Lora Myers Testimony in Ohio: Ensuring Affordable and Reliable Energy
ALEC Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force Senior Manager Lora Myers testified before the Ohio State Senate Energy Committee regarding S.B. 294, which defines “clean energy” as any source that meets federal air quality standards, explicitly recognizing natural gas and nuclear energy as clean, reliable components of Ohio’s energy mix.
Read her testimony below:
Chairman Chavez and members of the Committee,
My name is Lora Current Myers, and I am the senior manager of the Energy, Environment, and Agriculture Task Force for the American Legislative Exchange Council.
I appreciate the opportunity to testify and share ALEC’s nonpartisan research and analysis on S.B. 294, which affirms what Ohio families, businesses, and manufacturers already know: energy must be affordable and reliable.
In the latest ALEC Energy Affordability Report, which ranks states based on electricity prices and energy policies, Ohio ranks 21st in the nation. This is due to high prices for consumers and significant challenges in maintaining reliability, as evidenced by the nine reported incidents during the yearlong study period.
Energy is the foundation of every economic decision made in Ohio, whether it’s a small business trying to expand, a farmer powering irrigation system, or a manufacturer keeping assembly lines running.
S.B. 294 defines “affordable energy” with practical, consumer-focused metrics. Energy sources must provide stable, predictable costs and deliver measurable savings to households and businesses. Meaning Ohio’s energy policy will be guided by what actually lowers costs for consumers, not by political trends or short-term subsidies.
This legislation defines “reliability” in measurable terms: a minimum capacity factor of fifty percent, dispatchable generation, and the ability to ramp up or down within one hour. These criteria guarantee that energy sources, such as natural gas, coal, and nuclear, feeding Ohio’s grid can respond to demand spikes, backstop renewables, and prevent blackouts.
S.B. 294 also defines “clean energy” as any source that meets federal air quality standards, explicitly recognizing natural gas and nuclear energy as clean, reliable components of Ohio’s energy mix.
By emphasizing domestic production and infrastructure security, this legislation also strengthens energy independence, ensuring that Ohio’s homes and factories are powered by U.S.-made energy, not by materials from foreign adversaries.
Louisiana has already taken this step, passing a strong energy security law that prioritizes affordability, reliability, and domestic production. When energy is affordable and reliable, communities grow and investment follows. S.B. 294 codifies those values into law, providing the clarity investors, utilities, and consumers need to plan for a successful future in Ohio.
Thank you again for the opportunity to share ALEC’s research and analysis.
Respectfully submitted,
Lora Myers
Senior Manager, Energy, Environment, and Agriculture Task Force
American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)