Right now, California faces rotating power outages previously only seen in third world countries. Pretty soon, they’ll be coming to Ohio too – unless we do something about it now.

Fortunately, President Donald Trump took a major step earlier this month to address this looming crisis by issuing three executive orders to revive the coal industry–keeping aging coal plants online, accelerating mining leases on federal lands, and rolling back burdensome climate regulations. Coal shouldn’t be treated like a four-letter word in America; we should embrace it. Last year, the rest of the world burned more coal than ever in history – while the U.S. used less coal than we ever have. This makes little sense as a purported solution to address “global” climate change, especially as the utilization of coal in the U.S. is far cleaner than places like China, where coal production has largely shifted.

Ohio has an opportunity to lead the way in our region to address the looming electricity shortage, and coal remains an important source of baseload power – that is, the minimum amount of electricity needed to power the grid 24/7. Currently, Ohio is part of the 13-state PJM Interconnection, which projects capacity shortfalls as soon as next year. That means higher prices in the short term–and potential rotating outages if we don’t act. In fact, the most recent capacity auction saw a ninefold price increase over the prior year, a clear warning to ratepayers and policymakers alike.

Driven by AI data centers and manufacturing, Ohio’s peak energy demand will be 50% higher in 2034 than it is today. The arrival of high-tech sectors is an exciting development for Ohio’s economy–but only if we have the energy to sustain them.

Yet today our region is retiring power generation capacity at a troubling pace. Since 2014, 39 coal-powered units have closed in Ohio, removing 12.3 gigawatts from the grid–more than any other state in PJM. While some closures are due to aging infrastructure and natural gas adoption, environmental regulations have played a major role.

Attempts to build new capacity are often mired in red tape and bureaucracy. Since 2014, only 7% of proposed new energy projects in PJM have been completed. In Ohio, it averages over a year for the Power Siting Board to approve a new project. Bureaucracy isn’t a nature-made problem; it’s a man-made problem.

If elected Governor, I’ll streamline the permitting process and require the Power Siting Board to issue timely decisions after public hearings. Because the board is appointed by the Governor, this can be done through executive action, though I welcome legislative support.

While coal is an important input to our baseload power generation, I am equally supportive of expanding other sources of power as well — particularly through natural gas and nuclear energy.

In eastern Ohio, shale formations have sparked community revitalization, driving over 20% growth in our two fastest-growing counties even during the pandemic. Sustaining this momentum, however, requires addressing a statewide shortage of skilled workers in the oil and gas industries. By promoting earn-as-you-learn programs beginning in high school, we can ensure that energy production from right under our feet continues to power our homes and economy. These programs let students earn a paycheck while gaining hands-on experience and industry-recognized credentials, offering a direct path into well-paying energy careers without the burden of traditional college debt.

In sectors like natural gas, workforce shortages aren’t just an employment issue–they limit our ability to fully utilize available resources. Staffing gaps across technical and operational roles in the natural gas sector have delayed pipeline projects and restricted capacity expansion.1 By equipping the next generation early through practical, paid training, we can secure our energy future while revitalizing a key Ohio industry.

A recent Energy Department study2 demonstrated how next-generation nuclear technology can support our energy mix. Our two current nuclear plants–Davis-Besse and Perry–could add new small modular reactors, just as four recently closed coal plants in Ohio could also be repurposed to house modular nuclear units, collectively producing over 6.8 gigawatts of electricity. These reactors offer major benefits: less nuclear waste,3 potential to recycle spent fuel, 4 and faster timelines since they’re manufactured off-site and assembled on location.

With bold leadership, Ohio can turn our looming electricity challenges into a historic opportunity to modernize our power grid for the next century. All we need is to believe in ourselves to accomplish it.

About the Author: Vivek Ramaswamy is a Republican candidate for Governor of Ohio.