Chapter 1551 | Energy

Section 1551.01 | Energy definitions.

• Effective: September 30, 2021
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 110 - 134th General Assembly

As used in this chapter:

(A) "Governmental agency" means the United States government or any department, agency, or instrumentality thereof; any department, agency, or instrumentality of a state government; any municipal corporation, county, township, board of education, or other political subdivision or any other body corporate and politic of a state; or any agency, commission, or authority established under an interstate compact or agreement.

(B) "Energy resource development facility" means any energy resource development, research, or conservation facility, including pilot as well as demonstration facilities, and including undivided or other interests therein, acquired or to be acquired, or constructed or to be constructed under this chapter or Chapter 6121. or 6123. of the Revised Code, or acquired or to be acquired, or constructed or to be constructed by a governmental agency or person with all or a part of the cost thereof being paid from a loan or grant under such chapters, including all buildings and facilities that the director of development determines necessary for the operation of the facility, together with all property, rights, easements, and interests that may be required for the operation of the facility, which facilities may include:

(1) Any building, testing facility, testing device, or support facilities which would provide experimental, demonstration, or testing capabilities or services not otherwise available in this state and which are necessary for the accomplishment of the purposes of this chapter;

(2) Any method, process, structure, or equipment that is used to store coal, oil, natural gas, fuel for nuclear reactors, or any other form of energy;

(3) Any method, process, structure, or equipment that is used to recover or convert coal, oil, natural gas, steam, or other form of energy from property located within the state for the purpose of supplying energy for utilization;

(4) Any method, process, structure, or equipment that is designed to result in more efficient recovery, conversion, or utilization of energy resources within the state, including any scrap tire recovery facility for which a registration certificate or permit has been issued under section 3734.78 of the Revised Code;

(5) Any improvement that is designed to improve the thermal efficiency of a building or structure or reduce the fuel or power needed to heat, cool, light, ventilate, or provide hot water in a building or structure;

(6) Any improvement designed to enable the substitution of coal or alternate fuel, other than natural gas, for natural gas or a petroleum fuel, or the conversion of coal to other fuels;

(7) Any improvement designed to enable the combustion of high sulfur coal in compliance with air or water pollution control or solid waste disposal laws, including, but not limited to, any facility for processing coal to remove sulfur before combustion of the coal, for fluidized bed combustion, or for removal of the sulfur before the products of combustion are emitted or discharged.

(C) "Cost" as applied to an energy resource development facility means the cost of acquisition and construction, the cost of acquisition of all land, rights-of-way, property rights, easements, franchise rights, and interests required for such acquisition and construction, the cost of demolishing or removing any buildings or structures on land so acquired, including the cost of acquiring any lands to which such buildings or structures may be moved, the cost of acquiring or constructing and equipping a principal office and sub-offices of the department of development, the cost of diverting highways, interchange of highways, access roads to private property, including the cost of land or easements for such access roads, the cost of public utility and common carrier relocation or duplication, the cost of all machinery, furnishings, and equipment, financing charges, interest prior to and during construction and for no more than eighteen months after completion of construction, engineering, expenses of research and development with respect to the facility, legal expenses, plans, specifications, surveys, studies, estimates of cost and revenues, working capital, other expenses necessary or incident to determining the feasibility or practicability of acquiring or constructing such facility, administrative expense, and such other expense as may be necessary or incident to the acquisition or construction of the facility, the financing of such acquisition or construction, including the amount authorized in the resolution of the Ohio water development authority providing for the issuance of energy resource development revenue bonds to be paid into any special funds from the proceeds of such bonds, and the financing of the placing of such facility in operation. Any obligation, cost, or expense incurred after August 26, 1975, by any governmental agency or person for surveys, borings, preparation of plans and specifications, and other engineering services, or any other cost described above, in connection with the acquisition or construction of a facility may be regarded as a part of the cost of such facility and may be reimbursed out of the proceeds of energy resource development revenue bonds.

