The Community Energy Bill, House Bill 303, passed in the Ohio House of Representatives on Wednesday this week by a vote of 77-8. HB 303 creates Ohio’s first Community Energy Pilot Program – giving renters, condo owners, families, and small businesses access to local energy even if they cannot install rooftop solar. Ohioans are one step closer to subscribing to community projects using solar, biomass, hydro, and other technologies, and receive credits on their electricity bills. This bill made it through committee and a floor vote because YOU showed up. 

Ohio Citizen Action canvass staff started working on this bill back in 2023, when it was called Community Solar. 20 other states have Community Solar programs, and Ohio wanted to follow suit. The Ohio legislature has made adjustments to meet the needs of our state, including changes that expand the project to include other types of energy generation, but the major points stayed the same. Ohio needs to generate more energy, people can subscribe to locally-generated energy, and it will reduce energy costs for subscribers at home. 

The Ohio Legislature had to put a pause on Community Solar at the end of 2024 because 2025 started a new legislative general assembly. When it was re-introduced this year, the bill is now HB 303, Community Energy and is an expanded project to include other types of energy that are not just solar. This year alone, we attempted to contact 57,376 Ohioans at the doors or the phone about HB 303. We had 4,762 conversations, resulting in 1,313 letters, emails and phone calls telling lawmakers that Ohioans deserve affordable, reliable, locally-produced energy.

With electricity bills climbing and data centers driving up demand, we need more homegrown energy fast. Community energy delivers—quickly connecting to the grid, boosting reliability, and keeping costs down. And because 24 other states are already doing this successfully, we know it works.
We are proud to thank Representatives Sharon Ray and Jim Hoops for their leadership, and to every OCA member who picked up the phone, knocked on a door, or sent an email. Your voices made the difference.
Now House Bill 303 heads to the Ohio Senate. Stay tuned for how you can keep the pressure on and help us bring this across the finish line. Ohio families, farmers, and small businesses are counting on us.