State Legislation
Electric Market Structure and Energy Policy
Amended Substitute Senate Bill 221, 127th General Assembly
Am. Sub. S. B. No. 221, the Ohio Energy Act of 2008 ("OEA08") revises Ohio's energy policy to address electric service price regulation, establish alternative energy benchmarks, provide for the use of renewable energy credits, establish energy efficiency standards, require greenhouse gas emission reporting and CO2 control planning for utility-owned generating facilities. OEA08 also has provisions dealing with energy price risk management, natural gas utilities revenue decoupling, and alternative energy research and development.
Conservation of Natural Resources
ORC 1502: Recycling, Waste Reduction, Litter Prevention
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Recycling and Litter Prevention administers the Recycling and Litter Prevention fund. The fund may be used by eligible agencies of the state, municipalities, and political subdivisions for research and development regarding source reduction, recycling, and litter prevention, and including, research and development regarding materials or products manufactured with recyclables.
ORC 1555.15 Coal research and development fund
Moneys obtained for coal research and development projects and moneys paid into the fund pursuant to section ORC 151.07 or 1555.08, shall be expended for the purpose of making grants and making or guaranteeing loans for coal research and development projects that will encourage the use of Ohio coal, to any individual, association, or corporation doing business in this state, or to any educational or scientific institution located in Ohio.
Public Utilities - Electric Service
ORC 4928 Competitive Electric Retail Service
Chapter 4928 enabled entry of competitive retail electric service providers into the previously exclusive territories of the incumbent investor-owned Ohio electricity utility service territories. The sections of this chapter establish the market transition periods, the competitive provider certification process, and other regulations for the new market format.
Energy Efficiency
Substitute House Bill Number 251 126th General Assembly
House Bill 251 specifies energy efficiency and conservation standards relating to facility construction and leasing that the Office of Energy Services in the Department of Administrative Services must promulgate and with which state agencies must comply. The Act requires boards of trustees of state institutions of higher education to adopt rules to carry out building, energy efficiency and conservation guidelines developed by a committee of those institutions in consultation with the Office of Energy Services. The Act also has several other provisions including changes to energy programs, the Oil and Natural Gas Marketing Program, the creation of the Advanced Energy Program and fund from the Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Program.