Where we are and where we are going.....
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A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
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Creating a New Normal
As our world begins to open up slowly and carefully, the natural world is exploding with colorful new growth. The past few months have also produced a burst of new options for online connection, learning, and activism. GEO’s members and partners are finding creative ways to continue engaging with their audiences, and we're all learning new digital skills to take advantage of the opportunities! We're reading more, so now is a great time to join the
Green Energy Ohio Climate Change Book Club
on Facebook. And when we feel the need for a quick dose of knowledge or inspiration, we can browse through the extensive catalog of
TED Talks on climate change
, from
Greta Thunberg
, to
David Wallace-Wells
, author of
The Uninhabitable Earth
, to
James Balog
, creator of
The Human Element
documentary.
You hear people asking for things to return “to normal.” I’m not sure what they mean when they say that, and I certainly don’t know what the new normal will look like. I do believe that we have been given a chance to hit the reset button and try to maintain some of the unintended – but welcome – consequences of this unfortunate situation. The air and water are cleaner, not just in the United States but around the world. The use of automobiles has decreased dramatically as people have discovered the ease and efficiency of working remotely. Headlines about a broken food chain remind us that the best choices can be found locally, grown organically, raised humanely, and delivered to us without the climate impact of long-distance transportation. In an effort to adhere to social distancing, we have become reacquainted with the natural environment and the benefits that come from being outdoors, whether it’s a hike on a nature trail or a walk around our neighborhood.
As we envision a new normal, let’s remember the lessons we learned over the past couple of months and let's make some resolutions to be kind to each other and to our planet.
Please stay safe and well.
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Jane Harf, Executive Director
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Even though October seems like a long time from now, please add the rescheduled Green Energy Ohio Annual Awards Ceremony & Reception to your calendar! We look forward to celebrating GEO's 20th anniversary and the accomplishments of our outstanding honorees at the wonderful Cincinnati Zoo.
Purchase your tickets
for the 2020 Annual Awards Ceremony and Reception today!
Although the Zoo is currently closed, they continue to provide outstanding care to the animals and have set up a great social media outreach program so we can all stay in touch with Fiona and her friends. Please consider
a
donation to their emergency operating fund
or
go online
to buy a face mask of your favorite Zoo resident!
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LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE
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We hope you saw the announcement of our series of conversations on Clean Energy in the Age of Coronavirus.
As Ohio begins to emerge from the initial phase of pandemic response, we are all wondering what comes next. GEO decided it would be beneficial to hear from media, business, academic and nonprofit leaders and get their perspectives on the future of the industry. Participants will have a chance to ask questions of our panelists and share ideas of your own.
The first conversation will take place on Thursday, May 21 from 12:15 to 1:00 pm and will feature Dan Gearino, InsideClimate News, and Kathiann Kowalski, Energy News Network. To participate,
register here
.
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After addressing a number of concerns, the Green Energy Ohio Board of Directors has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Green Energy Ohio Tour, scheduled for October 2-3. First and foremost, it is our responsibility to protect the health and safety of our Tour hosts and visitors. In the midst of COVID-19 restrictions, the landscape is too uncertain to adequately plan a statewide event at multiple locations with public visitors.
At the same time, the Board agreed to an exciting new version of the GEO Tour to be held next spring, recreating the 2012 GEO “Tour de Sol” in which we traveled the state in an electric vehicle, charging at stations powered by renewable energy, and hosting educational events along the way. For the 2021 event, we will be working with
previous
Tour participants and partner organizations to select the stops and d
esign
the
local
events.
We plan to set aside
a week so that we can include as many locations as possible, and we’ll be posting real-time video of our adventure. The scene below is at Melink Headquarters outside Cincinnati, a perfect stop for our message. For more information on the previous event, check out the "From the GEO Archives" section of
last month's newsletter
, and please stay in touch for details on the 2021 Tour!
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The Train Has Left the Station: Solar Power is Here to Stay
by Jane Harf
My last GEO outing before the shutdown was a visit to Athens, where I sat down at Little Fish Brewery with Gary Easton, Owner and President of Appalachian Renewable Power Systems. Neither of us knew what would transpire in the coming months, the changes that would take place for companies and nonprofits across the state. Solar installations were delayed, and GEO events were postponed. Gary and I reconnected by phone last week, as he was planning to ease back into business.
