The bill seeks to amend section 4928.02 of the Revised Code and introduce new sections to establish a community energy program and pilot program in Ohio. It defines key terms related to electricity measurement and outlines the requirements for community energy facilities, including their location, capacity, and subscriber criteria. The legislation emphasizes consumer protections and program evaluations to ensure that subscribers benefit from guaranteed savings. Additionally, it encourages the development of community energy facilities connected to electric distribution utilities and mandates local governance through township trustee resolutions regarding construction.

The community energy pilot program, overseen by the public utilities commission, aims to facilitate the development of community energy facilities with a total capacity of 1,500 megawatts. The bill specifies that facilities must be located on pre-existing parcels, have a maximum capacity of 10 megawatts, and include provisions for bill credits allocated to subscribers based on their output. It also includes measures to ensure that large industrial customers cannot participate, mandates efficient interconnection by utilities, and requires public meetings prior to construction. Furthermore, the bill establishes regulations for the decommissioning of facilities and streamlines the regulatory framework by repealing an existing section of the Revised Code.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 4928.02