Energy News: Ohio has enacted a new law aimed at accelerating energy development on former coal mines and brownfields to meet the rising demand for electricity from data centers and the growth of electrification. 

House Bill 15, effective August 14, allows the state’s Department of Development to designate these properties as “priority investment areas” at the request of local governments. The law is designed to increase power generation while reducing conflicts over land use that have slowed clean-energy projects on farmland. 

Qualified sites will benefit from a five-year tax exemption on certain energy equipment, eligibility for up to $10 million in cleanup and site preparation grants, and a significantly accelerated permitting process—cutting approval times from several months to as little as 90 days.

Ohio has more than 600,000 acres of potentially suitable mine and brownfield sites. If implemented effectively, HB 15 could spur investment in renewable energy, revitalize post-industrial regions, and enhance grid reliability. 

However, the law’s real impact will depend on the final rules now being developed by the Ohio Power Siting Board and Department of Development. Public comments on the proposed regulations have recently closed, and industry advocates are urging refinements before the regulations are implemented.