Kucinich wants to regulate energy industry

CARROLL TWP. — Reacting to the planned closure of Ohio's nuclear power plants, including Davis-Besse, Democratic candidate for governor Dennis Kucinich says it's time to bring back regulation of Ohio's power utilities.Ohio deregulated the market in 1999, giving consumers a choice in who supplies their power needs. "Deregulation has been a failure in Ohio," Kucinich said. "It has exposed Ohio and its workers to the market distortions of out-of-state predators. It has not in any way, shape or form resulted in benefits for either Ohio utility ratepayers or Ohio businesses."When deregulation occurred in 1999, Ohio had the 22nd highest utility rates in America, Kucinich said."Now we are 23rd," he added. "Ohio is losing out on economic opportunities today because deregulation has not worked."FirstEnergy announced last week it plans to close Davis-Besse by 2020. It also expects to shutter nuclear plants in Perry, Ohio, and Shippingport, Pa. FirstEnergy filed for bankruptcy protection over the weekend."Ohio's economy cannot absorb the shock of taking existing nuclear utilities off-line in a deregulated market," Kucinich said. "The phase-out period must be extended in order to create a 'soft landing' for Ohio's economy and for the workers."He continued: "The gas industry's price-cutting is only temporary. Once they drive out the competition, we can expect sharp increases, which will adversely affect all Ohio energy consumers, residential, commercial and industrial ratepayers and create a drag on the economy."If he becomes governor, Kucinich said he plans to work with state lawmakers to reimpose energy utility regulation."Out-of-state energy interests, particularly in gas, have used deregulation of power generation to game the market and have developed price points to undercut Ohio's largest energy company," Kucinich said. "Because of deregulation, there are now (almost) 1,600 Ohio jobs at risk at two nuclear plants: 350 at the W.H. Sammis plant, and 1,200 corporate jobs in Akron."Kucinich is competing for the Democratic nomination for governor in a field that includes former attorney general Rich Cordray and former Ohio Supreme Court justice Bill O'Neill. The primary is May 8. The Register asked Cordray for comment but did not get an immediate response.Republicans in the race for governor are Mike DeWine, who is the attorney general, and Mary Taylor, the lieutenant governor.Reach reporter Tom Jackson at jackson@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @jacksontom.Candidate for governor Dennis Kucinich visited the the Register on March 8, 2018.FILE â€" In this Tuesday, April 4, 2017, file photo, plumes of steam drift from the cooling tower of FirstEnergy Corp.'s Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station in Oak Harbor, Ohio. Testimony submitted to Ohio lawmakers largely opposes a proposed special fee on FirstEnergy Corp.'s customers in the state, The Plain Dealer reported Thursday, June 8, 2017, though the Akron-based utility says the money is needed to secure the future of Ohio's two aging nuclear plants, the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station and the Perry Nuclear Power Plant. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane, File)