Our Mission: Power a Clean Future Ohio is building momentum now for a clean, prosperous future by equipping local leaders for equitable, community-driven carbon reductions in Ohio. |
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Sustainable Cleveland hosts
Decarbonization Summit
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On April 13, Sustainable Cleveland, a city-wide initiative focused on promoting sustainability and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, hosted the city's Decarbonization Summit. The event brought together business leaders, policymakers, and community members to discuss strategies for reducing emissions in Cleveland and beyond.
Power a Clean Future Ohio presented Mayor Bibb with an award for Cleveland's commitment to reducing emissions and adopting clean energy for city residents. The Mayor also announced that Cleveland has joined the U.S. Department of Energy's National Better Climate Challenge, which commits the city to decrease emissions from government operations by 50% over a ten-year period.
During the summit, attendees discussed a range of topics related to decarbonization, including the role of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and transportation in reducing emissions. They also discussed the importance of community engagement in promoting sustainability and reducing emissions, and the need for policies that support sustainable practices.
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Cuyahoga County Mayors Climate Meeting explores the Inflation Reduction Act |
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PCFO recently joined Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne, representatives of the GO Green Energy Fund and more than a dozen mayors from across Cuyahoga County to discuss the climate future and how new federal programs created through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) will help propel Ohio forward in its clean energy transition. The convening provided mayors with information on how to best plan and leverage opportunities through the IRA as we continue to receive information from the federal government about program implementation.
If your community would like to learn more about the Inflation Reduction Act and resources provided to member governments through the Infrastructure Grant Assistance Program (IGAP), please email Cassandra Clevenger, Deputy Director and IGAP Coordinator, at Cassandra@poweracleanfuture.org.
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Virtual Event: Energizing Rural Communities Prize |
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Join us on Thursday, May 4 at 12 p,m, for an educational webinar to learn more about the US Department of Energy’s Energizing Rural Communities Prize, hosted by the Midwest Rural Organizing and Outreach for Transformative Solutions (ROOTS) program, Power A Clean Future Ohio and Great Plains Institute.
The Energizing Rural Communities Prize challenges organizations to develop partnership plans or innovative financing strategies to help rural or remote communities advance clean energy projects.
With over $15 million available, the program awards cash prizes to winners in two phases, providing winners with up to $100,000 in Phase 1 and up to $200,000 in Phase 2. Applications for Phase 1 are due on May 24.
In this educational webinar, we will discuss the program overview, eligibility criteria, and how to apply. In addition, we will provide an opportunity for participants to ask questions and make connections with other interested partners.
To attend, please visit:
Passcode: 220490
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Organizations in Lima and Cleveland to Receive Federal Grants for Community Improvement |
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Two Ohio cities - Lima and Cleveland - are set to see transportation improvements focused on enhancing transportation access and complete streets through the United States Department of Transportation Thriving Communities Program. Community development and planning partners in Lima and Cleveland identified projects that will serve to connect disadvantaged neighborhoods through improved roads, trails, bus service, fixed rail service, modernized traffic signals and upgraded lighting for pedestrian safety. Learn more about the awards here.
The City of Lima is partnering with community organizations to improve disadvantaged neighborhoods by connecting them to recreational trails, modernizing traffic signals, and revitalizing downtown. The City of Cleveland is also identifying projects in disadvantaged neighborhoods, including trail extensions and rehabilitation projects, with the aim of advancing plans and identifying funding opportunities for transit-oriented development.
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2023 USEPA Clean School Bus Grant Program Opens with $400 million in Available Grant Funding |
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Applications are currently being accepted for the 2023 USEPA Clean School Bus (CSB) Grant Program. Under the 2023 Grant Program, EPA anticipates awarding approximately $400 million in competitive grant funding to eligible applicants for the purchase of zero-emission (ZE) school buses, clean school buses, and ZE charging infrastructure.
This is the first grant funding opportunity through the multi-year funding program and follows the 2022 CSB Rebate Program, which was the first round of funding. The EPA is prioritizing applications that will replace buses serving high-need local education agencies, rural areas, Tribal school districts funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and public school districts receiving basic support payments for students living on Tribal land, and rural areas. In addition, EPA is committed to ensuring the CSB Program delivers on the Administration’s Justice40 Initiative that at least 40% of the benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities.
The EPA will host a series of public webinars to provide potential applicants with an overview of the program and how to apply. Webinar registration links are posted on the Clean School Bus Webinars webpage, and the first session will be held on May 10 at 3 p.m.
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PCFO INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT SNAPSHOTS
Federal Funding: Find it here!
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Visit the PCFO IGAP Webinar page to review notes from the BIL Guidebook Introduction, Electric Vehicles, Public Transportation, and Clean Energy and Power webinars. These notes include information on the federal departments’ goals, funding opportunities, and available links to program pages.
If you are interested in applying or need PCFO’s support please contact Cassandra Clevenger, IGAP Coordinator, at cassandra@poweracleanfuture.org with any questions.
The Department of Energy is now accepting applications for the Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund Capitalization Grant Program from states and territories. $250 million in formula funding is available through this program to provide grants that will enable states and territories to establish revolving loan funds to invest in energy audits and energy efficiency upgrades and retrofits of commercial and residential buildings. In addition, states can use up to one-quarter of the funding for grants and technical assistance to low-income homeowners and small businesses.
