Last week, Ohio Representative Roy Klopfenstein introduced House Bill 15, which would set the foundation for reliable and affordable energy production for Ohio ratepayers for years to come while also creating an environment to attract data centers and manufacturers to the state. The bill would aim to curb the costs of rising energy by using market forces and reduced regulations to encourage Ohio-based energy production. 

However, the bill narrowly focuses on increasing energy production, particularly through natural gas and coal. Medical research shows that these forms of energy result in pollution that has damaging health impacts on Ohioans, especially our children. For example, peer-reviewed medical research indicates that living within a half mile of oil and gas production facilities is clearly correlated with negative health impacts including cancer, respiratory illness, fetal defects, blood disorders, and neurological problems. In Ohio, nearly 534,000 students go to school within this threat radius. 

In 2023, clean energy jobs grew 4.4% in Ohio, which was five times greater than overall job growth. Expanding the bill to include more clean energy sources would not only result in more abundant energy and jobs in Ohio, but also cleaner air for our children. 

Rev. Dean Van Farowe, EEN’s Ohio Outreach Coordinator, responds:

“As evangelicals who believe that creation care is a matter of life, we thank Representative Klopfenstein for advancing the conversation on reducing energy costs for Ohio families and ratepayers. Ohio needs a secure energy grid that is affordable, reliable, and clean. With new energy innovations, all three can be achieved. We look forward to working with the sponsors of House Bill 15 to continue to improve the bill to deliver abundant energy and new family-sustaining jobs to Ohio while also ensuring cleaner air for Ohio’s children to breathe and purer water for them to drink. Community solar and energy efficiency programs proposed during the last General Assembly would be powerful additions to achieve the diversified grid needed to supply Ohio with affordable, reliable, and clean energy for years to come.”