(D) "Revenues" means all rentals and other charges received by the Ohio water development authority for the use or services of any energy resource development facility, any contract, gift, or grant received with respect to any energy resource development facility, and moneys received with respect to the lease, sublease, sale, including installment sale or conditional sale, or other disposition of an energy resource development facility, moneys received in repayment of and for interest on any loans made by the authority to a person or governmental agency, whether from the United States or any department, administration, or agency thereof, or otherwise, proceeds of energy resource development revenue bonds to the extent that the use thereof for payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the bonds is authorized by the authority, proceeds from any insurance, condemnation, or guaranty pertaining to a facility or property mortgaged to secure bonds or pertaining to the financing of a facility, and income and profit from the investment of the proceeds of energy resource development revenue bonds or of any revenues.

(E) "Construction," unless the context indicates a different meaning or intent, includes construction, reconstruction, enlargement, improvement, or providing furnishings or equipment.

(F) "Energy resource development revenue bonds," unless the context indicates a different meaning or intent, includes energy resource development revenue bonds, energy resource development revenue notes, and energy resource development revenue refunding bonds.

(G) "Energy" means work or heat that is, or can be, produced from any fuel or source whatsoever.

(H) "Energy audit" means any process by which energy usage or costs of heating, cooling, lighting, and climate control in a building or structure are determined.

(I) "Energy conservation" means preservation of energy resources by efficient utilization, and reduction of waste.

(J) "Energy conservation measure" means any modification of a building, structure, machine, appliance, vehicle, improvement, or process in order to improve its efficiency of energy use or energy costs.

(K) "Fuel" means petroleum, crude oil, petroleum product, coal, natural gas, synthetic natural or artificial gas, nuclear, or other substance used primarily for its energy content.

(L) "Net energy analysis" means the determination of the amount of energy remaining after all energy outputs have been subtracted from the energy inputs of a given system.

Last updated August 4, 2021 at 11:01 AM

Section 1551.05 | Department duties as to energy.

• Effective: October 17, 1985
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 381 - 116th General Assembly

The department of deveopment shall:

(A) Monitor and assess technological advancements in energy conservation and development, and maintain to the extent practicable a capability for independent technology assessment to support formulation of state energy policy;

(B) Review laws, rules, and state agency policies that affect energy utilization, and recommend to the agencies and the general assembly changes to achieve energy conservation and development;

(C) Develop methods for the performance of energy audits of buildings and structures and net energy analyses, employing whenever possible existing knowledge and practices, in order to identify energy cost savings to be realized through energy conservation measures, and prepare or identify curricula or source materials for training of persons conducting energy audits;

(D) Implement a continuing public education effort designed to inform individuals and organizations about specific and appropriate ways to conserve energy;

(E) Provide technical assistance, information on technological advancements in energy production, use, and conservation, energy efficiency information, recommendations to state agencies and local governments, assistance in the identification, evaluation, and implementation of measures to reduce energy consumption and waste, and public information on energy conservation measures, criteria, and alternatives to assist consumers in purchasing appliances, machinery, power tools, and similar products;

(F) Identify, project, and monitor reduction in energy demand due to energy conservation measures in the industrial, commercial, residential, transportation, and energy production sectors and the state as a whole;

(G) Annually apply for, receive, accept, and administer assistance on behalf of the state pursuant to and in compliance with the "Energy Policy and Conservation Act," 89 Stat. 871, 42 U.S.C.A. 6201, as amended.

Section 1551.06 | Cooperation and coordination among agencies.

• Effective: October 17, 1985
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 381 - 116th General Assembly

The department of development shall be the coordinating agency responsible for involving all other appropriate agencies of state government in developing programs to conserve energy, and shall be responsible for minimizing duplication of effort among state agencies and programs in the state.

All state departments, agencies, institutions, universities, colleges, authorities, boards, and commissions, and all political subdivisions and quasi-governmental agencies of the state shall cooperate and coordinate all such activities with the department to ensure orderly and efficient administration and enforcement.

Section 1551.11 | Director of development - powers and duties.

