Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, R-Glenford, unveiled House Bill 6 on April 12. Since then, it’s led to an all-out battle: 142 witnesses testified, more than $3-million spent on TV and radio ads to sway public opinion, and a dramatic walk-out by Democratic lawmakers from a hearing they said was unfair.

But a long line of opponents have given testimony.

Environmentalists don’t like that the bill seeks to wipe out renewable energy standards and energy efficiency programs that have been in place for a decade. And they aren’t happy that coal-burning plants could qualify for ‘clean energy’ grants.

Free market think tanks such as Americans for Prosperity and Buckeye Institute don’t like that the bill would allow the government to pick winners and losers – doling out grants to help some companies, rather than letting market forces do the work.

Natural gas industry interests don’t like that it would bail out nuclear energy – its competition in electricity generation.

Some manufacturers don’t like the surcharges, the anti-competitive approach or the overall uncertainty of what the bill may bring."

— Laura A. Bischoff, Dayton Daily News

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