Blog
March 16, 2025
Hello friends!
Community Solar is Back!
I just got word on Friday that the HB 15 is having proponent testimony on Wednesday March 19th at 3pm! This bill is an omnibus bill for energy in Ohio and has already received three hearings. This bill covers a wide array of energy issues (analysis and as introduced bill text can be found here.)
One of the policies on the table is Community Solar, or as the bill refers to the policy, Community Energy. The new bill continues many of the things we liked about HB 197, last session's bill.
The power that investor-owned utilities and fossil fuel corporations have in Ohio is a political reality that our cooperative and many others are fighting to change. On the whole, we think the benefits of support outweigh the downsides. Community Solar/Community Energy is a policy we can use to build the political and economic power to change our energy system!
Let's make our voices heard in Columbus!
You can submit either written testimony or you can come in-person. For this round of testimony, we are focused on written testimony. Either way, I created a google form that will do most of the work for you!
Complete this form by Tuesday 3/18/2025 at 11am to make your voice heard!
Supporters of last session's community solar bill in Columbus for proponent testimony
Alternatively, you can complete your own testimony by following the instructions below from our friends at Solar United Neighbors (SUN):
Our fellow member-owner, Sakinah Bryant, has been dealing with health problems for the last several months. She is looking for support to help keep their business, Doing It For My Eight Cleaning Services LLC, going and to raise money for a work van while she recovers. You can learn more and donate to her GoFundMe here.
Solidarity,– Craig, your Energy Democracy Organizer
Hello friends!
Community Solar is Back!
I just got word on Friday that the HB 15 is having proponent testimony on Wednesday March 19th at 3pm! This bill is an omnibus bill for energy in Ohio and has already received three hearings. This bill covers a wide array of energy issues (analysis and as introduced bill text can be found here.)
One of the policies on the table is Community Solar, or as the bill refers to the policy, Community Energy. The new bill continues many of the things we liked about HB 197, last session's bill.
- Most important for our co-op: it will allow our cooperative to build more solar in more places and see those savings on our bills each and every month.
- It has provisions to install 1,500 megawatts (mW) of energy generating capacity - enough to power 250,000 homes!
- It allows all Ohioans greater choice on where their energy comes from.
- It continues to promote distributed energy generation and can help turn brownfields from blights to sources of community wealth building!
- The change from solar to energy also reflects a significant change from last session's bill, it includes an all-of-the-above approach to distributed energy generation. This approach unfortunately could permit the construction of new fossil fuel infrastructure.
The power that investor-owned utilities and fossil fuel corporations have in Ohio is a political reality that our cooperative and many others are fighting to change. On the whole, we think the benefits of support outweigh the downsides. Community Solar/Community Energy is a policy we can use to build the political and economic power to change our energy system!
Let's make our voices heard in Columbus!
You can submit either written testimony or you can come in-person. For this round of testimony, we are focused on written testimony. Either way, I created a google form that will do most of the work for you!
Complete this form by Tuesday 3/18/2025 at 11am to make your voice heard!
Supporters of last session's community solar bill in Columbus for proponent testimony
Alternatively, you can complete your own testimony by following the instructions below from our friends at Solar United Neighbors (SUN):
Support letters and witness slips must be e-mailed to OHRenergyCommittee@ohiohouse.gov by this Tuesday 3/18 at 3:00pm (the actual proponent hearing will be Wednesday 3/19 at 3pm - details below).
To submit a support letter:
1) Complete the witness slip (form is here)
2) Draft a brief support letter (template here)
3) e-mail both documents to OHRenergyCommittee@ohiohouse.gov by this Tuesday March 18th at 3:00pm
Click HERE for talking points on HB15 - reminder, we want to hype “Community Energy” AND other positive aspects of the bill. Passing HB15 as a whole is the goal. Roger Sikes with Solar United Neighbors (and a member-owner!) is happy to answer questions or help folks craft simple + brief proponent testimony. Give him a call at 216-894-3558.
To submit a support letter:
1) Complete the witness slip (form is here)
2) Draft a brief support letter (template here)
3) e-mail both documents to OHRenergyCommittee@ohiohouse.gov by this Tuesday March 18th at 3:00pm
Click HERE for talking points on HB15 - reminder, we want to hype “Community Energy” AND other positive aspects of the bill. Passing HB15 as a whole is the goal. Roger Sikes with Solar United Neighbors (and a member-owner!) is happy to answer questions or help folks craft simple + brief proponent testimony. Give him a call at 216-894-3558.
Support Member-Owner Sakinah Bryant!
Solidarity,– Craig, your Energy Democracy Organizer
Cleveland Solar Cooperative
info@clevelandsolar.org
