Chavez Joins Governor DeWine for Signing of 21st Century Energy Policy

COLUMBUS—Ohio set the standard today for a modern 21st Century energy policy that focuses on reliability, affordability, and accountability as Governor Mike DeWine signed the bipartisan overhaul bill into law. 

Passed unanimously by the Ohio Senate, the law focuses on increasing Ohio's power supply by prioritizing baseload power projects.

"If you put Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia together as a country, it would be the third biggest energy producer in the world," said Senator Brian Chavez who chairs the Senate's Energy Committee. "We have the supply and the technology to power the grid for all foreseeable future economy and quality of life needs."

"This law has the capacity to make our great state a net exporter of power," said Senate President Rob McColley.

Ohio is home to a rich supply of natural gas and the bill leverages that clean energy source to bring new projects online to power the grid well into the 21st Century.

Senator Bill Reineke sponsored the original version of the bill in the Senate which adds strong reforms to accountability for consumers.

"Ohio families won't see additional riders automatically appearing on their power bills any longer," said Senator Reineke. "Energy companies will need to open their books through a traditional rate case to justify additional charges used to cover upgrades to the grid and that brings accountability to Ohio consumers. 

Watch our exclusive interview with President McColley, Senator Chavez, and Senator Reineke following the bill signing ceremony at the Governor's mansion, and find more photos here.