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The Fight Against HB 6 Continues…

Ohio Environmental Council, July 23, 2020

One year ago, House Bill 6 (HB 6)—widely condemned as the “worst energy bill of the 21st century”—was signed into law. Now we know just how bad this bill really was.

The disastrous legislation dismantled our renewable energy and energy efficiency standards, bailed out two antiquated nuclear plants and two polluting coal plants, and stuck Ohioans with dirtier air and higher utility bills.

And, as we suspected all along, the billion-dollar bailout that was strong-armed through the General Assembly appears to have been fueled by corrupt pay-to-play dealings with corporate utilities.

This week, Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder was arrested in what is being called the biggest public corruption scandal in Ohio history: a $60 million bribery scheme to enact HB6. According to the FBI’s complaint, FirstEnergy funneled bribes to Larry Householder to ensure passage of HB6 which gives them $1.3 billion from Ohioans like me and you. HB6 is corrupt at its core. It must be repealed immediately.

We hope you’ll speak out today to help build the future Ohioans deserve.

Demand Action Button

(Please note that clicking this button will take you to an action alert published by our sibling organization, the OEC Action Fund.)

For years, anti-renewable energy legislators have tried to repeal Ohio’s clean energy and energy efficiency standards. And for years, we have fought back to protect them. 

As our opponents cranked their attacks into overdrive last year, the OEC family of organizations and our partners did everything we could to stop HB 6. Our team of experts offered testimony and analysis of why this bill was bad for Ohio. We mobilized Ohioans to write OpEds, send letters, and call their legislators to voice their support for clean energy. When dark money and corporate pressure pushed this bill over the finish line, we kept fighting. But the obstacles were unprecedented and when the referendum campaign failed to obtain enough signatures to make the ballot, that didn’t stop our fight either. The OEC participated in the coalition effort to take the fight all the way to the courts. 

Through it all, supporters like you were there standing up against attack after attack on our future. We can’t quit now. 

Together, we will continue to fight for Ohio’s clean energy future. We will continue to fight for a stronger democracy free of such disgraceful corruption. Together, we will work towards the future that our communities and our children deserve. 

 

Demand Action Button

(Please note that clicking this button will take you to an action alert published by our sibling organization, the OEC Action Fund.)