• Effective: June 26, 2003
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 95 - 125th General Assembly

(A) To achieve the purposes of sections 1551.01 to 1551.25 of the Revised Code, the director of development may:

(1) Identify, plan, organize, initiate, and sponsor studies, research, and experimental, pilot, and demonstration facilities and projects that would lead to the development and more efficient utilization of present, new, or alternative energy sources in this state, to the conservation of energy, to the attraction of federal and other development funding in emerging and established national or state priority areas, or to the enhancement of the economic development of the state;

(2) Promote, assist, and provide financial assistance for the development of nonprofit corporations organized and established under Chapter 1702. of the Revised Code to further the purposes of this section;

(3) Seek out, apply for, receive, and accept grants, gifts, contributions, loans, and other assistance in any form from public and private sources, including assistance from any governmental agency;

(4) Make grants under division (F) of section 1551.12 of the Revised Code from funds that are appropriated by the general assembly and from gifts or grants obtained under division (A)(3) of this section for the purposes of developing, constructing, or operating experimental, pilot, and demonstration facilities or programs which develop, test, or demonstrate more efficient and environmentally acceptable methods of extracting energy resources; new concepts, programs, or technology for the conservation of energy; new concepts, programs, or technology for the efficient and environmentally acceptable utilization of present, new, or alternative energy sources; or concepts, programs, or technology which develop resources of the state. Grants may be made, without limitation, for projects and programs such as experimental demonstrations of the use of Ohio coal in processes which would facilitate its widespread use as a source of energy; experimental demonstrations of new or improved coal, natural gas, and natural petroleum extraction techniques and of reclamation techniques at the extraction sites; experimental demonstrations or development of solar heating and cooling and potentially energy-efficient construction in public buildings, schools, offices, commercial establishments, and residential homes; development of programs or experimental demonstrations of the utilization of waste products in energy production and mineral and energy conservation; and development of programs or experimental demonstrations of technologies which would permit utility pricing policies which may reduce the consumer costs of energy.

(5) Enter into agreements with persons and governmental agencies, in any combination, for the purposes of this section.

(B) Any materials or data submitted to, made available by or to, or received by the director under division (A) of this section, division (F) of section 1551.12, or division (B) of section 1551.15 of the Revised Code, and any information taken from those materials or data for any purpose, to the extent that those materials or data consist of trade secrets or other proprietary information, are not public information or public documents and shall not be open to public inspection.

(C) The exercise by the director of the powers conferred by sections 1551.01 to 1551.25 of the Revised Code for the preservation or creation of jobs and employment opportunities for the people of this state through the development and efficient utilization of energy resources of the state is in all respects for the benefit of the people of the state, and is determined to be an essential government function and public purpose of the state.

Section 1551.12 | Organizational powers.

• Effective: June 26, 2003
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 95 - 125th General Assembly

The director of development may:

(A) Seek, solicit, or acquire personal property or any estate, interest, or right in real property, or services, funds, and other things of value of any kind or character by purchase, lease, gift, grant, contribution, exchange, or otherwise from any person or governmental agency to be held, used, and applied in accordance with and for the purposes of sections 1551.01 to 1551.25 of the Revised Code;

(B) Contract for the operation of, and establish rules for the use of, facilities over which the director has supervision or control, which rules may include the limitation of ingress to or egress from such facilities as may be necessary to maintain the security of such facilities and to provide for the safety of those on the premises of such facilities;

(C) Purchase such fire and extended coverage insurance and insurance protecting against liability for damage to property or injury to or death of persons as the director may consider necessary and proper under sections 1551.01 to 1551.25 of the Revised Code;

(D) Sponsor, conduct, assist, and encourage conferences, seminars, meetings, institutes, and other forms of meetings; authorize, prepare, publish, and disseminate any form of studies, reports, and other publications; originate, prepare, and assist proposals for the expenditure or granting of funds by any governmental agency or person for purposes of energy resource development; and investigate, initiate, sponsor, participate in, and assist with cooperative activities and programs involving governmental agencies and other entities of other states and jurisdictions;

(E) Do all acts and things necessary and proper to carry out the powers granted and the duties imposed by sections 1551.01 to 1551.25 of the Revised Code;

(F) Make grants of funds to any person, organization, or governmental agency of the state for the furnishing of goods or performance of services.

Any person or governmental agency that receives funds from the department of development, or utilizes the facilities of the department under sections 1551.01 to 1551.25 of the Revised Code shall agree in writing that all know-how, trade secrets, and other forms of property, rights, and interest arising out of developments, discoveries, or inventions, including patents, copyrights, or royalties thereon, which result in whole or in part from research, studies, or testing conducted by use of such funds or facilities shall be the sole property of the department, except as may be otherwise negotiated and provided by contract in advance of such research, studies, or testing. However, such exceptions do not apply to the director or employees of the department participating in or performing research, tests, or studies.

