State Representative Lauren McNally (D-Youngstown) and Youngstown Mayor Tito Brown penned letters to Ohio Governor Mike DeWine Thursday, seeking help with what Representative McNally called an "ongoing crisis with SOBE Thermal LLC financial and service issues."

McNally says she is asking the governor to use his power to declare an energy emergency in Youngstown.

If the governor does declare an energy emergency, it would allow immediate state intervention and expand the city's available resources, McNally said. The primary goals of state intervention would be to stabilize SOBE's system and ensure reliable heat for the community. McNally added that a long-term plan is also necessary for further oversight and accountability. 

“My city has fought too hard to rebuild its downtown only to be left freezing in the dark — again. This is not just a utility issue; this is about public safety, economic stability, and basic human dignity," McNally said.

In his letter, Mayor Brown says that approximately 90 residents and 27 commercial businesses rely on the steam heat provided by the plant, and that the "inadequacy and failure" of SOBE's services "continues to wreck untold injury and economic harm upon SOBE's customers and, indeed, upon the infrastructure of the City of Youngstown itself."

In her letter to Governor DeWine, McNally included a timeline dating back to January of 2021 when a petition for purchase was filed, resulting in the acquisition of one boiler rather than two. The timeline concludes with a September 18, 2025 entry which stated the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO)'s "Finding and Order" acknowledged multiple violations of statutory requirements to provide reliable thermal services.

McNally also regarded the current "replacement boiler" as "wholly inadequate" in her letter to the governor. She says reports from tenants confirm that replacement boiler is providing little to no heat.

"We are on the doorstep of winter. If this continues, pipes will freeze, businesses will close, and people will face unsafe living conditions. Youngstown cannot afford another drawn-out receivership or bureaucratic delay," McNally wrote.

Additionally, Mayor Brown says in his letter to state officials, although the circumstances the city is now facing were not thought of when discussing public utility laws, the time to address them is now.

"The notion that the sole means of production of a public utility may be rendered inoperable due to mechanical failure or to inadequacy of service remains preposterous. Such circumstances seemingly existed beyond the contemplation of lawmakers and officials when drafting Ohio's public utilities laws. But they exist here and now and must be addressed."

McNally's full letter to Governor DeWine is attached below.

Youngstown city officials are also asking the state for emergency funding for the SOBE plant.

In a letter to state officials, the city is asking for emergency relief funds, if SOBE would once again experience issues with its boiler, or any other problems that would hinder them from providing services.

"It is a rather urgent matter, winter's upon us, temperatures are dropping and we need this to happen quickly," Senior Assistant Law Director Jason Small told 21 News.

The city says when it comes to other sources of funding, it's the state's responsibility to provide them with alternatives.

 

Follow 21 News' recent coverage of this story as it continues to develop.