Ohio bill would extend freeze on RPS

Legislation recently introduced in Ohio aims to extend a freeze on the state’s renewable portfolio standard (RPS) at 2.5 percent for three additional years, through 2019. In June 2014, Ohio Gov. John Kasich signed a bill that froze the state’s RPS at 2.5 percent for two years, through 2015. The freeze is currently set to expire this year, when the RPS standard will increase to 3.5 percent. 

Ohio first enacted its RPS in 2008. The standard originally required 0.25 percent renewable energy in 2009, ramping up to 12.5 percent in 2024 and following years. The RPS also includes specific requirements for solar energy.

Under current law, the RPS will increase to 3.5 percent in 2017, 4.5 percent in 2018, 5.5 percent in 2019, 6.5 percent in 2020, 7.5 percent in 2021, 8.5 percent in 2022, 9.5 percent in 2023, 11.5 percent in 2025 and 12.5 percent in 2026 and later years.

The new legislation, S.B. 320, introduced by Iowa Sen. Bill Seitz on April 25 aims to extend the freeze for an additional three years. If the bill becomes law, the RPS standard would be maintained at 2.5 percent through 2019, before increasing to 5.5 percent in 2022, 8.5 percent in 2025 and 12.5 percent in 2029 and beyond.

A full copy of the bill can be downloaded from the Ohio legislature website.