August 31, 2023
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.
Dayton NAACP Hosts Grand Opening of New Headquarters Featuring Clean Energy Solar Panels
On August 29, the Dayton unit of the NAACP hosted a grand opening of its new headquarters at 915 Salem Rd., which now features a rooftop installment of solar panels made possible through the organization’s partnership with Solar United Neighbors. 

Solar United Neighbors is a national nonprofit group that organizes clean-energy co-ops around the country to help local communities harness their buying power to lower the cost of adopting solar power for members. 

The Dayton unit of the NAACP has worked together with Solar United Neighbors to promote the nine-county Miami Valley co-op as a means of increasing access to solar power for disadvantaged communities. 

The NAACP has worked to support equity within the environmental movement by addressing cost barriers that can prohibit the adoption of clean-energy technologies.
Kettering Mayor looks forward to city's work with PCFO
It's official - the City of Kettering, Ohio - is the 45th PCFO Community! “Taking the important step of joining PCFO solidifies our commitment to pursuing clean and sustainable practices whenever possible,” said Kettering Mayor Peggy Lehner. “We look forward to engaging with PCFO at every step of our journey in order to take advantage of its resources and expertise as we work toward a cleaner, safer, and more efficient future.”

Read more here.
Cleveland’s LAND Ramps Up Production of Its Groundbreaking EV Motorcycles
In the electric motorcycle space (also called e-moto), it’s hard to find a company moving faster than Cleveland’s LAND. The startup has gone from building one bike per month, to producing six or seven bikes per week with an ultimate goal of rolling thousands of bikes per year off its assembly line. To reach that goal, LAND recently tripled its staff and moved into a newly renovated 30,000-square-foot-production facility in Cleveland’s Gordon Square District.

LAND’s flagship product is a three-in-one e-bike, e-moped, and e-motorcycle called The District. The District has a starting price of $8,200 and a 72-volt battery pack that can go 120 miles on a single charge. The versatile bike is perfect for everything from a casual ride to the local grocery store using the bike lane, to tearing up dirt trails while off-roading on the weekends. 

Not only have the leaders of LAND committed to clean-energy technologies to fuel their bikes, but they’ve also committed to staying in Cleveland and growing the talent base for electric vehicle technologies in Northeast Ohio. Specifically, by teaming up with the Greater Cleveland Partnership, LAND has been able to recruit local interns from Cleveland State University and Case Western Reserve University. 

LAND’s intern programs, coupled with the ever-increasing number of permanent staff positions, are an example of local businesses creating opportunities for good-paying jobs for local workers in the burgeoning clean-energy economy.
Metroparks Toledo Looks to Turn Landfills into Home of New Solar Panel Project
What happens to landfills once they’re full? Metroparks Toledo envisions a new life for two former landfills - now brownfields - as the home of an installation of solar panels. There are few approved uses for brownfields once they cease to be used as landfills. The installation of solar panels is a viable option that could result in a clean-energy power source capable of sustaining all 19 Metroparks. 

Metroparks has signed a lease agreement with the city that clears the way for the solar panel project to take shape as early as the next few years. The former Dura and Tyler landfills encompass a combined total of 113 acres that, once filled with solar panels, could generate enough energy to power the parks as well as some additional revenue for the Metroparks system and the city. 

The project aligns with the Metroparks’ 95-year-old mission to conserve Lucas County natural resources. 

Read the full article - here.
More Than $800 Million in Federal Funds Announced for Rural Infrastructure and Jobs 
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced an $808 million investment to strengthen rural cooperatives, improve electric infrastructure, and bring new jobs across 36 states including Ohio. The funds are aimed at increasing electric grid reliability and security, connecting people in rural areas with high-speed internet access, and providing clean drinking water and sanitary wastewater systems.

This investment is part of the larger Biden Administration “Investing in America” plan that is designed to drive some $500 billion in manufacturing and clean energy production advancements across the country. The goal is to create more good-paying jobs while ensuring the resiliency of communities through a commitment to combating climate change and developing a clean-energy economy. 

This $808 million investment will fuel 139 projects that are expected to benefit 480,000 people nationwide.
PCFO INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT SNAPSHOTS
Federal Funding: Find it here!
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 Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Program (RCN) is the joint name for the Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) and Neighborhood Access and Equity (NAE) Programs. If applicants meet the requirements for both programs, they are encouraged to submit one application for both funding opportunities. The RCN Program aims to advance community-centered transportation connection projects and to provide technical assistance to further these goals.
Application deadline: September 28, 2023


The Energy Future Grants (EFG) program is a two-phase competition that will provide financial and technical assistance to support innovative clean energy planning to benefit disadvantaged communities. In the first program phase, EFG will provide approximately 50 awards of $500,000. Successful Phase 1 applicants will be eligible to apply for Phase 2.
Application deadline: September 30, 2023

Created under the Inflation Reduction Act, the National Clean Investment Fund (NCIF) is one of three Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) programs. The NCIF competition will fund grants to 2–3 national nonprofit clean financing institutions that will provide accessible, affordable financing for clean technology projects across the country.
Application Deadline: October 12, 2023

Created under the Inflation Reduction Act, the NOAA Climate ResilienceRegional Challenge (Challenge) aims to catalyze equitable adaptation through regional scale collaboration and implementation of adaptation actions that will reduce future damage from weather and climate impacts.
Application Deadline: February 13, 2024

Created under the Inflation Reduction Act, the Green and Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP) provides owners of HUD-assisted multifamily housing with resources to reduce carbon emissions, make utility efficiency improvements, incorporate renewable energy sources, and make properties more resilient against the effects of climate hazards. The GRRP Elements Cohort provides funding for owners to include climate resilience and utility efficiency measures in projects that are already in the process of recapitalization transactions.
Application Deadline: March 28, 2024

Created under the Inflation Reduction Act, the Green and Resilient RetrofitProgram (GRRP) provides owners of HUD-assisted multifamily housing with resources to reduce carbon emissions, make utility efficiency improvements, incorporate renewable energy sources, and make properties more resilient against the effects of climate hazards. The GRRP Leading Edge cohort provides funding to owners with ambitious plans involving carbon reduction, renewable energy generation, use of building materials with lower embodied carbon, and resilience goals through achieving an advanced green certification.
Application Deadline: April 30, 2024

Created under the Inflation Reduction Act, the Green and Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP) provides owners of HUD-assisted multifamily housing with resources to reduce carbon emissions, make utility efficiency improvements, incorporate renewable energy sources, and make properties more resilient against the effects of climate hazards. The GRRP Comprehensive cohort provides funding to properties with a high need for investment in utility efficiency and climate resilience.
Application Deadline: May 30, 2024
Upcoming Events
September 7 | 2:30 p.m. ET

Join EERE’s Solar Energy Technologies Office to discuss how the Inflation Reduction Act has impacted domestic solar manufacturing and encouraged equitable solar energy deployment since it was passed last year—and where DOE sees the industry heading next. 
Interested in getting started? Join today!
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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