Good news for First Energy and it’s two nuclear plants, located in northern Ohio.   A group, calling themselves Ohioans Against Corporate Bailouts, have been working to overturn the Ohio legislatures passage of HB 6.

Although they could not obtain enough signatures to force a statewide vote, Ohioans Against Corporate Bailouts are not giving up, and plan to continue their lawsuit that seeks extension of the deadline.  They claim backers of the nuclear plants have spent millions of dollars, on misleading ads and other tactics, aimed at stopping them from collecting enough signatures.  However, proponents say that the natural gas, wind, and solar have been working to support the efforts of Ohioans Against Corporate Bailouts.

Ohio lawmakers approved passage of HB6, in July, but it is not scheduled to go into effect, until the first quarter of 2021. At that time, the subsidy bill will require Ohio residential customers to pay a monthly surcharge of 85¢, with industrial plants paying up to $2,400/month.

FirstEnergy Solutions, owner of both Perry and Davis-Besse Nuclear Stations – which directly employs ~1,400 – announced over a year ago, that it would have to shut-down and close these two nuclear stations (Davis-Besse in 2020 and Perry in 2021) without outside funding.

Passage of this bill (HB6) echoed similar sentiment and support we have seen in other states – Connecticut, New Jersey, Illinois, and New York – reaffirming the major role nuclear energy has in lowering carbon emissions by providing carbon-free emissions.