Ohioans have paid nearly $54 million since 2021 in add-on fees on their electric bills, which is now sitting idle in a state bank account due to the remnants of the scandal-ridden HB6 legislation. The solar generation fund created by HB6 was part of a bribery scheme involving FirstEnergy Corp and led to the conviction of former House Speaker Larry Householder. The fund, intended for solar projects, has only distributed $8.5 million to developers, leaving the majority of the collected funds unused.
Legislation is pending at the Statehouse that aims to cut off collections and distribution of the subsidy. Lawmakers are still deliberating on what to do with the $53.7 million that has already been collected. The solar subsidies were largely unnoticed compared to the coal bailouts in HB6, but lawmakers are now focused on repealing both subsidies and halting collections.
The fate of the $54 million in the solar generation fund is uncertain as legislators are negotiating its disposal. Republicans leading the charge to repeal the subsidies are in discussions on how to handle the existing funds. Senate President Rob McColley expressed uncertainty on where the money will go but indicated that eliminating the funds is a step towards good public policy.
Overall, the ongoing discussions around the solar generation fund and the collected $54 million highlight the aftermath of the HB6 scandal and the efforts to unwind the controversial legislation. The solar subsidies, tainted by bribery allegations, are now facing scrutiny from lawmakers seeking to rectify the situation.
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