January 17, 2025
OEC Statement on FirstEnergy Executives Indicted for Role in HB6 and Alleged Bribery
Columbus, OH – Today, two former FirstEnergy executives, Chuck Jones and Michael Dowling, were indicted for their role in House Bill 6 and the alleged Public Utilities Commission of Ohio bribery scandal. Due to these briberies and schemes, in just the first half of 2025, Ohioans will still be forced to subsidize over $80.6 million in fossil fuel bailouts to failing coal-fired power plants.
The Ohio Environmental Council continues to call for the full repeal of House Bill 6, and state leadership that moves Ohio towards a clean energy future, not more fossil fuel bailouts. In 2020, the first year the bailouts were in place, Ohio consumers paid for millions of dollars in losses from these Cold War-era coal plants. The PUCO allowed ratepayers to cover all these 2020 losses, and the OEC is appealing that decision. Ohio energy policy will never serve Ohioans until the full repeal of HB 6.
The following quote can be attributed, in whole or in part, to Nolan Rutschilling, Managing Director of Energy Policy:
“These indictments are just the most recent reminder that Ohioans still suffer from the impacts of the House Bill 6 corruption scandal and the alleged PUCO bribery scandal. In a time when Ohio’s leaders are considering new, sweeping energy legislation, one thing is clear: Ohioans deserve to see House Bill 6 fully repealed. State energy policy must be developed transparently and not unduly favoring the fossil fuel industry or for-profit utilities. Ohio leaders must eliminate fossil fuel subsidies and create energy policy that serves the people, not powerful corporations.”
For more information, contact the OEC at media@theoec.org.
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The Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) is the state’s most comprehensive and effective environmental advocate for a healthier, more sustainable Ohio. The OEC develops and ensures the implementation of forward-thinking, science-based, pragmatic solutions to secure healthy air, land, and water for all who call Ohio home.