Rights retained by the department may be assigned, licensed, transferred, sold, or otherwise disposed of, in whole or in part, to any person or governmental agency. Any and all income, royalties, or proceeds derived or retained from such dispositions shall be paid to the state and credited to the general revenue fund.

Any instrument by which real property is acquired pursuant to this section shall identify the agency of this state that has the use and benefit of the real property as specified in section 5301.012 of the Revised Code.

Section 1551.15 | Grants and contracts for energy resource development.

• Effective: June 26, 2003
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 95 - 125th General Assembly

(A) All general revenue fund moneys required by the department of development for purposes of sections 1551.01 to 1551.25 of the Revised Code are subject to appropriation by the general assembly.

(B) The director of development may enter into agreements, make grants, or enter into contracts for the purposes of effecting the construction and operation in this state of experimental, pilot, or demonstration energy resource development facilities. Before making grants or entering contracts, the director shall determine that all of the following criteria are met:

(1) The urgency of public need for the potential results of the experimental, pilot, or demonstration project is high, and there is little likelihood that similar results would be achieved in this state in a timely manner in the absence of state assistance;

(2) The potential opportunities for private interests to recapture the investment in the undertaking through the normal commercial exploitation of proprietary knowledge appear to be inadequate to encourage timely results in this state;

(3) The extent of the problems treated and the objectives sought by the project are consistent with the purposes of sections 1551.01 to 1551.25 of the Revised Code and of general significance to the state.

This determination by the director shall include the facts or reasons justifying it and shall be journalized by the director.

(C) The director may use funds as appropriated, donated, granted, or received for any of the following purposes:

(1) Construction and related architectural or engineering studies or purchase of physical plant and equipment for an experimental, pilot, or demonstration energy resource development facility;

(2) Acquisition and improvement of land, construction of roads, and provision of other public facilities incidental and necessary to the accomplishment of experimental, pilot, or demonstration energy resource development facilities;

(3) Operation of an energy resource development experimental, pilot, or demonstration project or facility, which could include but not be limited to labor, feedstocks, and repair or replacement parts;

(4) Purchase of all or a portion of the usable output of energy resource development experimental, pilot, or demonstration projects and the disposition of this output for use in the facilities of governmental agencies.

(D) Each grant made pursuant to this section shall be accomplished through written agreements between the department and the person or governmental agency which would effect the construction and operation of the project or facility, and between the department and the persons and governmental agencies which would share the expenses and costs of the project or facility. In addition to such other terms as may be required by law or advised by counsel, each agreement shall provide for each of the following conditions:

(1) The limitation of the department's financial obligations in the project or facility to a specified dollar amount which shall not exceed one-third of the total costs of the project or facility;

(2) The financial participation in the project or facility by the federal government or its agencies, by private corporations doing business in this state, by local governmental agencies, or by other organizations;

(3) The disposition of the assets of the project or facility, should it be terminated or abandoned, in such manner that the department shall be repaid in the same proportion as its share in the total of moneys, property, or other assets expended, contributed, or invested in the project or facility;

(4) The criteria for the identification if and when the project or facility is commercially viable through the profitable disposition of its output;

(5) The termination of the department's financial support at such time the project or facility is commercially viable and the repayment of the department through the future profits, if any, of the project or facility.

Section 1551.18 | State purpose to promote efficient utilization of energy.

• Effective: December 14, 1977
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 415 - 112th General Assembly

The general assembly finds and declares that it is an essential government function and public purpose of the state to promote the efficient utilization of energy, encourage the increased utilization of the state's indigeneous energy resources, promote the development of renewable energy resources, and foster increased cooperation amoung all levels of government for the preservation or creation of jobs and employment opportunities, the encouragement of economic growth, the promotion of the general welfare, the protection of the public health and safety, and the protection of environmental quality.

Section 1551.19 | Lighting efficiency rules for public buildings.

