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Small rooftop solar systems in Ohio cost on average around $13,000 before tax credits, according to the website EnergySage. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, May 2, 2024

EPA’s Solar for All Program aims to help Ohioans lower energy bills, create jobs

The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $156 million to Midwestern states, including Ohio, to help residents lower their energy bills through …

A flooded site at the Austin Master Services toxic-waste storage facility in Martin's Ferry, Ohio. (Jill Hunkler)

Court issues restraining order against fracking waste-storage facility

Environmental groups say more should be done to protect people's health from what they call toxic, radioactive sludge. A court granted a temporary …

$A new fracking well pad visible from the property of Ohio resident Randi Pokladnik. (Randi Pokladnik) <br />$

Ohio considers opening 40,000 acres in Wayne National Forest to fracking

Ohio's Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comments - and will answer questions in virtual sessions today and tomorrow, on a draft …

The development of worker cooperatives by ReImagine Appalachia is intended to revive the economy across Ohio and nearby states. (Adobe Stock)

ReImagine Appalachia plans co-ops to kick-start new energy economy

Leaders in Ohio and the other Appalachian states have a plan to turn the regional economy around. Natural resources from the Appalachian region once …

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said the indictment related to House Bill 6 is not only about the legislation:

FirstEnergy abandons interim clean energy goals to address climate change

Ohio-based FirstEnergy also comes in "first" to eliminate its short-term 2030 emissions reduction goal amid an ongoing bribery investigation related t…

There are nearly 1 million acres of modern coal mines in 12 states that have not yet been reclaimed, according to analyses by Appalachian Voices and the Western Organization of Resource Councils. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Advocates propose solutions to stop zombie mines in Ohio, other states

Advocates from coal-mining communities are proposing a roadmap to help address and prevent so-called "zombie mines," - abandoned mine lands on hold in…

In 2023, the USDA Forest Service and AmeriCorps signed a five-year agreement to establish the Forest Corps, which aims to create Job opportunities that reduce wildfire risk, support reforestation and make national forests and grasslands healthier and more resilient. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Biden’s Climate Corps could bring jobs to Appalachian Ohio

A Biden administration program called the American Climate Corps aims to hire and train 20,000 people in conservation, climate and clean-energy jobs…

Bowling Green, Ohio, resident Joe DeMare installed solar panels on his home to lower his monthly energy bills. (DeMare)

Bowling Green, Ohio, residents say costly power plant drives up energy bills

Some residents of Bowling Green, Ohio, are saying the city's main power source, Prairie State Energy Campus in Illinois, is expensive, dirty…

Ohio is home to the Wayne State National Forest. A proposed federal rule would greenlight using national forests for carbon-capture operations. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio environmental groups skeptical of carbon-capture rule for public lands

The Biden administration is considering a rule change to allow carbon dioxide from air or industrial processes to be captured and stored in national p…

Appalachia is home to 26.3 million people and covers 206,000 square miles, encompassing 423 counties in 13 states, according to the Appalachian Regional Commission. (Adobe Stock)

Federal funding could transform Ohio Valley into a manufacturing hub

Manufacturers in Ohio employ around 12% of the state's workforce, and advocates say the state's Appalachian region could bolster its economy by …

The Department of Energy is revoking $37 million previously awarded to Ohio's six-turbine Icebreaker wind project, which has been in the works since 2009. (Florian Kunde/Adobe Stock)

Future of offshore wind in Lake Erie in flux as Icebreaker project shelved

Offshore wind development in the Great Lakes region has had a turbulent history and faced many challenges. Initially considered a promising location …

Clean-air advocacy groups and the electric truck sector are calling on state governments to consider tax credits that would make EV trucks more affordable. (Adobe Stock)

EV companies call for building heavy-duty vehicle infrastructure

Clean-energy advocates in Ohio and around the country say now is the time for the government to ensure the nation has the medium- and heavy-duty truck…

Methane waste occurs when gas is leaked, vented or flared from oil and gas infrastructure. (Adobe Stock)

Report: In Ohio, much industry-produced methane goes to waste

Ohio oil and gas companies wasted $93 million worth of natural gas in 2019, enough to meet the yearly energy demands of the state's most populous …

Harmful chemicals including lead, particulate matter, pesticides, and phthalates added to plastics, impair brain development in children. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio children are being harmed by toxic chemicals

Children of color and from low-income families in Ohio and across the nation are not only exposed to more dangerous toxic chemicals including lead…

Residential solar power installations rose by 34% from 2.9 gigawatts in 2020 to 3.9 gigawatts in 2021, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Residents sue Ohio city over rooftop solar fees

Residents in Bowling Green continue to push back against the Ohio city's tax on residential solar panels. One couple has filed a takings-claim …

Advocates tout blue hydrogen as a clean, low-carbon way to produce energy from methane or coal, while reducing the world's greenhouse gases emissions. Opponents counter its benefits are overstated. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Blue hydrogen hype not backed up by science

