Lawmakers approve financial rescue for Ohio’s nuclear plants

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Lawmakers in the Ohio House have approved a roughly $1 billion financial rescue for the state’s two nuclear power plants.

The package that critics are calling a bailout will give $150 million a year to the plants near Cleveland and Toledo.

The legislation approved today will tack a new fee onto every electricity bill in Ohio. It also scales back requirements that utilities generate more power from wind and solar.

Gov. Mike DeWine said last week he intends to sign it into law.

FirstEnergy Solutions has told lawmakers the plants are too costly to operate and will close within two years unless the government steps in and helps.

Opponents led by the natural-gas industry have vowed to ask voters to overturn the legislation in a statewide referendum next year.

State Rep. Michele Lepore-Hagan of Youngstown, D-58th, said in a statement: “HB 6 harms our state’s growing renewable energy industry, our environment and working Ohioans who will now foot the bill for a corporate bailout."