Americans for Prosperity – Ohio Releases New Energy Report with The Buckeye Institute
COLUMBUS, OH—Today, Americans for Prosperity-Ohio (AFP-OH) released its ‘Best Energy Policy for Ohio,’ an energy policy report in collaboration with The Buckeye Institute. The report focuses on Ohio’s current energy challenges while outlining actionable principles for lawmakers to use when making reforms to energy policy.
Excessive government regulations have driven up the cost of energy while jeopardizing the stability of Ohio’s power grid. Special interests have benefited, while Ohioans are left footing the bill. AFP-OH and The Buckeye Institute produced this report to identify key areas of reform that could lead to more affordable and reliable energy for Ohio.
The ‘Best Energy Policy for Ohio’ focuses on the following areas:
- Increased Energy Demand: The EPA’s excessive regulations on energy create challenges as the demand for energy rises, resulting in excessive costs for consumers.
- Clean Energy and Need for Reliable Power: Reliable energy is critical for powering homes and important infrastructure. The reliance on solar and wind, driven by regulations on fossil fuels, raises concerns about creating reliable power and maintaining a stable grid.
- Affordable Energy and Economic Growth: Affordable energy is essential to Ohio’s economy, where manufacturing accounts for over 15% of the workforce. Rising costs are a risk driving manufacturers to relocate, threatening economic growth.
- Power Plants and Regulatory Approvals: Building and operating power plants and transmission lines face complex regulatory hurdles, often preventing critical energy infrastructure projects.
- Basic Principles of Good Energy Policy:
- End Government Subsidies That Damage Energy Markets
- Focus on Energy Reliability and Affordability
- The Permitting Process Needs to be Faster and More Efficient
- Environmental Policies Should Promote Well-Being
- Abundant Energy is Needed for Prosperity
- Promote Transparency and Competition
AFP-OH State Director Donovan O’Neil released the following statement:
“This partnership between Ohio’s leading free-market grassroots organization, AFP-Ohio, and the state’s foremost free-market think tank, The Buckeye Institute, sets the stage for a transformative approach to energy policy in Ohio.
“The six principles outlined in this report provide a clear roadmap for the 136th General Assembly to pursue policies rooted in reliability, affordability, abundance, and transparency. We are confident this marks the beginning of the end for cronyist energy policymaking and the dawn of a consumer-centered energy future for all Ohioans.”
The Buckeye Institute Vice President of Policy and Executive Director of the Economic Research Center, Rea S. Hederman Jr., released the following statement:
“Government regulations and taxpayer-funded subsidies have rewarded inefficiencies, hampered competition and increased the price of the energy.
“Ohioans deserve a better, smarter, more principled energy policy that reduces bureaucratic red tape and helps ensure a healthy supply of affordable, reliable energy. Policymakers must act now to prevent a severe crisis in the not-too-distant future.”