New research from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis found making hydrogen from natural gas, so-called "blue hydrogen," is not …

Climate change board games emphasize teamwork and group success. Either all players win together, or no one survives. (dvande/Adobe Stock)

Board games help players understand climate change

By Debra J. Rosenthal for The Conversation.Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi for Ohio News Connection for the Public News Service-Conversation …

The share of electric cars in total sales has more than tripled in three years, from around 4% in 2020 to 14% in 2022, according to IEA. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Ohio Drivers Remain Interested in Electric Vehicles

Despite reports electric vehicle sales are slowing down, experts say consumer interest in Ohio remains high. Four in 10 Americans said they are …

$New polling shows nearly two-thirds of Ohioans are opposed to or unsure about fracking. (Adobe Stock)$

Polls: Ohioans Skeptical More Fracking Would Bring Benefits

At a time when Ohio state lawmakers are pushing to expand fracking on public lands, polling in recent years finds most residents are either strongly …

$By 2025, estimated health damages caused by methane leakage during fracking would cost $13-29 billion each year, according to the consulting firm Seed Scientific. (Adobe Stock)<br />$

Dangers of Fracking Wastewater Put Spotlight on 'Halliburton Loophole'

A law known as the "Halliburton Loophole" is under growing scrutiny. It exempts oil and gas companies from revealing the chemicals they use in the …

This year, Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill 507 into law, which approves licenses for companies seeking to extract natural resources from state lands. (Adobe Stock)

OH Groups Want More Public Feedback on Leasing State Lands for Oil, Gas

Residents and environmental groups say they're concerned about public notice and comment processes for leasing state lands for oil and gas extraction…

$On April 7, 2023, Ohio's HB 507 went into effect requiring the leasing of state parks for fracking, redefining methane gas as$ ">

Judge Denies Environmental Groups Request to Block Fracking on State Lands

Environmental Groups faced a setback this week when their legal petition to stop the mandatory leasing of public lands for fracking was denied by a Fr…

Train cars containing hazardous chemicals burned after a Feb. 3 derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. (Jamie Cozza)<br /><br />

How Dangerous Was Ohio Chemical Train Derailment?

By Andrew J. Whelton for The Conversation.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Ohio News Connection for the Public News Service-Conversation …

Photo caption: An oil refinery in east Toledo, Ohio. (Ted Auch/FrackTracker Alliance 2019)

OH Governor Greenlights Fracking on State Lands

Environmentalists in Ohio say they're concerned oil and gas operations planned on state lands could harm the health and property of citizens living ne…

Exposure to polluted sites such as coal-ash ponds can cause cancer, respiratory issues and other health problems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

EPA Civil Cases Against Industrial Polluters at Record Low

The Environmental Protection Agency's enforcement of federal pollution rules has plummeted. In 2022, the agency referred 88 cases to the Justice …

More than 220,000 productive oil-and-gas wells have been drilled in Ohio, around 60,000 of which are in current operation, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. (Adobe Stock)

New EPA Rules on Methane Could Be a Win for Ohio's Economy

The Environmental Protection Agency has released rules which would for the first time require regular inspections of all methane-emitting oil and gas …

$Hydraulic fracturing relies on water supplies from ponds, streams and reservoirs, which research suggests can impact water flow. (Ohio Northern University)$

New Research Dives into Fracking’s Impact on Water Flow in Ohio

Fracking is a very water-intensive industry, and a new study dives into the impact of unconventional oil and gas drilling on aquatic ecosystems in …

Average home heating costs are expected to rise by 17.2% since last winter's heating season. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Ohio's Winter Crisis Program Begins

Rising energy costs are nothing short of frightening for many Ohioans as cooler fall temperatures will soon settle in. But assistance is available …

$Clean-up of an August 2021 fracking waste spill near Barnesville, Ohio reportedly didn't begin until three days later. (Jill Hunkler)$

Groups Ask EPA to Revoke Ohio’s Authority to Regulate Fracking Waste Wells

More than two dozen citizen, environmental and faith groups want the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to revoke Ohio's authority to regulate …

The 134th Ohio General Assembly will end in a lame-duck session at the end of the year. (mcsquishee/Flickr)

Ohio General Assembly Begins

The second year of the 134th Ohio General Assembly officially starts today, as both the state House and Senate convene. One of the most urgent tasks …

Oil and gas companies dispose of liquid waste in injection wells. (eleonimages/Adobe Stock)

Groups Say Ohio Needs to Strengthen Rules for Oil and Gas Waste

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Groups say new draft rules proposed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) do not go far enough to properly regulate …

The Home Weatherization Program returns an estimated $2.78 in non-energy benefits for every $1.00 invested. (Adobe Stock)