Gary has always had a strong environmental ethic and has lived accordingly. Before he moved to Athens in 1998, he was living in a cabin off the grid in northern Ohio, working in the family construction business. His first home in Athens was powered exclusively by a 300-watt solar system. It wasn’t until six years later, in 2006, that he upgraded to a 3000-watt grid-tied system. The house was featured on the 2005 Ohio Solar Tour – the Tour program described it as “a hybrid system of 300-watt panels with a 1500-watt inverter and a wind turbine.” It went on to say that “this family of four is able to enjoy a fairly normal lifestyle, including a computer run solely off solar/wind power.”
Gary continued to work construction and founded a small business called the Sustainable Shelter Co. Gary also began working for Dovetail Solar and Wind, earned his NABCEP certification and, in 2008, founded Appalachian Renewable Power. In the 12 years since, ARP Solar has grown to 15 employees servicing Ohio, West Virginia, and western Pennsylvania. Gary attributes the company’s growth to the quality of their product and their relationships with clients.
Click
here
to read more about ARP Solar and Gary's commitment to installing solar power in developing countries.
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FROM THE GEO ARCHIVES:
SUNSHINE AT THE GOVERNOR'S RESIDENCE
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At the 2003 Ohio State Fair, First Lady Hope Taft brought the idea of a photovoltaic or solar electric system at the Ohio Governor’s Residence to Green Energy Ohio. A "Green Team" of GEO volunteers and members of the Ohio Clean Energy Business Association (OCEBA) immediately began preparing a plan to install a grid-tied solar system with battery back-up power and an educational display using all Ohio-made products and services.
The plan was initially presented to Governor’s Residence Manager and other state officials. In October 2003, during the first statewide Ohio Solar Tour, First Lady Hope Taft hosted an open house at the Governor’s Residence, featuring the future site of the solar installation on the adjacent Carriage House. A scale model and artist’s rendition of the Carriage House solar electric system was unveiled at this event.
Partial funding for the project came from an Ohio Department of Development (ODOD) Office of Energy Efficiency grant, with the remainder of the cost accounted for through in-kind contributions from companies and groups affiliated with the project.
The project was completed in 2004 and dedicated on October 15, the day before the 2
nd
Annual Ohio Solar Tour. The ribbon cutting celebration was attended by First Lady Hope Taft and our All-Ohio Green Team of donors and installers, as shown above.
The 3-kW installation has now been in operation for over 15 years and continues to provide back-up power for the residence security system run by the Highway Patrol. As such, it allows the Patrol to operate essential functions in the case of a power outage, including the gates and the alarm systems. Its longevity is truly a solar power success story!
Last year, as renovations were being made on the Governor’s residence, we assembled some key individuals from the 2004 Green Team and approached the state about assessing the system, making any necessary repairs, and perhaps even updating it. After meetings with the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) and a visit to the property, several options were identified. Earlier this year GEO agreed to produce a plan for DAS to consider and to identify funding sources and new partners interested in the project. AEP Energy stepped up to join the team, as well as other GEO business members. Unfortunately, the pandemic has put a hold on further progress, but we are hopeful that we can re-start this important effort as soon as possible.
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Seeking Emerging Leaders and Innovators at the Leading Edge of the Clean Energy Economy
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Green Energy Ohio is a proud partner of the 6th annual
Energy News Network ‘40 Under 40’ awards program
that seeks to highlight emerging leaders and innovators from across the U.S. who work to accelerate America’s transition to a clean energy economy.
The program is open to all who are under 40 at the time of their nomination. Energy News Network is looking for leaders and innovators from all backgrounds: industry, government, regulatory, hospitality, business, technology, academia, nonprofits, science, agriculture, environmental justice, grassroots, the arts, and advocacy.
Last year, GEO Board member Sarah Conley-Ballew was among those selected!
If you know a strong emerging leader and/or innovator who fits the criteria,
nominate them today
! Nominations will be accepted until August 7.
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The global coronavirus pandemic has called increasing attention to the often overlooked discussion of climate change's impact on human health. This month's Book Club selection addresses this oversight and enlightens readers about the most important aspect of the greatest challenge of our time - climate change.
Written by emergency-medicine physicians and past presidents of the Wilderness Medical Society, authors Jay Lemery and Paul Auerbach explain the science and dispel the myths surrounding climate change's impacts on our physical and emotional well-being.
Environmedics
could not be more relevant to our world today, as it addresses how "short-term economic considerations and the challenges of grasping the science behind complex processes remain the biggest hurdles to advancing discussion and tackling problems."
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