Ohio lawmaker wants PUCO chair to explain tweets

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- A Democratic state lawmaker is asking Ohio's top utility regulator to explain posts on Twitter criticizing solar, wind and renewable energy and questioning global warming.

State Rep. Mike Foley of Cleveland says Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Chairman Todd Snitchler's posts represent views that are 'radical' and Ohioans need to hear from the former Republican lawmaker about his positions.

The social networking posts came to light after the PUCO disregarded a staff recommendation last week and rejected a major American Electric Power solar project.

Rep. Robert Hagan, of Youngstown, said the project represented hundreds of job.

PUCO spokesman Jason Gilham said Wednesday that Snitchler endorses healthy debate, but it's silly to place 140-character tweets on the same level as formal commission opinions.