Columbus, OH – On Tuesday, The Buckeye Institute testified (see full text below or download a PDF) before the Ohio House Energy Committee on the policies in Ohio House Bill 15—many of which were recommended by The Buckeye Institute and American for Prosperity-Ohio in Better Energy Policy for Ohio. The policies, if adopted, would help ensure a healthy supply of affordable, reliable energy to meet the state’s rising consumer demands.

In his testimony, Greg R. Lawson, a research fellow at The Buckeye Institute, noted that House Bill 15 is “the most free-market piece of energy legislation since the deregulation efforts in the late 1990s” and praised the bill, which:

• Ends government subsidies that damage energy markets;
• Incentivizes new energy production by lowering taxes on new generations;
• Streamlines the siting process for new generation and transmission;
• Eliminates electric security plans and;
• Ensure utilities remain focused on transmission and distribution—not generation.

To improve the bill, Lawson urged lawmakers to:

• Require the state to draw “heat maps” for natural gas pipelines to help manage their capacity;
• Allow virtual net metering on brownfields to provide additional ways to expand energy production and;
• Allow energy generators to develop “microgrids” to facilitate large-scale demand by major consumers like data centers and high-end manufacturing.

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Embracing 21st Century Energy Policy for Ohio

Interested Party Testimony
Ohio House Energy Committee
Ohio House Bill 15

Greg R. Lawson, Research Fellow
The Buckeye Institute
March 18, 2025

As Prepared for Delivery

Chair Holmes, Vice Chair Klopfenstein, Ranking Member Glassburn, and members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify regarding Ohio House Bill 15.

My name is Greg R. Lawson. I am the research fellow at The Buckeye Institute, an independent research and educational institution—a think tank—whose mission is to advance free-market public policy in the states.

I appreciate the opportunity to testify again regarding House Bill 15, the most free-market piece of energy legislation since the deregulation efforts in the late 1990s. As drafted, the bill adheres to sound energy policies recommended recently by The Buckeye Institute and Americans for Prosperity. It rightly ends government subsidies that damage energy markets, incentivizes new energy production by lowering taxes on new generations, streamlines the siting process for new generation and transmission, eliminates electric security plans, and continues to ensure utilities remain focused on transmission and distribution—not generation. And, as The Buckeye Institute suggested during prior testimony, it creates readily accessible maps of geographic “hotspots” that require more electricity generation and/or transmission.

Several amendments, however, could improve the bill even more. 

First, in addition to electricity “hotspots,” Ohio should draw similar “heat maps” for natural gas pipelines to help manage their capacity. Natural gas remains a critical source for generating electricity and future supply interruptions must be avoided as residential and industrial uses increase demand.

Second, as The Buckeye Institute previously testified regarding Senate Bill 275 during the last General Assembly, a virtual net metering option on brownfields could provide additional ways to expand energy production for users beyond the major energy consumers. The Buckeye Institute suggests including the virtual net metering option alongside the community energy pilot included in the current bill. We also recommend allowing market participants to develop “microgrids” to facilitate large-scale demand by major consumers like data centers and high-end manufacturing.

House Bill 15 takes great strides toward meeting Ohio’s current and future energy challenges.

Thank you for your time and I look forward to answering any questions that the Committee may have.

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