BRUNSWICK, Maine — With state legislative primary elections and a general election on the horizon, Ohioans should mobilize to invest in the future of Ohio. While the H20hio initiative to combat waterborne lead poisoning and algal blooms is a vital step to safeguard health and the state’s water resources and to preserve the beauty of Ohio, statewide environmental efforts need to include a fight against fossil fuels.
As “the fourth-largest electricity consumer among the states and ranked among the top 10 states in electricity net generation,” according to the U.S. Energy Information Agency, Ohio has the opportunity to become a leader in renewable energy. I believe this begins with full repeal of House Bill 6, the 2019 energy-subsidy law. While partially repealed, this bill continues to threaten the environment, people, and the integrity of state.government.
As I grapple with the threat of climate change, the words of “Carmen Ohio” ring in my ears. The Ohio State University alma mater was among the lullabies of my childhood. My mom would sing, “The seasons pass, the years will roll; Time and change will surely show; How firm thy friendship … OHIO!”
It is up to us, with a “firm friendship” to Ohio, to advocate for and protect the beauty of the state.
Not only does fossil fuel production further the global threats of climate change, but the resulting toxins in the air also pose significant health risks to local populations, particularly children, as they take in a higher proportion of pollutants relative to their size. According to a 2017 study by the Health Effects Institute, larger changes in the prevalence of bronchitis symptoms were observed in communities that had larger changes in air pollutant levels. The impacts of fossil fuels on air quality is just one facet of the many threats of the fossil-fuel industry.
Despite these threats, the fossil-fuel industry has maintained support due to the abundance of jobs in the sector. As the great granddaughter of a steelworker, I understand the historical importance of coal to the growth of Ohio. However, a 2019 study done by Energy Innovation and Vibrant Clean Energy found that coal is increasingly uneconomic against new local wind and solar resources. The shift from fossil fuels to renewables is more sustainable, both for the health of citizens and the economy of Ohio.
While Gov. Mike DeWine signed into law a partial repeal of HB 6, including its nuclear subsidies, the remaining components of the bill stand counter to environmental progress in the state. This includes ratepayer subsidies for two coal plants, one of them in Indiana, which the Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel estimates have already cost Ohioans more than $258 million since 2019. Simultaneous to its support of fossil fuels, the bill also cut back Ohio utilities’ energy-efficiency programs and renewable-energy mandates.
Not only is HB 6 a threat to the environmental progress of Ohio, the alleged corruption of politicians behind the bill also undercuts the integrity of state government. While a federal grand jury has indicted former House Speaker Larry Householder and other Statehouse figures for alleged wrongdoing in their efforts to pass the bill, other politicians, such as Gov. DeWine, who supported HB 6 and signed it into law, must also be held accountable.
Jane Olsen is a student at Bowdoin College in Maine, where she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in English, government and environmental studies. (Photo by Dr. Brigitte Kerpsack Olsen)
I have witnessed firsthand the passion of the people of Ohio. I have stood next to my mom and my grandfather, a veteran and an OSU alumnus, as they questioned the referee during an Ohio State-Michigan football game. If we can match the devotion and concentration of the Buckeyes on the brink of a touchdown, we can make a powerful change for the future of the state and for the lives of Ohio children.
In this critical period before the Aug. 2 state legislative primary and a general election when the next governor and other key officials will also be elected, I am begging Ohioans to advocate for candidates and to back elected officials who support a full repeal of HB 6.
Jane Olsen is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in English, government, and environmental studies at Bowdoin College in Maine. Her mother’s family is from Youngstown, Ohio.
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