Flashback: Ohio Used to Have a Renewable Energy Policy

It's hard to believe, but there was a time when Ohio Republicans weren't exclusively focused on maximal relaxation of gun laws, shoveling public resources to their supporters, trampling collegiate academic freedom, injecting religion into high schools, accepting bribes from utilities and gerrymandering themselves into perpetual power.

Indeed, in 2008, they worked with Democrats to pass a law that mandated Ohio use renewable resources to generate 25% of the state's electricity by 2025. As you may have noticed, it is now 2025. Have we hit that 25% goal? Let's see: we are at 5%, which, according to my calculations, is juuuuuuust about 20 percentage points short.

What happened? Well, Barack Obama was elected president in 2008, and – follow me here while I walk you through some intricate political analysis – Ohio Republicans lost their minds. Renewable energy mandates were out. Fracking was in, as well as the gerrymandering and bribery and all of the rest of the agenda to oppose anything even remotely resembling a Democratic policy. Ohio went from a state operating in the energy vanguard to one standing at the back of the line, beholden to fossil fuel interests. That retreat on energy policy is leading to significant, negative consequences now, with electricity costs on the rise and the state – particularly Columbus – as one of the favorite locations for new, energy-hungry data centers.

I bring all of this up because WOSU this week rolled out a 3-part series on the state's renewable energy failure, and it is well worth your time.

Part 1:

’25% generation by 2025′: Where did Ohio’s Clean Energy Law go?

A bipartisan vote in 2008 codified the goal that 25% of energy generated in Ohio would come from renewable sources by 2025. But that number is only at 5% this year. What happened?

WOSU Public MediaKatie Geniusz

Part 2:

What did Ohio lose when it favored fossil fuels over renewable generation?

For decades Ohio made policies to favor fossil fuels over renewable sources like wind and solar. That’s caused impacts to health and the environment. We explore in part two of WOSU’s State of Energy series.

WOSU Public MediaRenee Fox

Part 3:

Energy demands are rising. Has this changed Ohio lawmakers’ stance on renewable energy?

Energy needs are increasing for the first time in 10 years. Some are seeking to improve the state government’s adversarial relationship with the renewable industry.

WOSU Public MediaKatie Geniusz

I'm choosing to be optimistic. Ohio hasn't always been insane, and I do believe that we can recover from our current madness. Things change. No one likes high energy prices. Market conditions can drive pragmatism and innovation when politics would otherwise stifle progress.

The WOSU series is also a good reminder that public TV is under pressure from the Trump administration's funding cuts. Public TV is there for all of us. WOSU's work wouldn't exist without it. Consider donating if you're able.