Application Deadline: April 21, 2023
Created by the Inflation Reduction Act, the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program invests $5 billion to support states, municipalities, air pollution control agencies, and tribes to develop and implement strong, local greenhouse gas reduction strategies. This two-staged grant program provides funding of $250 million for non-competitive planning grants and $4.6 billion for competitive implementation grants.
Application Deadline: April 28, 2023 (notice of intent to participate due)
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program is a formula-based funding opportunity for states, local governments, and tribes. EECBG can provide funding for projects and programs that cut carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency, and reduce energy use.
Application Deadline: April 28, 2023
Established under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program provides $700 million to support the deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure and alternative fueling infrastructure. The CFI Program will accelerate an electrified and alternative fuel transportation system that is convenient, affordable, reliable, equitable, accessible, and safe.
Application Deadline: May 30, 2023
Created under the Inflation Reduction Act, the Urban and Community Forestry Program provides funding for activities that increase equitable access to the urban tree canopy, broaden community engagement, and improve community and urban forest resilience.
Application Deadline: June 1, 2023
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Competitive Program provides funds to entities that were not allocated funds through the EECBG Formula grant. Funds can be used for projects and programs that reduce fossil fuel emissions, reduce energy use, improve energy efficiency, and build a clean and equitable energy economy.
Concept papers due: June 5, 2023. Application is due: August 7, 2023
Created under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program aims to improve roadway safety by significantly reducing or eliminating roadway fatalities and serious injuries through safety action plan development and refinement and implementation focused on all users.
Application Deadline: July 10, 2023
The Buildings Upgrade Prize (Buildings UP) is a capacity-building prize focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions in existing buildings through energy efficiency and efficient electrification. In Phase 1, Buildings UP will award over $22 million in cash prizes and technical assistance.
Application Deadline: July 18, 2023
Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is providing $400 million in grants to incentivize and accelerate the replacement of existing school buses with clean and zero-emissions school buses through the 2023 Clean School Bus (CSB) Grant Program.
Application Deadline: August 22, 2023
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Ohio Poised to Integrate Solar Farms and Crop Farming in Groundbreaking Agrivoltaics Project |
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Can utility-scale solar farms and crop farming co-exist? If approved, the Oak Run Solar Project in Madison County could be the key to finding out. The idea, known as agrivoltaics, is to use land to farm and produce electricity at the same time. Organizers of the more than 6,000-acre project plan to install an 800-megawatt solar farm and a 300-megawatt energy storage system while farming crops between rows of solar panels on at least 2,000 acres.
While Oak Run would not be the first such project - the concept has been tested on smaller plots of land across the U.S. and around the world - it would be among the largest, if not the largest, project of its kind to integrate crop farming in the space between and around large installations of solar panels.
If the project wins approval from the Ohio Siting Board, and if it proves successful, organizers envision partnering with Ohio State University’s Molly Caren Agricultural Center in London and the Tolles Career and Tech Center near Plain City to establish a regional training hub for agrivoltaics.
The Oak Run Solar Project holds great promise for innovations in using land effectively, efficiently and sustainably for both food and energy production.
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Wednesday, May 3, 6 pm - 8 p.m, EST
St. Martin Deporres High School, Cleveland, OH
Join the Cleveland Department of Public Health’s Division of Air Quality to celebrate Air Quality Awareness Week with a screening of “Unbreathable: The Fight for Clean Air” and a follow-up panel discussion with audience Q&A. Speakers include representatives from the Ohio Poor People’s Campaign, Cleveland Clinic Respiratory Institute, Ohio City, Inc., the Cleveland Mayor’s Office of Sustainability, and others. The event is free and open to the public. RSVP using the QR code below.
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Thursday, May 4, 9 a.m., Pacific,12 p.m. Eastern
Webinar
Join us on Thursday, May 4 at 9 a.m. Pacific, 12 p.m. Eastern for an educational webinar to learn more about the US Department of Energy’s Energizing Rural Communities Prize, hosted by the Midwest Rural Organizing and Outreach for Transformative Solutions (ROOTS) program, Power A Clean Future Ohio and Great Plains Institute.
To attend, please visit:
Passcode: 220490
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Wednesday, May 10, 10-11 a.m.
The Ohio School Boards Association will be sponsoring an educational session designed to assist school districts with the second round of applications for funding through the USEPA Clean School Bus Program. The webinar will feature policy experts from Highland Electric Fleets and the School District Superintendent from Hardin County, IL, Andreas Edmondson, who will also join the webinar to share how he got started with his electrification project and what other districts can learn from his experience. Please paste this URL into your browser to register: https://www.ohioschoolboards.org/event/select/EF047B85-89F3-4661-832F-F71049FBFA06
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May 23 - 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and May 25 - 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
This summit will explore community benefits and labor standards and how they can help grow the vision partners have for the region. Community Benefit Agreements and Policies (CBAs and CBPs) are an important part of ensuring maximum benefits to communities from implementation of federal climate infrastructure funding.
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Interested in getting started? Join today! |
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PCFO is an expansive, diverse coalition engaging with cities and local governments across the state of Ohio to build a clean future for our communities. Power A Clean Future Ohio is empowering local leaders with tools and resources to create carbon reduction plans and implement them in ways that are achievable, measurable, equitable and economical.
Our coalition of expert organizations wants to share our technical expertise and resources with your community. If your community wants to work on plans to reduce emissions, attract business investment, implement equitable clean energy policy, and reduce costs – contact us today to set up a meeting!
If your business or organization would like to support PCFO, we invite you to join the campaign as a PCFO Partner. Contact us for more details.
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