COLUMBUS — Community energy facilities could be developed in Ohio under legislation approved by the Ohio House.

House Bill 303, co-sponsored by state Rep. Jim Hoops (R., Napoleon), would create a Community Energy Pilot Program consisting of 1,500 megawatts of community energy facilities throughout the state. After four years, the program would be reviewed by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and state lawmakers to assess the costs and benefits of the program.

Community energy is most commonly associated with community solar projects, but the bill also applies to wind, biomass, landfill gas, or hydroelectric power, natural gas-fired generators, energy storage systems, and fuel cells.

Generally, community energy facilities are local installations shared by at least three community

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