There has been a long-standing bipartisan consensus in Bowling Green to support renewable energy. Democrats and Republicans in city government over a period of at least twenty years, worked hard and invested much money into achieving what is now over 40 percent of its energy from renewable sources.
This sustained effort and investment was dealt a hard blow by the recent vote for HB 6, which strips out $400,000 in subsidies that Bowling Green receives. In addition, by removing mandates for renewable energy, Bowling Green will lose its ability to sell excess renewable energy capacity to other municipalities, a significant source of revenue.
HB 6 began as a tool to provide a bail-out for the two nuclear power plants in Ohio (a bail-out that should be debated on its own merits), but it got laden with horrible policy that sticks it to renewable energy. Days before the bill passed in the House, there were amendments that were added to help protect investments in solar sites throughout the state. Bowling Green’s solar facility wasn’t one of those.
Rep. Haraz Ghanbari didn’t stand up and fight for the largest community in his district, nor for First Solar, Perrysburg Township’s solar manufacturer. He didn’t stand up to protect the hard work that both Bowling Green Republicans and Democrats had fought for over the past twenty years. His vote was a slap in the face of Bowling Green, First Solar, and all of Wood County.
Mike Zickar
Former BG Councilman
Chair, Wood County Democratic Party
Perrysburg
