Energy

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association is warning lawmakers that House Bill 862 would let monopoly utilities use nuclear energy as a vehicle to get back into the generation business, protect their returns and put the financial risk on customers’ electric bills.

The AEP-supported proposal would create a “nuclear project financing order,” allowing electric distribution utilities to construct, own and operate nuclear generation. That would mark a major break from Ohio’s competitive electric market and reopen the door to the same customer-funded utility model Ohioans fought during the House Bill 6 era.

“Ohio should pursue nuclear energy, but not by handing monopoly utilities a new path back into generation ownership,” said Ryan Augsburger, OMA president. “This bill is not a nuclear development strategy. It is a utility ownership strategy.”

OMA said nuclear may have a role in Ohio’s energy future, but investment risk should belong with developers and investors, not captive customers. Nuclear should compete on its merits, not ride into law on a monopoly utility financing scheme backed by electric bills. 5/13/2026

Due to strong member interest, registration will close on Tuesday, May 19 for the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) Energy Committee meeting at Cenovus in Lima on Wednesday, May 27. Members can attend in person or virtually, but those planning to join the plant tour should register now to secure their spot.

On Wednesday, May 27, members can attend in person or virtually for a timely discussion on key energy issues, with in-person attendees also getting a firsthand look at the oldest continuously operating refinery in the United States as it celebrates 140 years of operation and service to the Lima community.

“Energy decisions being made today will shape what manufacturers pay, how they plan and how Ohio competes for years to come,” said Lindsey Short, OMA managing director of energy and advocacy services. “This meeting gives members a timely opportunity to cut through the noise, focus on the issues that matter and see firsthand the scale, complexity and importance of energy-intensive manufacturing in Ohio.”

The meeting will be held from 10 a.m. to noon, followed by lunch and a plant tour from 1 to 2:30 p.m. An optional member dinner will be held Tuesday, May 26 in Lima.

Members planning to stay overnight can reserve a room at the Wingate by Wyndham, 175 W. Market St., Lima, using group code 052626OHI, or by calling 419-228-7000 and asking for “The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association” group. The room block is available through today (Friday, May 15). 5/15/2026

PJM last week opened its interconnection queue for new power plant applications for the first time since 2022. PJM has been working through a significant backlog of interconnection requests for the past four years, not allowing any new applications to be submitted while capacity prices have soared and new generation is needed to bring prices back down. PJM hopes that their interconnection queue reform will make projects able to pass through the queue faster than previously. PJM is now estimating it needs a one- to two-year study time for new projects.

The new submissions are made up of natural gas, storage, nuclear, solar, wind, hydro and “other.” The other category consists of biomass, coal, methane, and fusion – which has never been scaled-up to commercial capacities. The new applications add up to approximately 220 GW of nameplate capacity, far more than PJM’s entire current peak load of about 160 MW.

The graphic above offers a breakdown of the technology resources newly submitted to PJM’s interconnection queue. While these projects may move through PJM’s study process in one to two years, approval does not guarantee construction. Projects can still take years to come online, and some may never be built.

The recent history is a reminder of that gap. Since 2020, PJM has processed more than 300 GW of proposed projects, but only 103 GW finalized signed interconnection agreements. Even after PJM approval, projects must still clear permitting, financing, supply chain hurdles and state siting requirements before reaching commercial operation.

PJM now has power plant proposals totaling multiple times its own peak load, but the real test is whether queue reform can turn project interest into actual generation quickly enough to ease historically high capacity prices. 5/4/2026

ISO New England has again lowered its 10-year electricity demand forecast, offering another reminder that long-term load projections can change quickly. ISO New England is the regional grid operator serving six New England states, similar to PJM’s role in Ohio and much of the Mid-Atlantic. The grid operator now expects annual electricity consumption to grow about 9% by 2035, down from prior forecasts of 11% growth by 2034 and 17% growth by 2033. The change reflects more conservative assumptions around electric vehicle and heat pump adoption.

That matters far beyond New England. In Ohio and across the country, utilities and grid planners are using forecasts tied to electrification, data centers and economic development to justify major infrastructure spending that could affect customer bills for years.

“Forecasts should guide planning, not become a blank check for customer-funded utility investment,” said Lindsey Short, managing director of energy and advocacy services for the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association. “Before manufacturers and other customers are asked to pay for projects tied to uncertain future load, regulators should demand transparency, independent review and accountability.” 5/5/2026

The Energy Committee is heading to Lima, and members should lock in their plans now.

