Wrapping more than a week of negotiations sparked by a veto threat from Gov. Ted Strickland, the http://m1.2mdn.net/1488751/HP2_new.html?t=10&;cT=http%3A//ad.doubleclick.net/click%253Bh%3Dv8/36ab/2/0/%252a/k%253B199376836%253B0-0%253B0%253B17652859%253B255-0/0%253B26078109/26095963/1%253B%253B%257Eaopt%253D2/1/98/0%253B%257Esscs%253D%253f&l=http%3A//www.bizjournals.com/columbus/gen/Ohio_House%2520of%2520Representatives_F0E346AF9F274B6D93117B1D60B205E9.html">Ohio House of Representatives has emerged from multiple hearings on a comprehensive state energy bill the governor says will get his signature.

House Speaker Jon Husted, R-Kettering, on Tuesday announced the House passed the bill, which cleared the http://m1.2mdn.net/1488751/HP2_new.html?t=10&;cT=http%3A//ad.doubleclick.net/click%253Bh%3Dv8/36ab/2/0/%252a/k%253B199376836%253B0-0%253B0%253B17652859%253B255-0/0%253B26078109/26095963/1%253B%253B%257Eaopt%253D2/1/98/0%253B%257Esscs%253D%253f&l=http%3A//www.bizjournals.com/columbus/related_content.html%3Ftopic%3DOhio%2520Senate">Ohio Senate in the fall and has since undergone 20 hearings. The bill, which makes key provisions to the future of Ohio's electricity market and its investment in renewable energy resources, will now head to the Senate for final approval. Attached to the bill is an omnibus amendment that addresses several key issues, including the scope of authority of the http://m1.2mdn.net/1488751/HP2_new.html?t=10&;cT=http%3A//ad.doubleclick.net/click%253Bh%3Dv8/36ab/2/0/%252a/k%253B199376836%253B0-0%253B0%253B17652859%253B255-0/0%253B26078109/26095963/1%253B%253B%257Eaopt%253D2/1/98/0%253B%257Esscs%253D%253f&l=http%3A//www.bizjournals.com/columbus/gen/Public_Utilities%2520Commission%2520of%2520Ohio_A858919793E7486CB245966A867A5EED.html">Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and advanced energy benchmarks.

"The House today passed a bipartisan bill that meets the goal of protecting consumers against unwarranted and unjust rate increases," Strickland said in a statement. "This legislation meets all of the principles I outlined nearly one year ago today."

Strickland on April 11 had far different words for a revised version of the bill introduced the day before by House Republicans, threatening to veto the measure when it hit his desk because he believed it didn't protect against rate spikes and harmed the state's economic development future.

The Republican-backed revisions to the bill held to Strickland's goals of boosting the state's commitment to renewable energy, but Strickland and Republicans differed on elements of the bill's hybrid approach to electric rates after Ohio's rate stabilization plans expire at year-end.

In the approved bill, all utilities must file an electric security plan with PUCO and are permitted to file for a market-based offer as well. The lower-cost option ultimately wins out. PUCO also is required to hold hearings for both options.

Husted in a statement Tuesday said the bill would protect consumers from possible rate shock.

"Our work represents an energy policy that will protect consumers and provide jobs and cleaner, greener energy for Ohio," Husted said.