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