Energy bills are going up, air quality is not improving, climate change is worsening, and Ohio’s outdated reliance on legacy fuels such as coal and natural gas threatens to exacerbate these and a host of related problems. In fact, many Ohioans who want to choose clean and affordable renewable energy are actively stymied by a statewide energy policy that chokes access to solar and wind resources.
Ohio now has the opportunity to join at least 20 other states in solving these problems through the House Bill 303, the Community Energy Program . HB 303 would allow Ohioans who can’t afford residential solar, who don’t own their homes, or who don’t have a property that is suitable for solar installation (for example, the property is shaded or doesn’t have adequate space for solar panels), to share solar resources with their neighbors and benefit from affordable, abundant, and clean energy.
HB 303 passed the Ohio house in November 2025 by a wide-margin. It had full support in the House Energy Committee and passed on the House Floor with a 77-8 vote. This bill has broad bipartisan support and addresses real needs for our state. SB 303 offers something for everyone – ratepayers, businesses, homeowners, renters, and municipalities – all benefit from a stronger local economy.
HB 303 has been sent to the Senate and now the Senate Energy Committee must take action to make Community Energy available to all.
You can do two things to help:
1-Contact your state senator and the Senate Energy Committee and ask them to move forward with the next hearing. Talking points and contact information is linked here.
2-Reach out to your City Council or local municipal government and ask them to pass a resolution in support of HB 303. A sample statement is linked here. A sample municipal resolution is linked here.
When Ohioans can enjoy clean, affordable Community Energy, everyone benefits – childfren struggling with acute asthma, farmers who are beset with the complications of climate change, electric utilities who are swamped with surging demands from data centers, families balancing their checkbooks, and consumers who benefit from an opportunity to make choices that that are in their best interests.
Join us in calling for Ohio to tear down the roadblocks to Community Energy, pass HB 303, and give Ohioans the energy freedom that we deserve.