HB6 - Energy Bill

New documents show FirstEnergy paid $2.5 million in secret to help Gov. Mike DeWine's initial campaign for governor in 2018.

Opening arguments in the trial of Larry Householder, former Ohio House speaker, and Matt Borges, former FirstEnergy lobbyist, are set to begin Monday.

Nan Whaley, Democratic candidate for Ohio Governor, says emails and texts from incumbent Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted about the nuclear power plant bailout from their personal accounts should be released to the public.

The coal-powered energy from the Ohio Valley Electric Corporation has recently resulted in a net benefit for ratepayers, but critics say it’s still not enough to justify requiring consumers to prop up coal plants.

The Republican governor and lieutenant governor say they advocated for legislation to help Ohio's two nuclear power plants, but that was the extent of their involvement in the controversial bailout plan.

The newly-disclosed messages show executives talking about the support they were getting from Ohio's Lt. Gov. Jon Husted to pass a 10-year nuclear bailout, despite Husted previously saying he did not play a role in getting the legislation passed.

Larry Householder, the Republican former house speaker, and four others were arrested on July 21, 2020 and accused of playing a role in a $61 million bribery scheme.

Nan Whaley, Democratic candidate for Ohio governor, used the anniversary of Ohio’s nuclear bailout bill being signed into law to push for different energy policy.

As part of a settlement in a shareholders lawsuit, six members on FirstEnergy’s board of directors did not seek re-election.

A jury is scheduled to begin hearing arguments in the corruption trial against former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and former FirstEnergy lobbyist Matt Borges in January 2023.