• Effective: February 24, 1983
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 100 - 115th General Assembly

The director of development shall adopt, consistent with the "Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975," 89 Stat. 871, 42 U.S.C.A. 6291, as amended:

(A) Mandatory lighting efficiency rules for all existing public buildings above a minimum size established by the director which are owned, leased, or controlled by the state, except by state colleges and universities;

(B) Lighting efficiency recommendations for all other existing public buildings larger than the minimum size established by the director, including those which are owned, leased, or controlled by state colleges and universities.

For the purposes of this section, "public building" means any building that is open to the public during normal business hours.

Section 1551.20 | Guidelines for solar, wind, or hydrothermal energy systems and components thereof.

• Effective: July 22, 1994
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 269, Senate Bill 271, House Bill 632 - 120th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section, "solar or wind energy system" means any method used directly to provide space heating or cooling, hot water, industrial process heat, or mechanical or electric power by the collection, conversion, or storage of solar or wind energy including, but not limited to, active or passive solar systems. It does not include any equipment that is part of a conventional system for such purposes, that is, a system that does not use solar or wind energy; nor does it include a roof or any windows or walls that would be contained in a similar structure not designed or modified to use solar energy for space heating or cooling, except for those modifications to the design or construction of such roof, windows, or walls that are necessary to their improved use to capture solar energy for space heating or cooling.

As used in this section, "hydrothermal energy system" means any method used directly to provide a heating or cooling effect by causing a thermal exchange with the earth utilizing any water source, including ground or surface water by use of appropriate heat exchange equipment.

(B) The director of development shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code establishing guidelines for identifying solar, wind, or hydrothermal energy systems and components thereof, and guidelines for the safety and thermal efficiency of such systems. The rules shall distinguish such systems from conventional systems and components thereof, and shall distinguish from conventional roof, window, or wall design or construction those modifications to the design or construction of roofs, windows, or walls that are necessary to their improved use to capture solar energy for space heating or cooling. The rules shall determine the eligibility of solar, wind, and hydrothermal energy systems for the tax exemption under section 5709.53 of the Revised Code.

(C) At the request of any person who designs, manufactures, installs, or constructs solar, wind, or hydrothermal energy systems, the director shall review the detailed construction plans and design calculations for any such system to determine whether the system complies with the guidelines adopted under division (B) of this section. If the system complies with the guidelines, the director shall enter the name of the system on a list of solar, wind, or hydrothermal energy systems eligible for the tax exemption under section 5709.53 of the Revised Code.

(D) At the request of any person who desires to design or install a solar, wind, or hydrothermal energy system for his own use, the director shall review the plans for or a narrative description of the system, and the list of components and materials to be incorporated therein to determine whether the system complies with the guidelines adopted under division (B) of this section. If the system complies, the director shall issue a certificate to that effect to the applicant.

The Legislative Service Commission presents the text of this section as a composite of the section as amended by multiple acts of the General Assembly. This presentation recognizes the principle stated in R.C. 1.52(B) that amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation.

Section 1551.25 | Fee for using government vehicle in ridesharing arrangement.

• Effective: October 29, 1995
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 162 - 121st General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Ridesharing arrangement" means the transportation of persons in a motor vehicle when the transportation is incidental to another purpose of a volunteer driver and includes ridesharing arrangements known as carpools, vanpools, and buspools.

(2) "Local agency" means a political subdivision; any department, agency, board, commission, or instrumentality of a political subdivision; a regional planning commission created under section 713.21 of the Revised Code; a county planning commission created under section 713.22 of the Revised Code; a joint planning council created under section 713.231 of the Revised Code; an interstate regional planning commission created under section 713.30 of the Revised Code; or a regional council of governments created under section 167.01 of the Revised Code.

(3) "State agency" means the state or any department, agency, board, commission, or instrumentality of the state.

(B) Any motor vehicle owned by a state agency or owned, hired, or leased by a local agency may be used in a ridesharing arrangement, provided the motor vehicle is used in accordance with law, ordinance, or the established policy of the state agency or local agency and a daily, weekly, or monthly fee is charged each participant in the arrangement that is sufficient to cover the participant's pro rata share of the cost of maintaining, insuring, and operating the motor vehicle for such purpose, the cost of depreciation attributable to the use stated in this division, and, if the motor vehicle is acquired primarily for use in a ridesharing arrangement, the cost of amortization. A fee established by the state agency or local agency under this division is presumed to provide sufficient reimbursement to the state or local agency.

