Energy Management

Bill to Subsidize EV Charging Stations Gets More Scrutiny

Earlier this spring, the OMA raised red flags regarding Senate Bill 307, the latest Statehouse proposal threatening Ohio’s energy competitiveness. Now the bill has been examined by Cleveland.com in this article. SB 307 “would subsidize big utility companies’ plans to build a network of company-owned electric-vehicle charging stations while passing the costs of building them along to customers, whether they use them or not,” the story says.

The Plain Dealer quotes Rachael Carl, managing director of OMA’s public policy services, as saying the bill “would expose customers to new costs from the riders that would finance electric car charging stations, while providing little to no guardrails to prevent excessive increases in Ohioans’ power bills.” 5/31/2022

The History of U.S. Energy Independence

As gasoline and diesel prices continue to set new record highs, VisualCapitalist.com has published this infographic illustrating America’s history of dependence on crude oil from foreign nations. In 2009, for the first time since 1970, U.S. oil production increased due to the shale boom — and by 2019, the U.S. had become the world’s largest oil producer. As of last year, the U.S. was a net exporter of refined petroleum products and hydrocarbon liquids, but remained a net importer of crude oil. 6/1/2022

D.C. Shifts Focus to Refining Capacity

As fuel prices remain at or near record levels, the Biden administration is examining shuttered refineries, according to recent reports by Bloomberg. An industry insider told the Washington Examiner that “green policies and ESG investment pressures favoring shifting away from fossil fuels” could hinder initiatives to reopen or invest in additional refinery capacity. 6/1/2022

Natural Gas Futures Break $9

Natural gas futures surpassed $9 per MMBtu on Wednesday, May 25, taking prices to levels not seen since 2008. Experts have attributed the price spike to three key catalysts: little production growth, high liquified natural gas exports, and storage levels that are well below the five-year average. 5/25/2022

FERC Chair Nominated for Second Term

President Biden has nominated Richard Glick for another term as chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), reports say. Glick, whose term ends June 30, is one of three Democrats on the five-seat FERC. He continues to face criticism regarding FERC’s efforts to expand the agency’s scope of considerations to include greenhouse gas emissions when considering new pipeline projects. 5/23/2022

OMA: Current Draft of EV Bill Would Cost Electric Customers

On May 17, the Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 307, a wide-ranging plan to boost Ohio’s electric vehicle (EV) industry. The bill proposes to inject $85 million into the state education grants, factory retooling programs, and similar efforts, while providing vehicle sales tax incentives worth an estimated $55 million to $70 million a year.

Unfortunately, the bill would also constitute a massive new financial liability for electricity customers, including manufacturers.

Testifying as an interested party, Rachael Carl, the OMA’s managing director of public policy services, told lawmakers that SB 307, in its current form, would “expose customers to new costs from the riders that would finance electric car charging stations,” while providing “little to no guardrails to prevent excessive increases in Ohioans’ power bills.” Read the OMA’s testimony. 5/18/2022

National TV Host Examines Electric Utility Scandals — Including Ohio’s

In his late-night show on HBO, host John Oliver recently examined scandals involving the nation’s electric utility companies — and how they’re often incentivized to conduct activities that don’t necessarily benefit customers.

At the 15:45 minute mark of the segment, Oliver provides his take on the House Bill 6 scandal in Ohio, spotlighting FirstEnergy’s payments to former PUCO Chair Sam Randazzo in the years preceding his chairmanship. 5/19/2022

Higher Natural Gas Prices Expected This Summer

U.S. natural gas prices have more than doubled since the start of the year, but summer demand could send prices at least another 25% higher, experts say. CNBC reports utilities that normally switch to coal when natural gas prices surge are finding coal is even more expensive. 5/18/2022

Hydrogen Power Plant Planned for Southern Ohio

A hydrogen-fueled power plant is being proposed in Piketon, Ohio. According to the Southern Ohio Diversification Initiative, an economic development group, the project is expected to produce clean energy and replace some of the jobs lost when the uranium enrichment facility shuttered in 2001.

The facility would generate 300 megawatts of power, employ at least 500 people, and provide hydrogen needed to manufacture products like cement and ammonia. 5/18/2022

Webinar: Examining the Potential of Hydrogen

Rachael Carl, the OMA’s managing director for public policy services, will be featured as a panelist during an upcoming webinar to examine the potential of hydrogen as a source of energy economy. The May 23 event, sponsored by OMA Connections Partner API Ohio, is titled, “Ohio Women in Energy Discuss America’s Energy Transition: The Growing Role of Hydrogen.” Learn more and register. 5/18/2022