October 11, 2024, Press Release from the Ohio State Fire Marshal: Columbus, Ohio – Working in collaboration with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon has issued an order lifting a Ban on Open Burning that was initially ordered on Sept. 6, 2024, in response to extremely dry conditions in much of the state. While drought conditions persist in parts of the state, the onset of moderate fall temperatures and atmospheric conditions and recent sustained rains that have fallen across the state have provided enough moisture to create a significant and sustained reduction in wildfire fuel loads during the first part of October.

The Lima refinery will be paying millions of dollars in penalties and upgrades for violations of the Clean Air Act. The U.S. Justice Department and the Environmental Protection Agency announced a settlement with Cenovus Energy to pay 19 million dollars in civil penalties for benzene and volatile organic compound emissions. The energy company must also implement an estimated 150 million dollars in capital improvements to reduce emissions of benzene by 4.3 tons per year, other hazardous air pollutants by 16 tons per year, and other volatile organic compound emissions by 219 tons per year.

August 22, 2024, Press Release from the Office of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost: (COLUMBUS, Ohio) — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to pause a federal rule that forces states and power plants to comply with “unrealistic” and “unlawful” regulations targeting air pollution. In a filing with the court, Yost and the attorney general of Kansas oppose a recent Environmental Protection Agency rule that gives coal-fired power plants an ultimatum: Capture and store 90% of carbon emissions or shut down within eight years.

Electric co-ops and power providers are concerned that the state will not be able to have enough electricity to support its future needs. The U.S. EPA issued a rule that targets electric coal and natural gas plants in the United States. By 2032, any fossil fuel-powered plant will be 90% carbon-emission-free. Electric co-ops say this would mean that carbon-capturing technology would have to be added, making the process more expensive for large operations. If they can't reach the carbon emission level, the plants need to close. Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted says one reason that many companies want to move or expand in Ohio is because of cheap energy, and these mandates could mean the state power needs may not be met.