The Ohio Business Energy Partnership worked with its engaged companies to identify the issues hindering a company’s access to carbon free generation.
After hosting multiple policy workshops, the Ohio Business Energy Partnership developed four key policy pillars to drive the group’s advocacy efforts:
1
The Power of Markets Will Boost Ohio’s Economic Vitality
Access to a deregulated competitive energy marketplace is an economic advantage for large power users in Ohio. Businesses considering locating or expanding operations here see energy choice as a major plus. Our state must maintain and strengthen wholesale and retail choice and ensure companies have free market options to source energy products of their choice– including to meet their own sustainability goals.
2
Invest in Transmission Infrastructure to Meet Rising Demand
Investing in grid capacity is essential to meeting businesses’ demand for power when and where they need it. To do so, we must speed up the interconnection process, enabling new projects to connect to the grid in a timely manner. Electric utility infrastructure needs to be updated to handle increased load through things such as Grid Enhancing Technologies and Advanced Reconductoring; and to add new infrastructure to accommodate Ohio’s growth. If non-utility providers are capable of building transmission, their participation should be considered.
3
Control Energy Costs & Increase Reliability
Manufacturers and large employers across the state are seeking access to an energy supply that is reliable, affordable, and increasingly, carbon-free. Having a diversified energy mix with competitive pricing is vital to meeting that need. Ensuring this energy mix includes solutions to support available, always-on power, such as utility-scale storage, while minimizing energy waste, is also necessary.
4
Remove Regulatory Barriers to In-State Generation
The process for approval and siting of new energy projects in Ohio is lengthy and uncertain. Ohio should be the best state in the PJM region for project developers and investors looking to build generation. Improving our siting process will also boost local communities looking to attract economic development and grow their tax base. The Ohio Power Siting Board process should contain more clear timelines and continue to allow local communities to benefit from payment in lieu of tax (“PILOT”) arrangements.