, zoning appeals boards, township trustees and municipal councils to decide where these tanks that break down waste, manure and other organic matter.
- Thermostat control. A last-minute Senate change would allow consumers to receive a $40 annual credit from their utility if they give the utility access to their smart thermostat so it can be adjusted from one to three degrees during peak energy hours and do not override it more than 50% of the time.
State government reporter Jessie Balmert can be reached at jbalmert@gannett.com or @jbalmert on X.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio’s law requiring children under 16 to get parental consent to use social media apps must be restored, a divided panel of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Thursday.
The decision comes as a blow to NetChoice, which has won court victories against identical digital identification laws in other states, including Arkansas, Louisiana and Georgia. The trade group representing TikTok, Snapchat, Meta and other major tech companies said the Ohio decision went against “clear national consensus” and that it intended to keep fighting.
“An unconstitutional law protects no one, and we remain focused on ensuring the First Amendment rights of Ohioans are protected,” said Paul Taske, director of the NetChoice Litigation Center.
Netchoice brought suit against Ohio’s law in 2024, arguing that it was overly broad, vague and represented an unconstitutional impediment to free speech.
The Cincinnati-based Sixth Circuit’s panel disagreed. In a 2-1 decision, it found that the law was not unconstitutional and sent it back to a lower court to have a block on the law’s enforcement vacated.
“At bottom, the Act imposes a parental consent requirement,” Judge Eric Clay wrote in the lead opinion. “That requirement constitutes a marginal burden that precisely targets the multi-faceted problem that Ohio has identified: Children’s unsupervised assent to terms and conditions for use of platforms that take advantage of and harm them.”
Judge Alice Batchelder concurred, writing that “a statute is not vague just because it has a wide berth.”
Known as the Social Media Parental Notification Act, the Ohio law was part of an $86.1 billion state budget bill that Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed into law in July 2023.
The administration pushed the measure as a way to protect children’s mental health, with then-Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, now a U.S. senator, saying at the time that social media was “intentionally addictive” and harmful to kids.
The law requires companies to get parental permission for social media and gaming apps and to provide their privacy guidelines so families know what content would be censored or moderated on their child’s profile.
Republican Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson called Thursday’s ruling “a win for Ohio families.”
“The court agreed that parents –- not social media companies –- should get a say in what kids see online,” he said in a statement. “We have an obligation to keep our children safe, and today, the most dangerous place for our kids is the internet. This decision gives parents the tools to be involved and provide oversight.”
Piketon, Ohio (WSAZ) – Folks in southern Ohio are waking up to power outages and road closures.
Route 32 in Pike County is down to one westbound and one eastbound lane due to debris on the roadway.
Drivers are also dealing with tree limbs on roadways.
The Athens County 911 dispatcher told WSAZ that it’s not believed a tornado touched down, but there is storm damage.
The dispatcher said storm damage from flooding and trees being knocked down has affected US 50.
Power outages are being reported in Athens, Pike, Vinton, Scioto and Meigs Counties and even as far south as Boyd County, Ky.
If you’re in a tornado warning area, you’re urged to get to the lower part of your home.
Keep checking the WSAZ app for the latest.
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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes) – Clarence Burley, II, affectionately known as “Lil Man,” entered eternal rest on Thursday, June 5, 2026, at the age of 60, at Summa Health Akron City Hospital in Akron, Ohio.
Born on May 22, 1966, in Youngstown, Ohio, Clarence was the beloved son of Clarence L. Burley and Jacqueline Wilkinson-Burley.
He attended Ursuline High School and graduated with the Class of 1984.
Clarence was a hardworking and dedicated man who spent many years employed at Classic Optical Corporation as a Lens and Frame Specialist. Known for his skill and precision, he was recognized as one of the top lens shapers during his tenure with the company. He also worked for Goodwill Industries, where his exceptional work ethic earned him recognition and awards for outstanding service.
A devoted fan of the Oakland Raiders, Clarence enjoyed football, boxing, roller skating, and bowling. In his younger years, he was also an accomplished swimmer. He loved life and cherished spending time with family and friends. Whether enjoying a cruise vacation, visiting the lake to admire the water, debating sports statistics from A to Z, or simply sharing laughter with loved ones, Clarence brought joy wherever he went.
Known for his impeccable style, Clarence was often dressed to perfection. He was especially proud of his many Cadillacs, but none more than his beloved Cadillac Seville, affectionately known as “the baby caddy.” He could often be found cruising through the city, listening to music and enjoying the ride. His infectious smile, strength, humor, and generous spirit will forever be remembered by those who knew and loved him.
In 1999, Clarence met the love of his life, the former Cathy Winphrie. Their friendship blossomed into a lasting bond, and they were united in holy matrimony in 2015. Together they shared a life filled with love, companionship, and cherished memories.
Clarence leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife, Cathy Burley; his children, Shannie (Meisha) Burley of Atlanta, Georgia; DeShawn Burley (fiancée Ziah) of Warren, Ohio; Eddie W. Matthews; and Montell Cochrane; his beloved grandchildren, Zaira, DeShawn, Jr., Deondra, Audrionna, Eddie, Jr., Quiara, Azel, Anyia, Marquel, Aiden, Adalese, Meadow, and Amatureas; five great-grandchildren; his mother-in-law, Eula Winphrie; brothers-in-law, James (Jamie) Winphrie and Timothy (Kori) Winphrie; sisters-in-law, Regina Winphrie and Azella Burley; niece Helleenia Winphrie; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and dear friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence L. Burley and Jacqueline Wilkinson-Burley; his brother, Wesley Burley; and his grandmother, Carrie Davis.
Though Clarence’s earthly journey has ended, his legacy lives on through the lives he touched, the family he loved, and the countless memories he leaves behind. His strength, perseverance, laughter, and love will continue to inspire all who were blessed to know him.
“To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.”2 Corinthians 5:8
A homegoing celebration will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday June 20, 2026 at Jerusalem Baptist Church , a visitation with the family will be 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. at the Church.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Gregory-Martin Funeral Home. For additional information, please call (330) 743-4098.
To send flowers or plant a memorial tree in memory, please visit our flower store.
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