"It’s part of a new law meant to boost power production amid rising demand — and it could help renewables grow faster while putting industrial land to use."

"A new law in Ohio will fast-track energy projects in places that are hard to argue with: former coal mines and brownfields.

But how much the legislation benefits clean energy will depend on the final rules for its implementation, which the state is working out now.

House Bill 15, which took effect Aug. 14, lets the state’s Department of Development designate such properties as ​“priority investment areas” at the request of a local government.

The law aims to boost energy production to meet growing demand from data centers and increasing electrification, while applying competitive pressure to rein in power prices."

Kathiann M. Kowalski reports for Canary Media October 15, 2025. [2]