The GOP lost its iron grip on Ohio. What’s the outlook for clean energy?
Ohio’s first female Democratic governor, Amy Acton, may shift state energy policy away from fossil fuels after Republicans lost their trifecta, though legislative hurdles remain.
Democrats broke a 15-year Republican trifecta in Ohio by electing Amy Acton as governor, ending GOP supermajority control that had blocked clean energy policies. Republicans still hold the legislature, but can no longer override Acton’s vetoes unilaterally, creating potential for compromise on energy issues. Acton’s campaign platform emphasized lowering costs by prioritizing affordable, clean energy sources and reinstating efficiency standards and demand response programs. Her plan directly challenges the state’s reliance on higher-cost fossil fuels, which have dominated Ohio’s electricity mix in recent years.
A 2021 law, Senate Bill 52, allows Ohio counties to block nearly all new utility-scale solar and large wind projects, with over a third of counties already restricting renewable development. The law has effectively halted most large wind proposals since 2014 due to setback rules, leaving solar and wind expansion heavily dependent on local approval. Acton cannot repeal SB 52 alone, as it requires legislative action, but she can influence regulatory agencies that oversee energy permitting and infrastructure decisions. Clean energy advocates see an opportunity to remove administrative barriers even without legislative changes.
Acton will appoint leaders to key regulatory agencies, including the Ohio EPA and Department of Natural Resources, which together control a majority of the Ohio Power Siting Board’s votes. The board issues permits for energy projects, and recent decisions have deferred to local opposition, often derailing projects despite resolved concerns. New leadership could prioritize broader public interest considerations, including health, environmental impacts, and climate costs in permitting decisions.
Legislative cooperation may increase as Republicans lose the ability to override Acton’s vetoes, though a lame-duck session proposal, House Bill 1024, could shift regulatory oversight from the governor to lawmakers. Acton’s appointments to the Public Utilities Commission could push utilities toward energy efficiency and demand response programs, while her veto power limits further restrictions on renewables without compromise.