Could Shifting to Electricity Ease Ohioans’ Energy Burden?

By Nadia Ramlagan
Ohio News Connection

Natural gas is an unpredictable source of affordable energy, some Ohio experts say, as more communities work to electrify homes and buildings to lower costs in the long-term and invest in renewable sources.

One Dayton nonprofit is even helping low-income residents swap out gas appliances for electric ones.

Aileen Hull, community engagement coordinator for the Dayton Energy Collaborative, said her organization is working through grant funding to expand the number of households eligible for free electrification, home repair and weatherization programs.

“Especially if you have gas-powered appliances, you’re creating on-site carbon emissions, and that’s not helpful for the health of the home, nor the neighborhood,” Hull said. “It’s directly related to people’s health.”

Ohio was awarded $249 million in federal funding through the Inflation Reduction Act to offer rebates to residents for home energy efficiency projects. The Ohio Department of Development’s Office of Energy and Environment is hosting virtual and in-person public feedback sessions on the program’s design and implementation. The Youngstown session is scheduled from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County’s Main Library, 305 Wick Ave. Information can be found HERE.

Nat Ziegler, program manager for the coalition Power A Clean Future Ohio, said the unpredictability in prices, including extreme volatility and highs in 2022, have raised concerns about the sustainability of relying on natural gas. Ziegler said federal tax incentives are expanding options for people who want to electrify their homes and boost energy efficiency.

“There are not only market dynamics that are making electricity much more affordable than natural gas, but there are also particular programs and policies that are coming online soon in Ohio that will continue to accelerate that transition to more affordable electricity,” Ziegler said.

Jon-Paul d’Aversa, senior energy policy adviser for Power A Clean Future Ohio, said expanding the state’s renewable energy sources is one way to keep costs down and reduce emissions. He said solar and wind have good track records for supplying cost-effective electricity.

“When you dig into the numbers, you start to see a few interesting things,” d’Aversa said. “One is that the price of electricity is really consistent, so it’s something that folks can rely on when you have bills and you’re trying to plan.”

Local governments can reduce energy costs through “aggregation,” or the process of collectively buying electricity from a specific source at a lower price. The coalition has developed a toolkit with resources to help communities get started.

Pictured at top: According to census data, the national average energy burden for low-income households is more than 8%, which is three times higher than for households that are not low-income. (Adobe Stock)

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.