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The premier grassroots mobilizing and organizing team in the Midwest.

Our Mission:

Ohio Citizen Action organizes and mobilizes people to advocate for public interests. In person, by phone, and online, we engage people in actions that protect public health, improve environmental quality, and benefit consumers. Our campaigns connect Ohioans and build a movement to protect democracy and create a sustainable future.

The Premier Grassroots Mobilizing and Organizing Team in the Midwest
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Current Focus: Repeal HB 6
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Metzenbaum Society

Metzenbaum Society
Become a founding member of The Metzenbaum Giving Circle
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Getting Corruption out of the PUCO

Getting Corruption out of the PUCO
Write to Governor DeWine
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Ohio Consumers Power Alliance

Ohio Consumers Power Alliance
The megaphone for the voice of Ohio consumers
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Power A Clean Future

Power A Clean Future
Local communities leading the way to a clean future
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We're Hiring

We're Hiring
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Latest Updates

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Why we need an Environmental Justice champion at FERC

Aug 26, 2021 1:14 PM

By Tobili Hatcher

 

The time to have an Environmental Justice Champion at the helm of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has long been overdue. FERC regulators and regulations have a monumental impact on the environment and environmental justice. For these reasons and more, Ohio Citizen Action recently signed a letter addressed to President Joseph R. Biden to consider three Environmental Justice champions, Mr. Daniel Blackman, Ms. Marquita Bradshaw, and Ms. Nidhi Thakar to take the lead on this committee. This effort, spearheaded by WE ACT for Environmental Justice and the Center for Biological Diversity, hopes to encourage the Biden administration to act quickly and appoint an Environmental and Energy Justice champion to FERC.

Portsmouth residents will vote on energy choice this November

Aug 25, 2021 11:47 AM

We are thrilled to announce that Portsmouth,Ohio will have community choice aggregation on the ballot this November. This will give residents the power to purchase electricity from a supplier as a group, helping families save money.
In spring 2021, Portsmouth City Council passed legislation to join Power A Clean Future Ohio to move the city toward becoming a more energy-efficient and sustainable community, and if this initiative is adopted, it will certainly aid in reaching that goal.
Community members are excited about this opportunity, including a lifelong resident and clean energy advocate, Jerald Gordon.
 
“Aggregation with clean energy in Portsmouth and other cities across Ohio will give me the opportunity to work in my community instead of out of state,” said Gordon. “Forward-minded citizens and new businesses have breathed life into Portsmouth, and I want to see that growth continue. It’s a new way of creating a clean energy future that provides for our community.”
Jeremy Burnside, a local attorney and business owner, also backs community choice aggregation.
 
“Community choice aggregation will allow residents and small businesses to have a choice in their energy,” Burnside said. “Providing energy choice shows our community, customers, and businesses that we are open to helping businesses grow and expand in today’s changing environment. Additionally, this could save residents money on their electric bills by allowing Portsmouth to purchase clean energy in bulk.”
Learn more about Portsmouth's new ballot initiative 'Yes for Clean Energy Choice' here. If you missed the 'Yes For Clean Energy Choice" press conference held August 25, you can view the livestream here.

What Else Don't We Know?

Aug 23, 2021 11:36 AM

Where to begin?

To recap: FirstEnergy, in a deal with prosecutors, has admitted to a bribery scheme to pass HB6, which they funded with $61 million.

FirstEnergy said the money helped Householder get elected, so he could pass HB6, which the company had been pursuing unsuccessfully for years. The money also bought ads to pressure state lawmakers to pass the bill, and to undermine a ballot initiative campaign to repeal it.

Now, according to a recent audit for the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, FirstEnergy should refund ratepayers $6.6 million for costs that were improperly classified, misallocated or poorly documented.

We want a deeper investigation

The audit found payments from FirstEnergy connected to the nuclear bailout bribery scandal, including Generation Now which pleaded guilty.

But the report only looked into 17 payments specifically flagged by FirstEnergy.

Rachael Belz, our executive director, thinks we need to dig deeper.

"You have to wonder, what else don't we know? And it just seems like this scheme, all around, all the way, top-to-bottom, you know Householder, HB6, Sam Randazzo, PUCO, FirstEnergy, the whole thing it's overwhelming,"

We need to hold Governor DeWine accountable 

It was clear well before he was appointed that Sam Randazzo had deep ties to FirstEnergy and a known bias toward renewables and efficiency. The fact that the Governor still can't admit that he made a poor choice is inexcusable.

Please contribute to help us continue to this work to root out corruption.