Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Dec. 19 signed into law state legislation that designates nuclear power as “green energy” and expands oil and natural gas hydraulic fracking leases on state land.
Specifically, House Bill 308 , sponsored by Ohio State Reps. Dick Stein (R-Norwalk) and Sean Brennan (D-Parma), increases the term of the standard oil and gas lease for state land; makes changes to the Ohio Broadband Pole Replacement and Undergrounding Program; and includes energy generated by nuclear reaction as green energy, among other provisions.
The green designation implies state recognition that nuclear energy causes no harm to the natural environment, according to the American Nuclear Society (ANS), which recently highlighted the pros and cons of such a designation in a Dec. 21 policy blog.
For example, supporters say that because nuclear energy is zero carbon emission, it’s better for the environment, particularly as Ohio, like numerous other states, faces the onslaught of newly constructed data centers to meet rising energy demands. And data centers consume massive amounts of electricity.