Join the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association on Wednesday, May 27, at Cenovus for a 10 a.m. to noon energy discussion, followed by a networking lunch and optional tour of the nation’s oldest continuously operating refinery.

A member dinner will be held Tuesday, May 26.

Hotel rooms are available at the Wingate by Wyndham, 175 W. Market St. in Lima. Reserve online using group code 052626OHI, or call (419) 228-7000 and say you are with “The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association” group. The room block is available until May 15.

In-person and virtual options are available, but tour space is limited. Register now. 4/29/2026

AEP Ohio is proposing a 50-mile, 765-kilovolt transmission line across Pike, Jackson and Gallia counties to serve a planned data center campus in Piketon. The utility says the project will be paid for by the data center customer and is not expected to affect other Ohio customers’ rates.

That claim deserves close scrutiny. With utilities planning an estimated $1.4 trillion in grid investments nationwide by 2030, every large transmission project should face tough review over who pays, who benefits and whether costs could be shifted onto other customers later.

“The question is simple: will the customer creating the need pay the full cost, or will those costs eventually find their way onto everyone else’s bills?” said Lindsey Short, managing director of energy and advocacy services for the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association. “Manufacturers and families deserve clear answers before more infrastructure costs are locked in.” 4/28/2026

At a time when Ohio customers are facing higher energy costs, a new report says AEP CEO Bill Fehrman received $36.6 million in total compensation in 2025, making him the nation’s highest-paid utility executive. According to Columbus Navigator, the average Ohio worker would need about 550 years to earn what Fehrman made in a single year, based on federal wage data.

The issue is bigger than one paycheck. It is whether Ohio’s regulated utility system rewards value to customers or rewards utility growth, capital spending and shareholder returns while ratepayers absorb more risk.

“Ohio customers are being asked to pay more while utility executives are being rewarded like the system is working perfectly,” said Lindsey Short, managing director of energy and advocacy services for the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association. “That disconnect is exactly why Ohio needs stronger accountability, tougher scrutiny of utility spending and an energy system that puts customers ahead of shareholder returns.” 4/28/2026

A campaign to ban construction of large data centers in Ohio is racing to collect 413,487 valid signatures by July 1 to qualify for the November ballot, underscoring the political backlash building around power demand, water use, infrastructure costs and local control. Similar fights are emerging nationally, with lawmakers in at least 11 states introducing legislation to temporarily ban data centers. The proposed Ohio constitutional amendment would prohibit new data centers with peak loads of more than 25 megawatts per month.

“Ohio should not slam the door on major technology investment, but frustration like this does not come out of nowhere,” said Lindsey Short, managing director of energy and advocacy services for the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association. “When customers feel growth is being rushed, costs are being shifted and utilities are writing the rules, backlash becomes inevitable. The answer is not a statewide ban. It is transparency, accountability and protection for existing customers.” 4/30/2026

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) will bring its Energy Committee to Lima on Wednesday, May 27 for a meeting hosted by OMA member Cenovus Energy at the company’s Lima refinery. The visit will give manufacturers a timely opportunity to discuss major energy policy and market issues at a facility that has powered Ohio industry for generations. The Lima refinery, the oldest continuously operating refinery in the United States, is marking 140 years of operation and service to the community.

The program will include the committee meeting, a networking lunch and a guided plant tour, with a member dinner scheduled the evening before in downtown Lima.

“Energy decisions carry real consequences for manufacturers, and there is no better place to have that conversation than at a facility like the Lima refinery,” said Lindsey Short, OMA managing director of energy and advocacy services. “Bringing the committee on site keeps the discussion grounded in the real-world infrastructure, operations and reliability challenges that shape Ohio’s industrial economy.” 4/24/2026

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) is sounding the alarm over AEP Ohio’s proposed data center tariff, warning that major grid investment decisions could move forward before key questions about cost, risk and accountability are fully answered.

Ryan Augsburger, president of the OMA, discussed the issue in a recent interview with WSYX-TV anchor Mike McCarthy, focusing on utility assumptions, customer protections and the financial exposure facing existing ratepayers as large-load projects advance.

“Ohio cannot afford to let speculative growth claims drive costly decisions that leave existing customers exposed,” Augsburger said.

