As evangelicals, we envision a world with abundant life for all. House Bill 303, which establishes a pilot program for community energy to diversify Ohio’s grid with more clean, affordable energy, is a step in the right direction. Having passed the House of Representatives, the bill now moves to the Ohio Senate.
In Response, EEN Ohio Outreach Coordinator Rev. Dean Van Farowe released the following statement:
“As evangelicals, we have a biblical mandate to care for God’s good creation and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:37).The community energy pilot program included in House Bill 303 will help Ohio families feeling the crunch of high energy costs by setting Ohio on a path to bring more affordable, clean, and renewable energy onto our grid. Diversifying Ohio’s energy sources with more clean renewables will also improve our children’s health by cutting pollution, create local jobs, and support farmers in stewarding their land while generating much-needed additional income.
“Ohio has historically been an energy leader, but we have been falling behind other states in the transition to clean, renewable energy. Twenty-four other states have already passed community energy legislation, and it’s time for Ohio to finish the job. We are grateful to House Representatives Sharon Ray (R-66) and James Hoops (R-81) for their leadership in sponsoring this bipartisan effort and call on the Ohio Senate to swiftly take up this bill.”