(C) The state agency owning, or the local agency owning, hiring, or leasing, a motor vehicle that is used in a ridesharing arrangement shall purchase or provide, or cause to be purchased or provided, in accordance with applicable law governing the purchase or provision of such insurance by the state or local agency, public liability insurance to cover such employees in amounts and coverages no less than:

(1) One hundred thousand dollars because of bodily injury to or death of one person in any one accident;

(2) Three hundred thousand dollars because of bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in any one accident;

(3) Fifty thousand dollars because of injury to property of others in any one accident.

(D) The department of administrative services, the board of county commissioners of each county, the board of township trustees of each township, the legislative authority of each municipal corporation, and the governing body of every other local agency shall establish procedures governing the operation of motor vehicles used in ridesharing arrangements, including fees of the type described in division (B) of this section.

(E) No appointing authority of a state agency or local agency may require any employee of any such agency to participate in a ridesharing arrangement between his place of residence and place of employment, or termini near such places, except during an emergency declared by the governor or the chief executive of the political subdivision in which the local agency is located under sections 5502.21 to 5502.51 of the Revised Code or during an energy emergency declared by the governor under section 4935.03 of the Revised Code when the governor specifically orders such ridesharing by employees of state or local agencies.

(F) Persons other than employees of a state or local agency may participate in a ridesharing arrangement authorized by any such agencies. Such agencies shall provide, or purchase for such persons, the insurance required under division (C) of this section for public employees.

Section 1551.30 | Ohio coal development office definitions.

• Effective: September 14, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 640 - 123rd General Assembly

As used in sections 1551.30 to 1551.35 of the Revised Code:

(A) "Coal development facility" means any coal resource development, beneficiation, or utilization facility of commercial availability or scale, including, without limitation, any commercial-scale demonstration facility and, when necessary or appropriate to demonstrate the commercial acceptability of a specific technology, up to three installations within this state utilizing the specific technology, that enhances the market for, or marketability of, Ohio coal and that is consistent with the purposes of the Ohio coal development office established under section 1551.32 of the Revised Code. "Coal development facility" includes all support buildings and facilities that the director of the Ohio coal development office determines are necessary for the operation of the facility together with all property, rights, easements, and interests that may be required for the operation of the facility.

(B) "Coal" includes coal, coke, and fuels derived from coal, including, but not limited to, synthetic fuels and coal-oil or coal-oil-water mixtures.

(C) "Person" includes an individual, receiver, assignee, trustee in bankruptcy, estate, firm, partnership, association, joint-stock company, joint venture, club, society, corporation, and combination of individuals in any form.

(D) "Governmental agency" and "construction" have the same meanings as in section 1551.01 of the Revised Code.

Section 1551.31 | State policy to increase coal use.

• Effective: September 14, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 640 - 123rd General Assembly

The general assembly hereby finds and declares that:

(A) Coal is one of this state's best, most abundant energy resources.

(B) In recent years the coal industry in this state has experienced economic difficulties that have resulted in a loss of jobs in that industry.

(C) Some coal users are reluctant to use coal from this state because of its high sulfur content.

(D) The increased use of Ohio coal in this state could enable the state to be more energy self-sufficient.

(E) It is therefore imperative for this state to have a strong, viable coal industry in order to create and preserve jobs and improve the economy of this state and that, in order to strengthen that industry, methods must be found to use Ohio coal in an environmentally acceptable, cost effective manner.

Accordingly, it is declared to be the public policy of the state, through operation of sections 1551.30 to 1551.35 of the Revised Code and other applicable laws and authority vested in the general assembly, to assist in the development of facilities and technologies that will lead to increased, environmentally sound use of Ohio coal.

Section 1551.311 | State policy to seek federal assistance to develop clean coal.

• Effective: June 30, 2011
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 153 - 129th General Assembly

The general assembly hereby finds and declares that the future of the Ohio coal industry lies in the development of clean coal technology and that the disproportionate economic impact on the state under Title IV of the "Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990," 104 Stat. 2584, 42 U.S.C.A. 7651, warrants maximum federal assistance to this state for such development. It is therefore imperative that the department of development, its Ohio coal development office, the Ohio coal industry, the Ohio Washington office in the office of the governor, and the state's congressional delegation make every effort to acquire any federal assistance available for the development of clean coal technology, including assisting entities eligible for grants in their acquisition. The Ohio coal development agenda required by section 1551.34 of the Revised Code shall include, in addition to the other information required by that section, a description of such efforts and a description of the current status of the development of clean coal technology in this state and elsewhere.

