By now most Ohioans are aware of allegations of corruption surrounding the passage of HB6. Wood County’s legislative contingent, Haraz Ghanbari in the House and Theresa Gavarone in the Senate, were both enthusiastic supporters of the scheme to take money from Ohioans and Ohio businesses and give it to First Energy Solutions, now Energy Harbor.
Since the scandal broke, Theresa Gavarone has defended her support by claiming that, despite the corruption charges surrounding HB6, it was “good policy.” This is a lie.
When it passed, HB6 made headlines as one of the most regressive energy policies in the world. Promoting coal and nuclear power with direct charges on everyone’s electric bill, even as the planet is dying from greenhouse gas emissions and as nuclear wastes reach crisis levels, is the worst possible energy policy. HB6 eliminated funding for wind and solar energy in Ohio, even as the rest of the world embraces these clean energy sources. This is despite the fact that First Solar, the largest solar manufacturer in the country, employs thousands in our local area. HB6 also eliminated an energy efficiency program that saved Ohio businesses billions while costing taxpayers nothing.
Wood County Greens testified directly before Rep. Ghanbari during hearings by the House Energy Generating Subcommittee, and met with Sen. Gavarone before the passage of HB6. Both were told of the bill’s many failings. Both ignored those warnings. They also ignored the pleas of a host of citizens, organizations, and businesses of all kinds that were almost universally opposed to HB6. Polls showed the vast majority of Ohioans opposed it. The testimony before the legislature was overwhelmingly in opposition.
They ignored one vitally important criticism of the bill that demonstrates the depth of corruption in this process. Since HB6 gives Energy Harbor over a billion dollars with no restrictions and no accountability, it leaves the company free to do whatever it wants with the money, including simply pocket it. That’s exactly what happened a few weeks ago when Energy Harbor paid its shareholders $800 million in stock buybacks.
This bill was bad policy from its inception to its completion. Both Haraz Ghanbari and Theresa Gavarone should be ashamed of their parts in promoting corruption in Ohio.
Only a full repeal, which does not allow Energy Harbor to keep any of the benefits of this corrupt process, is acceptable. The Wood County Green Party also calls on Ghanbari and Gavarone to reject HB104, another multi-billion dollar give away to the nuclear industry that is being pushed through the legislature right now.
Helen K. Dukes and Joseph R. DeMare, co-chairs Wood County Green Party
