COLUMBUS, Ohio--The chair of the Ohio House committee that may soon be considering legislation to offer hundreds of millions in subsidies to “clean-energy” nuclear power plant owners is arguing in favor of the bill because it would remove subsidies that help poorer Ohioans become more energy-efficient.

Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chair Nino Vitale, in a Wednesday email to fellow Republican state Rep. John Becker, wrote that low-income Ohioans should have to cover their own costs of insulating their homes and using LED light bulbs, rather than accept money from ratepayer-funded energy-efficiency programs.

“I ask, how many subsidy programs do we need to give away? We are already paying for food, heating assistance, cell phones, child support, and the list goes on and on,” Vitale wrote.

“While this may sound mean to some, a little hunger in the belly or being a little cold on some really cold days is a good incentive for me to get up, go to work and provide for my 5 boys and wife,” the Urbana lawmaker continued. “If everything is provided for me through government programs that I will never have to reimburse, what incentive is there for me to ever change and cover my own expenses?”

But while House Bill 6 would eliminate Ohio’s energy-efficiency and renewable-energy surcharges, it would also create a new mandatory surcharge for customers that would raise about $300 million per year to subsidize “zero-carbon” power generators. At least half of that money is expected to go toward two northern Ohio nuclear power plants, Davis-Besse and Perry, that owner FirstEnergy Solutions plans to soon close unless it can get subsidies.

Vitale didn’t explicitly state in his email that he supports HB 6. But he spoke favorably about several aspects of the bill and disputed “inaccurate” form emails he said he received urging him to oppose the legislation. Vitale responded to the form emails that he does “not see the concerns that you referenced” and that “the intent of the bill seems to encourage and reward clean air production.”

Vitale was named chair of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee earlier this year by Speaker Larry Householder, who has made HB 6 a priority. Vitale did not immediately return a phone call Friday morning seeking comment on his email, which he also sent to Becker’s alternative House email address and to Becker’s legislative aide.

Becker, a Clermont County lawmaker, confirmed Friday that he received the email from Vitale and suggested the chair was alluding to 2 Thessalonians 3:10, "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you: that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

“That passage refers to people unwilling, rather than unable to work,” Becker said in a text message Friday. “My guess is that Chairman Vitale is blaming government incentives for encouraging the unwilling rather than aiding the unable.”

Asked his position on HB6, Becker replied that he is keeping an open mind while lawmakers hear testimony on the bill.

“I appreciate the chairman’s explanation of what the bill does and doesn’t do,” Becker said.

Micah Derry, head of the anti-HB 6 Ohio chapter of Americans for Prosperity, was quick to criticize Vitale for opposing subsidies for energy efficiency, but not for power-plant companies.

“The irony of this sentiment would be laughable if it weren’t so hypocritical,” Derry said in a statement. “The chairman’s cavalier statement is a good indicator of the attitude HB 6 proponents are sporting, boost the bottom line of the politically-heavy hitting FirstEnergy and forget everyone else.”

HB 6 is currently being considered by a subcommittee of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The subcommittee -- which Vitale does not serve on -- is expected to make changes to the bill as soon as next week, said state Rep. Jamie Callender, the Lake County Republican sponsoring the bill.

After that, Householder could send the legislation to the full Energy and Natural Resources Committee or another committee, such as the House Finance Committee.