Section 1551.32 | Ohio coal development office.

• Effective: June 30, 2011
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 153 - 129th General Assembly

(A) There is hereby established within the department of development the Ohio coal development office whose purposes are to do all of the following:

(1) Encourage, promote, and support siting, financing, construction, and operation of commercially available or scaled facilities and technologies, including, without limitation, commercial-scale demonstration facilities and, when necessary or appropriate to demonstrate the commercial acceptability of a specific technology, up to three installations within this state utilizing the specific technology, to more efficiently produce, beneficiate, market, or use Ohio coal;

(2) Encourage, promote, and support the market acceptance and increased market use of Ohio coal through technology and market development;

(3) Assist in the financing of coal development facilities;

(4) Encourage, promote, and support, in state-owned buildings, facilities, and operations, use of Ohio coal and electricity sold by utilities and others in this state that use Ohio coal for generation;

(5) Improve environmental quality, particularly through cleaner use of Ohio coal;

(6) Assist and cooperate with governmental agencies, universities and colleges, coal producers, coal miners, electric utilities and other coal users, public and private sector coal development interests, and others in achieving these purposes.

(B) The office shall give priority to improvement or reconstruction of existing facilities and equipment when economically feasible, to construction and operation of commercial-scale facilities, and to technologies, equipment, and other techniques that enable maximum use of Ohio coal in an environmentally acceptable, cost-effective manner.

Section 1551.33 | Director of office - appointment, duties and powers.

• Effective: September 30, 2021
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 110 - 134th General Assembly

(A) The director of development shall appoint and fix the compensation of the director of the Ohio coal development office. The director shall serve at the pleasure of the director of development.

(B) The director of the office shall do all of the following:

(1) Biennially prepare and maintain the Ohio coal development agenda required under section 1551.34 of the Revised Code;

(2) Propose and support policies for the office consistent with the Ohio coal development agenda and develop means to implement the agenda;

(3) Initiate, undertake, and support projects to carry out the office's purposes and ensure that the projects are consistent with and meet the selection criteria established by the Ohio coal development agenda;

(4) Actively encourage joint participation in and, when feasible, joint funding of the office's projects with governmental agencies, electric utilities, universities and colleges, other public or private interests, or any other person;

(5) Establish a table of organization for and employ such employees and agents as are necessary for the administration and operation of the office. Any such employees shall be in the unclassified service and shall serve at the pleasure of the director of development .

(6) Convene the technical advisory committee established under section 1551.35 of the Revised Code;

(7) Review, with the assistance of the technical advisory committee, proposed coal research and development projects as defined in section 1555.01 of the Revised Code, and coal development projects, submitted to the office by public utilities for the purpose of section 4905.304 of the Revised Code. If the director and the advisory committee determine that any such facility or project has as its purpose the enhanced use of Ohio coal in an environmentally acceptable, cost effective manner, promotes energy conservation, is cost effective, and is environmentally sound, the director shall submit to the public utilities commission a report recommending that the commission allow the recovery of costs associated with the facility or project under section 4905.304 of the Revised Code and including the reasons for the recommendation.

(8) Establish such policies, procedures, and guidelines as are necessary to achieve the office's purposes.

(C) With the approval of the director of development , the director of the office may exercise any of the powers and duties that the director of development considers appropriate or desirable to achieve the office's purposes, including, but not limited to, the powers and duties enumerated in sections 1551.11, 1551.12, and 1551.15 of the Revised Code.

Additionally, the director of the office may make loans to governmental agencies or persons for projects to carry out the office's purposes. Fees, charges, rates of interest, times of payment of interest and principal, and other terms, conditions, and provisions of the loans shall be such as the director of the office determines to be appropriate and in furtherance of the purposes for which the loans are made. The mortgage lien securing any moneys lent by the director of the office may be subordinate to the mortgage lien securing any moneys lent or invested by a financial institution, but shall be superior to that securing any moneys lent or expended by any other person. The moneys used in making the loans shall be disbursed upon order of the director of the office.

