© 2025 91

1375 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115
(216) 916-6100 | (877) 399-3307

WKSU is a public media service licensed to and operated by 91.
srcset=https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8092df9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2880x210+0+0/resize/2880x210!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbb%2Ffb%2F1f301c58444e92773b55525d4569%2Fipm-pinwheel-pattern.png
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Who's Behind Push for Referendum on Energy Bill?

photo
Andy Chow
/
STATEHOUSE NEWS BUREAU
Ohio House meets to pass HB6

The Ohio Attorney General is looking over language filed by a group fighting the state’s new energy law. It says it's against the law that makes electric customers fund a bailout for nuclear plants and scraps successful green energy policies.

Republican House Speaker Larry Householder repeatedly claims Chinese interests back the referendum since they’re invested in some .

Gene Pierce, with Ohioans Against Corporate Bailouts, says his group seeking the referendum is not revealing specific donors yet, but notes at some point both sides will have to disclose their donations.

“And we’ll let the voters decide which donors are more reliable and more trustworthy,” Pierce said.

British and French groups have also invested in Ohio gas plants.

On the flip side, FirstEnergy Corporation, which used to own the nuclear plants getting bailed out, has contributed nearly $1 million in campaign funds to Householder and other officeholders since 2017.

Andy Chow is a general assignment state government reporter who focuses on environmental, energy, agriculture, and education-related issues. He started his journalism career as an associate producer with ABC 6/FOX 28 in Columbus before becoming a producer with WBNS 10TV.