Ohio Sues To Block Nuclear Bailout Funds

COLUMBUS, OH — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is suing to prevent a former FirstEnergy subsidiary from receiving bailout funds directed to the company by House Bill 6.

House Bill 6 provided a $1.3 billion bailout for two Energy Harbor (formerly FirstEnergy Solutions) nuclear plants in Ohio. The legislation is now at the heart of a racketeering investigation involving Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and other political figures.

“Ohio laws should not be built on the basis of fraud, deceit and intimidation,” Yost said. “Given the corruption surrounding House Bill 6, it is proper to block these ill-gotten gains from filling the coffers of those under criminal indictment.”

The civil lawsuit would block FirstEnergy from receiving proceeds of funds collected via the utility surcharge created by House Bill 6.

Gov. Mike DeWine has voiced his support for repealing the legislation, saying Ohio lawmakers have a duty to restore faith in the legislative process. Democrats in the Ohio General Assembly have been trying to repeal House Bill 6, but have been stymied by Republicans.

“I hope this isn’t a distraction to give Republican leadership cover as they continue to stand in the way of a repeal of House Bill 6," state Rep. David Leland, from Columbus, said.

He noted that Ohio taxpayers are still on the hook for $1.3 billion, even if Yost succeeds in blocking FirstEnergy from receiving those funds.

"This complaint does nothing to get Ohioans their money back, and it does nothing to bring back the 100,000-plus green energy jobs House Bill 6 kills. It does nothing to stop the $444 million bailout of two dirty coal plants (one in Indiana). The fact remains that Republican leadership in the legislature is the only thing standing in the way of a full and immediate repeal of House Bill 6," Leland said.

A FirstEnergy spokesperson said the company has not had any decision making power over Energy Harbor (formerly FirstEnergy Solutions) since November 2016.

"Additionally, FirstEnergy does not receive any revenues from the operation of these nuclear plants nor any of the nuclear funding provided through HB 6," the spokesperson said.