The story is expected to air on WSYX-TV in Columbus in mid-May 2026. 4/21/2026

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) on Tuesday backed Senate Bill 298 as a smart way to expand local energy projects in Ohio without shifting costs onto other electric customers.

OMA energy engineer John Seryak testified before the Senate Energy Committee in support of the bill, which would create a virtual net-metering mechanism for local generation sited at brownfields and similar properties. OMA said the legislation could open more opportunities for manufacturers and other large energy users to invest in local generation while capturing the value of transmission savings tied to those projects.

“We shouldn’t hesitate to attribute electrical transmission and generation savings to the project and customer whose investment produced these savings,” Seryak told lawmakers.

Lindsey Short, OMA managing director of energy and advocacy services, said the bill takes a practical approach to strengthening Ohio’s energy future.

“The bill is a fair, workable way to get more local generation built in Ohio,” Short said. “It creates more opportunities for investment, makes better use of viable sites and does so without shifting costs to other customers.”

Supporters say the projects could be developed more quickly than large transmission-connected resources, reduce strain on the grid and create more room for economic growth in Ohio. 4/14/2026

Early bird registration is now open for the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association’s (OMA) 2026 Energy Conference on Thursday, Aug. 27, at the Hilton Columbus Downtown, 401 N. High St., Columbus.

The conference is OMA’s premier energy event of the year, bringing together manufacturers, energy professionals and policy leaders for a full day focused on the issues driving cost, reliability and competitiveness.

Topics will include microgrids, on-site generation and energy efficiency; electricity and natural gas market updates; Ohio energy policy and regulatory developments; load forecasting; transmission; emerging behind-the-meter technologies; and lessons from peer manufacturers.

“Energy decisions are getting more complex, more expensive and more consequential,” said Lindsey Short, OMA managing director of energy and advocacy services. “This conference is where manufacturers get the facts, the strategy and the connections they need to stay ahead.”

Early bird pricing is $125 for OMA members, $250 for non-members and $99 for government attendees. Full agenda, speakers and additional event details will be announced soon.

Register now to lock in early bird pricing. 4/17/2026

The biggest question in Ohio’s energy debate is no longer whether the grid needs investment. It is whether customers are being asked to pay for upgrades tied to speculative demand rather than real, measurable load. Utilities say major infrastructure spending is necessary to maintain reliability and prepare for future growth, especially from large new loads such as data centers.

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) has warned that the biggest risk is not growth itself, but how speculative demand forecasts can be used to justify major grid investments long before that demand is proven. Because regulated utilities earn guaranteed returns on infrastructure spending, larger forecasts can translate into larger projects and higher costs for existing customers.

“Utilities have every reason to forecast high, because bigger projections help justify bigger projects and bigger returns,” said Lindsey Short, OMA managing director of energy and advocacy services. “When those forecasts are wrong, shareholders are protected and customers still pay. That is not how risk is supposed to work.”

OMA has pointed to AEP Ohio’s data center tariff as a key example of how projected growth can move quickly from speculation to planning assumption. Manufacturers support a reliable and modern grid, but the association says regulators must ensure investment decisions are grounded in verified demand, not hype about future load growth. 4/8/2026

A Summit County judge has set a late-September retrial for former FirstEnergy CEO Chuck Jones and ex-lobbyist Michael Dowling after their state bribery case ended in a mistrial. Prosecutors sought more time following a death in the family of a lead attorney, but Judge Susan Baker Ross pushed to keep the case moving and made clear she wants it resolved in 2026. The men face state and federal charges tied to allegations that FirstEnergy paid a $4.3 million bribe to Ohio’s former top utility regulator.

“This case has already cast a long shadow over Ohio energy policy,” said Lindsey Short, managing director of energy and advocacy services for the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association. “Getting it resolved matters because manufacturers and other customers deserve a system grounded in accountability, not scandal.” 4/9/2026

Ohio customers are set to pay roughly $3 billion for electric transmission this year as transmission prices continue a 15-year climb. Beginning in April 2026, manufacturing customers in AEP Ohio’s secondary and primary rate classes, all non-residential customers in Toledo Edison, and primary and transmission-level customers in Cleveland Electric Illuminating will see higher transmission charges. AES Ohio and Duke Energy have not yet finalized new transmission rates.

This cost surge did not begin with data center headlines. Utility transmission spending has been climbing for years, driven largely by supplemental transmission projects that face limited regulatory scrutiny even as the bills keep landing on customers.

