House Bill 303, introduced by Representatives Jim Hoops and Sharon Ray, would establish Ohio's first community energy pilot program — a common sense solution to our rising energy costs and growing reliability challenges.

Ohio is facing increasing energy demand, and while there's no single solution, community energy programs under House Bill 303 present a fast, efficient, and cost-effective tool to help meet that demand.

• Lowers bills:All consumers will save with community energy, not just subscribers. 

• Technology neutral: This isn't just about solar. Community energy embraces a diverse mix of locally generated power sources including solar, biomass, hydro, and other technologies. Ohioans can subscribe to these community projects and receive credits on their monthly electricity bills — no rooftop installation required, no credit checks, no upfront costs.

• Keeps power local: Community energy can be deployed quickly on the distribution side, providing localized power generation that eases strain on the grid and increases resilience. This strengthens Ohio's energy independence, ensuring that we produce more of our power locally instead of relying on out-of-state generation. Distributed generation reduces the need for expensive long-distance transmission, eases congestion, and maximizes the efficiency of existing infrastructure by generating energy closer to where it’s used. At scale, this localized generation lowers overall system costs and reduces bills for all customers.

With bills climbing, blackouts looming, and thousands of projects stuck in bureaucratic limbo, we can't afford to wait any longer.

House Bill 303 provides a framework for expanding access to local, reliable, and affordable energy. It's time for the Ohio legislature to pass this bill and give Ohioans the power to take control of their energy future.

Senate Bill 303 has already had three hearings in the House Energy Committee. It is moving quickly through the process, and we need your voice now to ensure a strong bill crosses the finish line. 

It will take two minutes to email the committee using our email tool. Please feel free to edit the letter using your own words.