The future of green energy development and use in Ohio is murky after lawmakers decided to continue a freeze on renewable energy standards utilities would be required to follow.
A majority of Republicans say the green energy mandates forced utilities to pay too much to get power from alternative resources.
But opponents of the bill say the standards help bring green energy jobs to Ohio. Sen. Cliff Hite (R-Findlay) was one of a handful of Republicans who joined Democrats in voting against the bill.
“I thought we were open for business people. That’s what we said, we are open for business and that has not been the case all the way not with a freeze -- people are going other places and they are,” said Hite.
Gov. John Kasich has threatened to veto any bill he thinks will harm comprehensive energy development.
Copyright 2016 The Statehouse News Bureau
