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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Cleveland's GO Green Energy Fund to compete for a portion of $27 billion in EPA clean energy grants |
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The GO Green Energy Fund, a green bank in Cleveland, is positioned to compete for $27 billion in Greenhouse Gas Reduction grants recently announced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Two programs - the General and Low Income Assistance Competition and the Zero-Emissions Technology Fund Competition - combine to equal the $27 billion total grant funding for which the application process is expected to open this summer.
Formed in 2020 with funding from the George Gund Foundation, the Cleveland Foundation and a portion of Cuyahoga County’s American Rescue Plan Act money, Cleveland’s GO Green Energy Fund is one of 26 groups across the country poised to compete for a share of the available grant money.
Go Green Energy Fund Founder and CEO Michael Jeans indicated his organization has been anticipating the EPA’s grant funding announcement for some time, "We've got pipeline needs that exceed $2 billion across the state and have identified disadvantaged communities that could benefit from some of the clean energy economy solutions we are deploying."
In a statement, EPA administrator Michael Regan said the grants are designed to help leverage, "private capital to reduce pollution and improve public health, all while lowering energy costs, increasing energy security, creating good-paying jobs and boosting economic prosperity."
Funded by a provision in the Inflation Reduction Act and subject to the Biden Administration’s Justice40 Initiative, both programs are aimed at transitioning the country toward more renewable energy while ensuring at least 40 percent of the overall federal investment benefits disadvantaged communities. In this instance, of the $27 billion being made available, $20 billion is set aside for low-income clean energy assistance projects, and $7 billion is targeted to residential rooftop and community solar.
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PCFO partners with Dayton to reach clean energy goals |
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The City of Dayton has never been shy about leading the way whether it be in the areas of aeronautics, business innovation or, most recently, clean energy. Dayton has partnered with PCFO to develop and successfully implement a number of clean energy strategies that are serving the city and its residents, all while keeping an eye toward new and innovative ways to adopt additional sustainable policies well into the future. The following video testimonials featuring Dayton Mayor Jeffrey Mims and Sustainability Specialist Meg Maloney explain how the city and PCFO have worked together to achieve many of the city’s clean energy goals.
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Steps your community can make for Justice40 federal funding |
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The Biden-Harris Administration’s signature Justice40 Initiative aims to ensure 40 percent of overall benefits from certain federal investments target disadvantaged communities. In light of this initiative, communities across the country are following the lead of Albuquerque, New Mexico, where Mayor Tim Keller signed an Executive Order for Equitable and Just Implementation of Justice40.
Keller’s Executive Order calls for the establishment of the Albuquerque Justice40 Oversight Coordinating Committee to prepare and implement a five-year Justice40 Equitable and Just Administration Plan. This novel approach ensures local government organizations will come together to prioritize investment in historically under-resourced communities, and it’s proving to be an effective strategy for attracting federal funding.
Power a Clean Future Ohio (PCFO) offers assistance to Ohio communities seeking to implement similar strategies. In fact, the PCFO team stands ready to partner with local organizations and municipalities to draft similar legislation that positions them to attract federal funding. Learn more about how PCFO can support your community at the PCFO website: https://www.poweracleanfuture.org/.
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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 soliciting feedback and best practices to inform the development of Home Energy Rebate programs that will support residential energy efficiency and electrification improvements.
Application Deadline: March 3, 2023
The Areas of Persistent Poverty Program awards grants for planning, engineering, or development of technical or financing plans to assist Areas of Persistent Poverty or Historically Disadvantaged Communities.
Application Deadline: March 10, 2023
The American-Made Community Power Accelerator Prize is a $10 million prize competition designed to fast-track the efforts of new, emerging, and expanding solar developers and co-developers to learn, participate, and grow their operations to support multiple successful community solar projects.
Application Deadline: March 15, 2023
EPA is soliciting feedback for the Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grant Program, which will provide funding for financial and technical assistance to carry out environmental and climate justice activities to benefit disadvantaged communities.
Deadline for Comments: March 17, 2023
The EJCPS Cooperative Agreement Program provides financial assistance to community-based organizations working to address local environmental or public health issues. The program assists recipients in building collaborative partnerships with other stakeholders to develop solutions to environmental or public health issue(s) at the community level.
Application Deadline: April 10, 2023
The Environmental Justice Government-to-Government (EJG2G) program provides funding to support government activities that lead to measurable environmental or public health impacts in communities disproportionately burdened by environmental harms. EPA aims to fund projects that transform overburdened and underserved communities into healthy, thriving communities capable of addressing the environmental and public health challenges they have historically faced, as well as current and future challenges.
Application Deadline: April 10, 2023
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
Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, DOE received $500 million for grants for energy improvements at public school facilities from 2022-2026. This program aims to fund projects which address historic inequities in school facilities investments, reduce school energy expenditures, help schools lead the nation in solving the climate crisis, and create well-paying union jobs.
Concept Papers Deadline: January 26, 2023; Full Application Deadline: April 21, 2023
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
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A shift is taking place in the energy sector as former oil company workers take jobs in renewable energy |
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A recent New York Times report shed light on a growing number of former oil and gas company employees who have made the shift to the renewable energy sector. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, as fossil fuel prices experienced wild fluctuations, oil and gas companies shed workers and have continued to operate with lean staffing throughout the pandemic recovery. By contrast, job openings at solar, wind, geothermal and battery businesses have soared.
While the exact number of workers shifting from fossil fuels to renewable energy is not known, industry data suggests the number is large and getting larger. Specifically, the oil and gas industry shed more than 20 percent of its workforce - roughly 700,000 workers - since 2016. And while it remains a much smaller industry by comparison, employment in wind energy alone grew nearly 20 percent from 2016 to 2021, to more than 113,000 workers.
Many of the workers who spoke with the New York Times about their job transitions cited doubts about the prospect for long-term job security in fossil fuels and concerns about climate change as their reasons for switching to the renewable energy sector.
And as PCFO and organizations like it work to bring clean, renewable energy sources to the forefront by making them more accessible to governments, businesses and average citizens, the shift toward clean energy jobs is likely to continue.
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Power a Clean Future Ohio will be hosting a webinar for PCFO Communities on the available funding through Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program (EECBG) on Monday, March 6 at 12 p.m. If you are a PCFO Community and would like to participate, please email Cassandra Clevenger at cassandra@poweracleanfuture.org for registration details.
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Tuesday, March 7
11 a.m. EST
Learn about the benefits and challenges in implementing electrified systems into your facilities from Better Plants partners.
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Tuesday, March 7
1 p.m. EST
Interested in learning how your academic program can earn the Zero Energy Design Designation? Join us to learn how your college or university program could earn this three-year designation.
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Thursday, March 9
1 p.m. EST
Learn about the Buildings Upgrade Prize (Buildings UP), which is offering more than $22 million in cash prizes and technical assistance to teams across America with winning ideas to accelerate equitable energy-efficiency and building electrification upgrades.
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Monday, March 20-21
8 a.m.-5 p.m. ET
The objective of REMADE is to advance the national conversation on a circular approach and how sustainable manufacturing can support the nation in meeting its multiple energy, environmental, and economic goals.
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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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