45 Years of Making Ohio Homes Warmer and Safer

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- As chilly autumn temperatures set in around the state, and National Weatherization Day arrives tomorrow, a program helping Ohioans …

The Build Back Better plan would support both workforce training and the creation of clean-energy jobs, such as in the solar industry. (Adobe Stock)

Sustainable Businesses to Congress: "Pass Build Back Better"

CLEVELAND -- As Congress gears up to vote on the Build Back Better plan, President Joe Biden's climate and social policy agenda, a letter from …

A former regulator took more than $4 million from FirstEnergy to further the company's interests. (Adobe Stock)

Critics Continue Calls for Big-Picture Review of FirstEnergy's Dealings

By Kathiann M. Kowalski for Eye on Ohio, The Ohio Center for Investigative Journalism Broadcast version by Mary Schuermann for Ohio News Connection…

Ohio lawmakers seem at odds over what to do about an energy-bailout bill signed last year, but mired in scandal ever since. (Adobe Stock)

House Bill 6 Resurfaces in Ohio's Lame-Duck Session

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio's controversial energy-bailout legislation at the center of a bribery scandal is getting some new attention in Columbus this …

Columbus and Grove City are planning to transition to 100% renewable energy from new wind and solar generation facilities in the state. (Adobe Stock)

Groups Applaud "Seismic Shift" in Clean-Energy Landscape

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Cities around Ohio are creating a seismic shift in the state's energy landscape. Voters in Columbus and Grove City this month …

Most Ohio voters polled said they support a repeal of controversial energy-bailout legislation that passed last year. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio Voters Agree on Repeal of House Bill 6

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- During these highly polarized times, one thing Ohioans on both sides of the aisle seem to agree on is the repeal of House Bill 6…

Several Ohio communities are setting clean energy goals to help combat climate change. (AdobeStock)

Call: All Hands on Deck to Power a Clean Future Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A new coalition is inviting communities to join an effort to create what it calls a healthier and more prosperous Ohio for …

Dark money groups emerged in force after the U.S. Supreme Court Citizens United case in 2010. (Adobe Stock)

Dark Money Dominated Ohio's Nuclear Subsidy Saga

Print version by By Kathiann M. Kowalski Broadcast version by Mary Schuermann Kuhlman Reporting for the Eye on Ohio, The Ohio Center for …

An investigation by Rolling Stone magazine found the waste from Marcellus wells that crowds some area roads is radioactive enough to be seen as a threat to workers and the public. (Bill Hughes)

Radioactive Marcellus, Utica Well Waste Flows through 'Loophole'

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A federal loophole means millions of tons and billions of gallons of radioactive natural gas waste are being disposed of as if they …

Does Senate Bill 33 chill free speech or protect public safety? (Adobe Stock)

Ohio 'Anti-Protest' Bill Could Move to House Floor

COLUMBUS, Ohio – An Ohio House committee could vote today to approve so-called "anti-protest" legislation. The House Public Utilities …

Weatherization crews in Ohio use energy audits and diagnostic equipment to identify ways to improve a home's energy use. (AdobeStock)

Thousands of Ohio Homes Winter-Ready Thanks to Weatherization

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The comfort level of Ohio homes will be put to the test as the first major cold front of the season moves into the region…

Groups opposed to House Bill 6 need more than 265,000 signatures to get a referendum on the ballot in 2020. (distell2610/Pixabay)

It's Deadline Day for Anti-Nuclear Bailout Referendum

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohioans who want voters to decide the future of a new clean-energy law soon will know if their efforts are fruitful. Today is …

Vehicle emissions have been linked to higher rates of asthma and premature death. (Rishabh Mishra/Flickr)

Mayors, Health Groups Slam Plan to Lower Emissions Standards

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Groups concerned about air quality, climate change and local control are speaking out to oppose the Environmental Protection …

Energy-efficiency jobs account for 24% of all energy jobs in Ohio. (Auremar/AdobeStock)

Energy-Efficiency Jobs Continue to Boom in Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Energy-efficiency jobs are booming in Ohio, and the pace is not expected to slow any time soon. According to a report …

A new report says sometimes even the workers at oil and gas wells are unaware of the chemicals being used on-site. (Andy Ilmberger/Adobe Stock)

Report: Secret Fracking Chemicals a Concern for Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Troubling information has been uncovered about the use of so-called classified chemicals in fracking operations in Ohio…

Two of Ohio Valley Electric Corp.'s coal plants will receive subsidies under House Bill 6. (William Alden/Flickr)

DeWine Signs Energy "Bailout" Bill

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio electric customers soon will be footing the bill for some aging coal-fired power plants. Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill 6 …

About 1,500 direct jobs are supported by federal weatherization funding. (highwaystarz/Adobe Stock)

Ohio Weatherization Programs Could Get More Federal Dollars

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Weatherization programs in Ohio could get a federal funding boost. Last week, a U.S. House committee marked-up HB 2041…

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OH: Energy Policy