September 8, 2025
Ohio’s Community Energy Legislation Could Help Families Save on Bills and Strengthen the Grid
Ohio’s energy policy is again at a crossroads. As energy bills climb, many families, renters, and small businesses feel squeezed. Two new bills, House Bill 303 and Senate Bill 231, would create Ohio’s first statewide Community Energy Program, opening the door for Ohioans to subscribe to local clean energy projects and save money on their rising utility bills. Key features include:
- 1,500 MW pilot statewide: to be phased in through the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO)
- Equity guarantee: at least 60% of each project must be divided into small subscriptions (40 kW or less) so households, renters, and even small businesses can participate
- Project variety: facilities must be up to 10 MW (or 20 MW if located on rooftops or distressed sites like brownfields)
- Strong consumer protections: no upfront costs, no credit checks, standardized disclosures, portable subscriptions if you move, and guaranteed savings.
- Fair billing: PUCO sets credits that reflect true value, no unfair cost-shifting
This design ensures consumer choice, fairness, and transparency from day one.
Why it Matters Right Now
- Energy Bills Are Rising Fast
Many Ohio families are seeing their utility costs climb. Community energy offers a tangible solution for lowering bills, typically ranging from 5% to 20%, with guaranteed savings under this proposal.
- Access for Many, Not Just the Few
Nearly half of American households can’t install rooftop solar, whether due to renting, shaded or unsuitable roofs, or upfront costs. Community energy breaks down that barrier and ensures renters and low-income families finally have a pathway to savings.
- Boosts Local Jobs and Investment
While HB 303 and SB 231 don’t include specific economic estimates, an Ohio University analysis of a similar-sized community solar pilot project highlights the potential: as much as $5.6 billion in local economic activity, over 27,000 created job-years, and over $400 million in local tax revenue over the program’s lifespan.
- Grid Reliability and Resilience
With rising demand from AI, data centers, and EVs, and more extreme weather straining the grid, community energy eases peak summer pressures, adds local resilience during storms, and strengthens Ohio’s energy reliability for the long term.
Federal Support Was Slashed…Ohio Must Act Now
On August 7, 2025, the Trump EPA terminated the Solar for All program, a $7 billion federal initiative aimed at helping low-income households access solar. That move pulled millions in grants away from Ohio communities, including efforts in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, and Akron. Many households stand to lose around $400/year in potential savings.
This rollback makes Ohio’s own action even more critical. Without a state-led solution like community energy, many residents, especially lower-income households, will be left behind as federal support fades.
Conclusion: Stop Kicking the Can
As of February 2025, 24 states and Washington D.C. have policies that support community solar, 20 of which include provisions for low-and moderate-income households. Ohio has debated community solar and community energy for years. It appeared as HB 197 in the last General Assembly, briefly made its way into HB 15 before being nixed from the final legislation earlier this year, and now returns as the most comprehensive proposal yet in HB 303 and SB 231.
Ohio can no longer afford to kick the can down the road. Energy demand is climbing, federal support has been pulled back, and families are already feeling the strain of rising utility costs. Community energy is a commonsense solution that delivers affordable power, equitable access, local jobs, healthier air, and a more reliable grid.
The statehouse has a choice: delay yet again, or act now. Let’s give Ohioans the power to take control, cut bills, and build a more equitable, reliable energy future.
