Summary
In response to a 26% electricity rate spike in June 2025, Council passed a resolution urging the Ohio General Assembly to legalize community energy facilities — such as shared solar — that can save households 5–20% on their bills. The measure calls on the state to expand energy choice for residents and small businesses who cannot install their own solar panels.
Full Document
Docusign Envelope ID: D498E5A4- 2B64- 4905- 9442- 7523B5FE8F6E Please substitute for the original RESOLUTION NO. 2026- 06 BY: Baker, Bixenstine, Bullock, Evans, Kepple, Steiner, Strebig A RESOLUTION to respond to high energy costs in Lakewood by urging state government to create a new option for Ohio families and small businesses to lower their electricity costs by allowing community energy projects and programs to operate in Ohio. WHEREAS, community energy facilities allow customers to choose the source of their electricity, including customers that desire to low-cost power such as solar energy but do not have suitable conditions to install their own solar facility; and WHEREAS, community energy facilities are a more decentralized, resilient, and efficient way to deliver electricity to ratepayers; and WHEREAS, in June 2025, Ohioans saw a 26 percent increase on their electricity bills and community energy facilities have been shown to save households 5 percent to 20 pecent on their electricity costs; and WHEREAS, given that Ohio imports 20 percent of its energy and regional energy prices are increasing significantly, a community energy pilot program would produce energy locally, reducing the need for costly transmission upgrades and improving grid reliability for all ratepayers; and WHEREAS, a study from Ohio University determined that a community energy pilot program is projected to generate an estimated $5. 6 billion in gross output and $409. 5 million in local tax revenues; and WHEREAS, Ohio based energy manufacturing companies and workers will benefit from local community energy projects enabled by this legislation; and WHEREAS, 24 states currently have specific enabling legislation for community energy, which provides a framework that supports the production of community energy facilities in those states; now, therefore BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD, OHIO: Section 1. That this Council does hereby urge the Ohio General Assembly and the Governor of Ohio to enact and implement a community energy pilot program as an option to lower costs for Ohio families and small businesses in the face of steeply rising electricity prices throughout the state and region. Section 2. That this Council does hereby express support for House Bill 303 in the 136e, General Assembly and urges the Ohio General Assembly to adopt, and the Governor of Ohio to sign, the same. Docusign Envelope ID: D498E5A4- 2B64- 4905- 9442- 7523B5FE8F6E Section 3. That the Clerk of Council is hereby authorized and directed to present a copy of this resolution to the Governor of Ohio, the Speaker of the Ohio House, and the President of the Ohio Senate as an expression of the City of Lakewood' s support. Section 4. It is found and determined that all formal actions of this Council concerning and relating to the passage of this resolution were adopted in an open meeting of this Council, and that all such deliberations of this Council and of any of its committees that resulted in such formal action were in meetings open to the public in compliance with all legal requirements. Adopted: 2/ 17/ 2026 Approved: DocuSlgned by: Sarah Kepple, President of Council DocuSlgned by: Maureen M. Bach, Clerk of Council Meghan F. George, Mayor