That is why Ohio should be skeptical when utilities claim the latest tariff or rider will protect everyone else. AEP Ohio has argued its data center tariff shields other customer classes from infrastructure costs tied to large new load, but no data centers are currently enrolled in the tariff and transmission spending is still rising statewide. Ohio Manufacturers’ Association energy experts have raised that warning repeatedly: when utility spending keeps growing and customers keep paying more, the promised protections are not much protection at all. 3/30/2026

Special tariffs for data centers and other large loads are spreading quickly, but the core problem has not changed: utilities are still asking regulators and customers to make long-term decisions based on forecasts that may never become real. Utility Dive reported this week that large-load tariffs are proliferating nationwide, even as doubts remain about whether those tariffs are protecting other customers from risk.

That is why OMA has kept pressing the forecast-integrity issue in Ohio. As OMA has argued, AEP Ohio’s widely cited 30-gigawatt figure was never a real planning number. OMA energy engineer John Seryak said it was used to create urgency around the tariff case, not to reflect credible system needs.

“Utilities keep presenting these tariffs as risk management,” said Lindsey Short, OMA managing director of energy and advocacy services. “But the first risk regulators should manage is whether the underlying forecast deserves to be trusted in the first place.” 4/1/2026

Ohio House Democrats this week rolled out a proposal to freeze Public Utilities Commission of Ohio-approved utility rate increases for 12 months and send Ohioans a $150 energy dividend funded by a higher severance tax on oil and gas extraction, framing the package as immediate relief for customers facing rising bills.

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) said Ohioans do need relief, but argued the plan mistakes political theater for reform.

“Ohio families and manufacturers need relief, but gimmicks are not reform,” said Lindsey Short, OMA managing director of energy and advocacy services. “A one-year rate freeze and a one-time check may sound good at a press conference, but they do not fix the system that keeps driving bills higher.”

OMA said the real problem is not a lack of headlines or rebate checks, but a system that keeps pushing more risk onto customers through bad forecasts, distorted incentives and infrastructure spending untethered from real demand. Relief that leaves those drivers in place, OMA said, is relief built to expire. 3/26/2026

Oklo’s latest federal approvals offer another sign that advanced nuclear projects are inching ahead, even with major hurdles still to clear. Oklo has now received two Department of Energy nuclear safety design agreement approvals and a Nuclear Regulatory Commission materials license, marking new but still early progress toward deployment. Major authorization steps still remain as no Reactor Pilot Program company has yet reached the final documented safety analysis stage needed to begin operating. The update also carries an Ohio angle: Oklo and Centrus said in January that they plan to pursue a Pike County joint venture tied to HALEU deconversion services at Centrus’ Piketon site. 3/23/2026

Before the Ohio House voted on House Bill 646 earlier this week, the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) warned lawmakers not to let a convenient political storyline obscure the real problem in Ohio’s electricity debate. Data centers may be drawing the headlines, but the deeper threat to ratepayers is a system that rewards inflated utility forecasts, speculative planning and infrastructure costs that end up landing on everyone else.

In its letter sent to every member of the General Assembly, OMA argued that Ohio should be asking harder questions about the assumptions driving grid planning and electric bills. When utilities project demand too aggressively, the result is not just a paper exercise. It can trigger overpriced capacity procurement, unnecessary transmission expansion and higher costs for manufacturers, families and other customers.

“Ohio lawmakers should be very careful about building policy around a scapegoat while ignoring the real cost driver in plain sight,” said Lindsey Short, OMA managing director of energy and advocacy services. “When utilities can inflate demand, overbuild the system and send the bill to everyone else, that is not responsible planning. That is a direct threat to affordability, accountability and public trust.” 3/19/2026

Rick Platt, JobsOhio board member and president and CEO of the Heath-Newark-Licking County Port Authority, argues in a Columbus Dispatch guest column that the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) is right to reject the claim that data centers alone are driving higher electric bills.

Instead, he points to a utility structure that rewards inflated demand projections and exposes weak accountability for monopoly utilities. Platt warns that building major electric infrastructure around speculative data center load is a risky bet, especially if technological advances reduce future power needs, and says the greater danger is leaving other customers to pay for stranded investments. He also argues Ohio should not reverse course on electricity deregulation.

“Ohio customers should not be forced to finance infrastructure built on wishful thinking, inflated forecasts and utility self-interest,” said Lindsey Short, OMA managing director of energy and advocacy services. 3/16/2026