Buckeye Reporter

The Buckeye Institute has expressed its support following the Ohio General Assembly's approval of Ohio House Bill 15. The legislation, now awaiting Governor DeWine's signature, aims to ensure an ample supply of affordable and reliable energy to accommodate increasing demand within the state.

Rea S. Hederman Jr., executive director of the Economic Research Center and vice president of policy at The Buckeye Institute, articulated his approval of the bill’s passage. Hederman emphasized the significance of House Bill 15 for Ohio residents concerned about energy costs and reliability. “The passage of Ohio House Bill 15 is the best news for Ohioans worried about affordable, reliable energy in more than a quarter of a century. With the passage of House Bill 15, Ohio sets a national example and boldly reclaims its leadership in free-market energy policy,” he said.

The bill features measures that eliminate inefficient subsidies and encourage private sector participation—strategies advocated by The Buckeye Institute and Americans for Prosperity-Ohio. Hederman highlighted that these policies would foster innovation to shape Ohio's energy landscape. He noted the state's current growth in data centers, AI training, and the re-shoring of critical industries as areas necessitating a more robust, resilient power infrastructure. “At a time when the state is seeing an explosive growth of data centers and AI training, along with the re-shoring of critical industries, Ohio needs a stronger, more resilient power infrastructure, and House Bill 15 will deliver,” Hederman stated.