COLUMBUS — A petroleum-industry backed bill designed to proactively block Ohio and local governments from adopting California-like vehicle emissions standards and forcing the phaseout of the internal combustible engine is headed to Gov. Mike DeWine's desk.

The Ohio Senate and House both voted for the measure, despite the fact that Ohio has not signaled an inclination to follow the Golden State’s lead.

Before its passage, House Bill 201 was amended with a provision that would make it easier for natural gas utilities over the long term to recover from consumers their investments to expand service to sites to make them shovel ready for development — even if that development should never happen.

“We are competing across state lines for economic development [projects] that in many cases are going to bring hundreds if not thousands of jobs to the state of Ohio,” Sen. Rob McColley (R., Napoleon) said. “We need to remain competitive for those projects, because other states are offering to these companies that they will not have to pay for the utility infrastructure to be extended to their job site.

“We have to acknowledge that that is the reality right now,” he said.

The bill passed the Senate 24-8 with Sen. Niraj Antani (R., Miamisburg) casting the sole Republican “no” vote along with the chamber's Democrats.

“This is a tax increase,” he said. “It can be done in the words of economic development. Look, we didn't have to do this for Intel.”

He was referring to Intel's massive commitment to build semiconductor chip manufacturing facilities outside the Columbus beltway.

The House then voted 60-31 to concur with the Senate amendments and send the measure on to Mr. DeWine.

First Published December 13, 2023, 10:59 p.m.