Last updated August 4, 2021 at 11:02 AM

Section 1551.34 | Biennial Ohio coal development agenda.

• Effective: September 16, 2014
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 486 - 130th General Assembly

On or before the first day of August of each even-numbered year, the director of the Ohio coal development office established under section 1551.32 of the Revised Code shall submit to the governor and the general assembly an Ohio coal development agenda. Prior to each submission, the office shall solicit public comment on the agenda to give interested parties an opportunity to comment on the agenda. The director shall consider any public comments received prior to the agenda's submission. The agenda shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following:

(A) A characterization of Ohio coal, constraints on its maximum use, and opportunities for overcoming those constraints;

(B) A characterization of the current and potential markets for Ohio coal, constraints on increased market demand for it, and opportunities for overcoming those constraints;

(C) Identification of each of the office's programs and its correspondence to the purposes of the office;

(D) A description of the office's current projects that includes the status of each project and a specific description of the office's activities in all of the following areas:

(1) Commercialization of available technology;

(2) Marketplace adoption of that technology;

(3) Enhancement of user markets for Ohio coal.

(E) The types of projects to be funded in the succeeding biennium;

(F) Anticipated expenditures for, the relative priority of, and the potential benefits of each type of project to be funded in the succeeding biennium;

(G) The results obtained from completed projects and dissemination of those results;

(H) A fiscal report of the office's activities under sections 1551.30 to 1551.35 and Chapter 1555. of the Revised Code during the preceding biennium;

(I) The criteria used to select the office's specific types of projects. The criteria shall consider all of the following:

(1) A project's relationship to and support of the office's purposes;

(2) The technology involved, its applicability to Ohio coal, and its potential rate and probability of marketplace adoption;

(3) The commercial readiness of a project's facility, technology, or equipment;

(4) The cost and relative risk to the state and the participation of other investors or interested parties in a project's financing;

(5) The likelihood that results of a project would not be achieved in the absence of the office's assistance.

Section 1551.35 | Technical advisory committee.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) There is hereby established a technical advisory committee to assist the director of the Ohio coal development office in achieving the office's purposes. The director of development shall appoint to the committee one member of the public utilities commission and one representative each of coal production companies, the united mine workers of America, and electric utilities, as well as two people with a background in coal research and development technology, one of whom is employed at the time of the member's appointment by a state university, as defined in section 3345.011 of the Revised Code. The director of environmental protection shall serve on the committee as an ex officio member. Any member of the committee may designate in writing a substitute to serve in the member's absence on the committee. The director of environmental protection may designate in writing the chief of the air pollution control division of the environmental protection agency to represent the agency. Members shall serve on the committee at the pleasure of their appointing authority. Members of the committee appointed by the director of development, when engaged in their official duties as members of the committee, shall be compensated on a per diem basis in accordance with division (J) of section 124.15 of the Revised Code, except that the member of the public utilities commission and, while employed by a state university, the member with a background in coal research, shall not be so compensated. Members shall receive their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

(B) The technical advisory committee shall review and make recommendations concerning the Ohio coal development agenda required under section 1551.34 of the Revised Code, project proposals, research and development projects submitted to the office by public utilities for the purpose of section 4905.304 of the Revised Code, proposals for grants, loans, and loan guarantees for purposes of sections 1555.01 to 1555.06 of the Revised Code, and such other topics as the director of the office considers appropriate.

(C) The technical advisory committee may hold an executive session at any regular or special meeting for the purpose of considering research and development project proposals or applications for assistance submitted to the Ohio coal development office under section 1551.33, or sections 1555.01 to 1555.06, of the Revised Code, to the extent that the proposals or applications consist of trade secrets or other proprietary information.

Any materials or data submitted to, made available to, or received by the department of development or the director of the Ohio coal development office in connection with agreements for assistance entered into under this chapter or Chapter 1555. of the Revised Code, or any information taken from those materials or data for any purpose, to the extent that the materials or data consist of trade secrets or other proprietary information, are not public records for the purposes of section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

As used in this division, "trade secrets" has the same meaning as in section 1333.61 of the Revised Code.

Last updated September 12, 2023 at 10:25 AM