In 2019, Ohio elected officials enacted a law to provide more than $1 billion in bailouts for private nuclear and coal-fired power plants with ratepayer money. Federal Justice Department officials later linked the law to more than $60 million in bribes. Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, who along with others was implicated in the scandal, is expected to stand trial beginning in January 2023 for his alleged role in the scheme.

Meanwhile, House Bill 6 remains on the books in Ohio and sits at the center of the largest corruption case in the state’s history, allegedly fueled primarily by so-called “dark money” from Akron-based electric utility FirstEnergy and current or former affiliates.

This CMC forum untangles the ongoing HB6 scandal in Ohio, unpacks the impact on ratepayers and the environment, and examines what can be done to mitigate the damage done to Ohio’s energy policy by “dark money.” The panelists are:

Ashley Brown, Former Two-Term Commissioner, Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, and Founding Executive Director, Harvard Electricity Policy Group

David DeVillers, Partner, Barnes & Thornburg, and Former U.S. Attorney, Assistant U.S. Attorney and State Prosecutor  

Kathiann Kowalski, Journalist, Eye On Ohio and the Energy News Network  

The host is Jo Ingles, Journalist, Producer, Statehouse News Bureau

The forum sponsor was Barnes & Thornburg, with support from the Grange Insurance Audubon Center.

This forum was recorded before a live audience on January 18, 2023.