COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) — Making reforms following the state’s biggest bribery scandal has been a slow path forward , but Ohio lawmakers are working to close that chapter and move forward with new energy legislation.
“It’s a balancing act when you look at moving forward with trying to decarbonize and how we achieve that, while at the same time having the power we need to keep the lights on and expand,” Chair of the Ohio House Public Utilities Committee Rep. Dick Stein (R-Norwalk) said.
It is estimated that by 2027, reserve energy with Ohio’s energy transmitter, PJM , will be gone, meaning during peak demand times Ohioans may not see the lights go on when they flip the switch. It takes four to eight years to build up a reserve margin.
“So, if you’re going to have no reserve margin in three years and it takes you four to eight years to build any new generation capable of supplying meaningful loads. Like they said in the movie, ‘Houston, we’ve got a problem,’” Ohio House Majority Floor Leader Rep. Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati) said.