Reps. Fischer, Thomas Introduce Legislation to Encourage Energy Development & Protect Farmland

COLUMBUS, OH - State Representatives Tex Fischer (R-Canfield) and David Thomas (R-Ashtabula) today highlighted the introduction of House Bill 832, legislation to expand Ohio's energy production.

The legislation supports expanded "behind-the-meter" power generation opportunities, allowing large-load customers and industrial users to generate a greater share of their own electricity and reduce the burden on residential customers.

"This bill represents a free market approach to expanding behind-the-meter energy development while protecting farmland. We aren't picking winners and losers or favoring one form of generation over another. We're supporting a diverse mix of generation sources that strengthen grid reliability, meet growing demand, and help utilize our former industrial sites and brownfields for something that benefits the people and businesses in our state," said Rep. Fischer.

House Bill 832 focuses on the redevelopment of brownfield sites for new energy generation projects. The bill authorizes permitting for these sites, rather than greenfield development, reflecting a commitment to protecting Ohio's farmland and limiting new land disruption.

"This is about reusing what we already have, not taking more of what we don't," said Rep. Thomas. "Ohio can grow its energy capacity while preserving agriculture and open land by focusing on brownfields and industrial reuse."

House Bill 832 is designed as a market-driven reform. It avoids new subsidies or incentive programs, instead streamlining regulatory pathways to make it easier for private developers to build smaller-scale generation projects on unused or underutilized industrial sites across the state.

The bill awaits a committee assignment.