The House Bill 6 scandal nearly five years ago revolved around traditional energy: $60 million in bribes from FirstEnergy and a $1 billion nuclear bailout. House Bill 6 gutted Ohio’s green-energy requirements, giving the state the least-stringent clean-energy requirements of any U.S. state with a renewable standard. But it also, ironically, added a fee on electric bills to subsidize solar energy. Not just any solar projects, but only those that obtained a certificate from the Ohio Power Siting Board before June 1, 2019. That means only six projects qualify in a state where it’s become increasingly difficult to get new green energy projects approved. So most of the millions of dollars collected sits untouched. — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Sunny and cold Northeast Ohio school closings and delays for Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025 |
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Lawmakers say they’re still determining what to do with $53.7 million that has been collected for solar projects in Ohio, very few of which have been approved. (Vadim Ghirda, Associated Press file photo) |
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Solar money: Nearly $54 million collected from Ohioans since 2021 as add-on fees atop their electric bills is sitting idle in a state bank account, a vestige of the House Bill 6 scandal that lawmakers for years have refused to repeal. Jake Zuckerman reports that the legislation created Ohio’s “solar generation fund" for a narrow set of solar projects. Today in Ohio: Gov. Mike DeWine has been fighting big tobacco since he was a U.S. Congressman in the 1990s. While DeWine has had some success — including raising the smoking age — he’s often been thwarted by Republican legislators. We’re talking about why on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. (Hint: campaign cash.) |
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Ramaswamy campaign: Vivek Ramaswamy filed paperwork Saturday to run for Ohio governor in 2026, ahead of a planned multi-city campaign rollout next week. Jeremy Pelzer reports the 39-year-old from suburban Columbus, who gained national prominence as a 2024 presidential candidate, is the second major Republican to join the race to succeed term-limited Gov. Mike DeWine, after Attorney General Dave Yost. State license: Ohio requires a license for more than 640 jobs and one in five people need one to work. These licenses come from a board that sets education hours, annual fees, and testing standards. Because licensing rules vary by state, new residents (even those with decades of experience) can be denied unless they go back to school. Anna Staver reports that state Sen. Kristina Roegne is pushing Ohio to join interstate licensure compacts, agreements that automatically license workers from member states. |
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Plane crash: The plane that crashed Monday in Toronto and ended up upside-down on the tarmac had been in Cleveland just hours earlier. Of the 80 people on the flight, eight were injured, including a badly injured child and two adults, David Gambino reports. All passengers and crew members were accounted for, officials said. DOGE protest: On a frigid Presidents Day, nearly 100 people gathered outside Cleveland’s City Hall to protest Elon Musk’s unelected authority and demand change from their elected officials, Olivia Mitchell reports. Protestors said they were rallying to uphold the Constitution, limit executive overreach by elected officials, and to shut down the Department of Government Efficiency, also known as DOGE, spearheaded by billionaire Elon Musk. Property taxes: Cuyahoga County homeowners haven’t been happy about the recent reappraisal that sent home values soaring, resulting in higher property taxes for many, but they also don’t know what to do about it, Kaitlin Durbin reports. The Ohio Citizens for Property Tax Reform is trying to provide them – and others across the state – with some assurance and direction. Cain Park: Last year, Cain Park in Cleveland Heights saw more than 20,000 people attend ticketed events, one of its most successful seasons in years. Now as it enters its 88th season, Cory Shaffer reports the city is pumping hundreds of thousands of dollars to give the park its first major renovation since adding a roof to the amphitheater in 1989. Snow totals: With the weekend weather system dumping multiple inches of snow on Northeast Ohio, Cleveland has now seen more snow this season than in either of the past two years. Zachary Smith reports the winter storm officially dropped a combined 4.7 inches of snow in Cleveland. This weekend’s snowfall is the most snow that has fallen at one time at the airport this winter, bringing the season’s accumulation total to 28.1 inches. But don’t blame the lake for this storm. The system stretched from the Great Lakes region to the Northeast and even along the Appalachian region into the south. Food Strong: Nonprofit Food Strong is making a five-year commitment to transform a vacant lot in Cleveland’s St. Clair/Superior neighborhood into a hub for fresh, local food, reports Alex Darus. Rather than seeking immediate solutions to food insecurity, Food Strong collaborates with local organizations involved in urban farming, education and vacant lot redevelopment. |
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UH gift: A $5 million gift from Lorraine and Bill Dodero will establish the Lorraine and Bill Dodero Limb Preservation Center at University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute, reports Julie Washington. The limb preservation center will revolutionize care for patients who risk losing a leg due to peripheral artery disease and diabetes, and help them find alternatives to amputation. Women’s leadership: The women’s professional development and leadership nonprofit Junior League of Cleveland is set to host its first Women’s Leadership Summit in March. The event will feature networking opportunities, drinks and snacks, and a panel of Cleveland-area professional women who will discuss topics around transformational leadership, entrepreneurship and navigating careers, reports Megan Sims. |
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Officer shooting: A man died Monday in shootout with Akron police during a traffic stop in the city’s Summit Lake neighborhood, reports Olivia Mitchell. Police said the shooting happened about 8:45 a.m. when officers attempted to stop a man who was driving a stolen white Toyota Camry. High-speed crash death: A man died after a high-speed crash after authorities say he tried to rob one woman, then carried out two other robberies in rapid succession. Lucas Daprile reports that police said following the robberies, Henry Cobb, 41, crashed into two cars and died after his car caught fire. Teenage death: A Cleveland man has been indicted on murder charges in the death of a teenager who was shot during an attempted carjacking of an Amazon vehicle. Authorities say Sebastian Gonzalez, 18, faces 30 counts — including murder, aggravated robbery and grand theft of a motor vehicle — related to a series of robberies that culminated in the deadly carjacking, reports David Gambino. |
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Ask Lucas: How can you get through this especially cold Ohio winter? Lucas Daprile writes that you can take on Punxsutawney Phil. Best steak: Your third-place winner in the Cleveland.com “Best Cleveland Steak” readers poll is Tutto Carne – a quaint, modern steakhouse that might be short on seating (45) but is long on flavor, character and gastronomic delicacy – right down to every last detail and ingredient. Maple syrup: Maple syrup season is almost here and Northeast Ohio is rich with opportunities to enjoy the production and the culinary uses, reports Paris Wolfe. Ohio is nestled at the edge of the world’s syrup-producing region. The state is responsible for about 100,000 gallons of the sweet, liquid gold. Otani: It’s the end of an era in Mayfield Heights as Otani Japanese Restaurant announced it will close March 16, reports Joey Morona. |
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Protestors take to Medina square on Presidents Day Read more Summit County warns against card skimming, shares prevention steps Read more Security cameras could be included in Lake Medina improvements Read more Cleveland Heights council gets update on potential Severance Town Center redevelopment Read more Lorain City Schools bus drivers complete suicide prevention training to keep students, community safe Read more What music performers, festivals do you want to see at Akron’s Lock 3? Take survey Read more Reconstruction of Lorain County bridge will reduce traffic to one lane through November Read more Proposed Brook Park Circle K sparks heated debate Read more |
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