The Ohio House has finalized a long-awaited energy plan to restructure the electricity industry and increase renewable energy investments in the state.
House Speaker Jon Husted released the plan Thursday and expects it will be up for a vote next week. The Senate passed its own plan months ago but it has been stalled in the House.
Husted acknowledges that energy prices are likely to rise in coming years because of challenges in the global energy market. But he says his bill will ensure that customers can choose the lowest-cost option available to them.
The bill requires utilities to meet renewable energy requirements, such as power from wind or the sun, beginning next year. The requirement will increase each year after that until 2025, when it will reach 12.5 percent. (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)