Home Page Categories Archives - Checks and Balances Project

Anti-solar effort led by group that apparently violated its tax-exempt status

2025-02-18

The Indian Lake Advocacy Group, which apparently violated its tax-exempt nonprofit status by openly advocating for the election of an Ohio representative who’s now the group’s lobbyist, is seeking people to oppose the construction of a solar project in Logan County. The group wants potential opponents who live near the proposed Grange Solar project to… Read more »

Former Ohio legislator now lobbying for the nonprofit that touted his reelection

2025-01-28

Just days after leaving the Ohio legislature, Republican former Rep. Jon Cross has resurfaced as a lobbyist representing the nonprofit group that apparently violated federal law by openly advocating for Cross’ reelection last year. Ohio lobbying records show the Indian Lake Advocacy Group, a tax-exempt nonprofit run by marina owner Bud Christman, is one of… Read more »

New York county declines to back attempted solar and battery storage moratorium

2025-01-27

The Allegany County, N.Y., Planning Board declined to adopt an attempt from a solitary landowner to place a one-year moratorium on the development of solar and battery power projects in the county that has already approved several renewable energy projects. During its deliberations Jan. 15, the board sent the issue back to the Town of… Read more »

Grant to Ohio nonprofit that backed candidate now on hold

2025-01-17

In his farewell note to constituents, Ohio Rep. Jon Cross, R-Findlay, touted the money he brought to his district, including $5 million for dredging and weed removal in Indian Lake in northwest Ohio. But that money is on hold after a Checks & Balances Project report on Aug. 21, 2024, that the group intended to… Read more »

Bond rating agency says OVEC plants will be uneconomical “for the foreseeable future”

2024-12-12

Despite a surge in the number of electricity-hungry data centers opening in central Ohio, the coal-fired power plants owned by Ohio Valley Electric Corp. (OVEC) are no closer to profitability, according to a report from the bond rating agency Fitch. “While regional demand growth (especially from data centers) may tighten energy markets, Fitch expects OVEC’s… Read more »

PUCO wipes mentions of HB 6’s corruption from the record

2024-12-2

As it continues to whitewash the effects of the state’s corrupt HB 6 law, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio routinely strikes expert witness testimony that highlights the law’s corrupt origins or the capture of PUCO’s staff by utility interests. During the first audit into the effects of the 2019 law that requires Ohio ratepayers… Read more »

PUCO continues contortions to justify expensive OVEC coal contract

2024-11-12

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio continues to protect the coal company whose owner was one of the original donors to the dark money group that bribed former Ohio House speaker Larry Householder to ram the state’s corrupt HB 6 law through the legislature. Resource Fuels of Columbus is owned by Wayne Boich, a longtime… Read more »

PUCO decision shows how its staff and utilities march in lockstep

2024-10-11

The Aug. 21 Public Utilities Commission of Ohio ruling in favor of the subsidies to utilities authorized by the state’s HB 6 law showed just how closely the commission’s staff and the companies work together. In five separate parts of the ruling, the commission cites how “staff and the companies” agreed to either strike testimony… Read more »

Nonprofit’s missing paper trail for grant request

2024-09-27

Not long after receiving its tax-exempt nonprofit status two years ago, the Indian Lake Advocacy Group hired one of Columbus’ most prominent lobbying firms. Since then, ILAG has reported lobbying for only one item, a 2022 bill that called for a tax amnesty program. That’s despite ILAG’s open solicitation of a $5 million grant in… Read more »

C&BP asks Ohio attorney general to investigate nonprofit’s electioneering

2024-09-25

Checks & Balances Project filed a complaint Wednesday with Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s office seeking an investigation of the Indian Lake Advocacy Group (ILAG) and its electioneering on behalf of state Rep. Jon Cross, who helped secure a $5 million grant for the group. Last month, C&BP reported that ILAG posted a call on… Read more »

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