Summit County Joins PCFO

Summit County recently joined Power A Clean Future Ohio (PCFO) to boost its commitment to carbon reduction and sustainable practices.



The County plans to achieve further carbon reduction through strategic, cost-effective efforts, including increasing the number of publicly accessible electric vehicle charging stations and requiring the use electronic signatures, and exploring other sustainable options as they pertain to current operations and future Executive Office projects. The federal government’s investment in climate action through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity for local governments to reduce their emissions. PCFO’s technical assistance, including federal and state grant application support, will be a valuable tool to leverage these funds in Summit County.  

“No matter what issue my team is addressing, we are always looking to the future. It is critical that we take steps now to ensure we are building a healthy and livable community for our children, grandchildren, and future generations to inherit,” said County Executive Shapiro. “Membership in Power A Clean Future will help us implement achievable and economical practices to reduce our carbon footprint. If we all take practical steps today, we can make a significant collective difference tomorrow.”

Read more here: https://www.poweracleanfuture.org/summit-county-joins-pcfo

Federal government shutdown looms -- where to find latest guidance?

The federal fiscal year ends this Saturday and with it comes a lapse in appropriations for the federal government triggering what will be another government shutdown unless Congress passes a funding bill before then. If you are looking for the latest guidance from the applicable federal agency, you can find contingency plans for each agency on their website and a full list of these plans with links from the White House here.

We have included links to the most relevant federal agencies for our work below:

Department of Energy

Department of Transportation

Environmental Protection Agency

In Lancaster, a new addition to the Cirba Solutions plant — made possible through an $82 million investment from the Inflation Reduction Act — is creating more than 100 jobs and reinforcing the city's leadership on sustainability. Watch Mayor David Scheffler share the significance of this development for the community.

Under the Inflation Reduction Act, the Urban and Community Forestry Program is set to reform communities across the United States with a historic investment of over $10 million in urban forestry projects. Canton, Dayton, Euclid, Green, Toledo, and Youngstown-Warren have been awarded $14,111,119 to enhance their urban canopy. Each community is using these funds to address specific challenges and create opportunities for long-term growth, sustainability, and local environmental action. Canton, Dayton and Toledo are directing their efforts towards mitigation and maintenance on current forestry areas, such as pruning and removal of invasive species, and heat island effect to reduce the impact on disadvantaged communities. Euclid, Green and Mahoning Valley are forward-looking as they aim to establish urban forestry initiatives to foster local support and develop city-wide plans for revitalizing existing landscapes. They are focusing on the expansion of tree inventory to provide local citizens with activities, nature education, and workforce development. These diverse approaches represent the versatility of urban forestry and its potential to address a wide range of issues, from environmental sustainability to social equity and economic development.

The Midwest, often associated with its agricultural heritage and manufacturing capacities, is undergoing a remarkable transformation. At the end of 2022, the clean energy and clean transportation sectors employed more than 734,000 Midwesterners, representing a notable four percent increase from the previous year – and the momentum shows no signs of slowing down.



In Ohio, clean energy companies employed more than 114,000 Ohioans at the end of 2022, a nearly 5% increase from 2021. 

In 2022, Ohio's clean energy jobs grew more than twice as fast as the overall economy, and this growth is expected to continue as federal clean energy and vehicle incentives lead to new projects. 

As more automakers and their suppliers continue to shift to electric vehicles, the state’s clean transportation jobs grew 13% in 2022 and now employ 22,431 workers. Electric vehicle-related jobs accounted for most of the sector’s growth. 

For a full report of the Midwest’s clean energy employment, visit https://www.cleanjobsmidwest.com/state/midwest.

The city of Lebanon plans to have solar arrays built on 37 acres of undevelopable land in a flood plain in the city.

Lebanon City Council approved a contract for nearly $14 million for the construction of three fixed-tilt solar arrays on city-owned property near the Glosser Road substation. The solar arrays would be able to generate about 9.8 megawatts of electricity or about 3% of Lebanon’s electric needs.

City Manager Scott Brunka said the goal was to diversify its sources of electricity and provide competitive and stable savings for the city. The city owns and operates its own electric distribution network and is a member of the AMP-Ohio network.

Savings to the city are projected at $27 million or about $770,000 a year over the life of the solar arrays." 



Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/3Zoildm

World Resources Institute | Creating an Equitable Clean Energy Future: Engaging Local Communities in Project Planning and Development

Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023 | 11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. ET

Join WRI and Data for Progress for a discussion about the importance of community benefits agreements and community benefits plans in facilitating an equitable clean energy development. Register here.

NOACA Annual Summit & Luncheon

Friday, October 20 | 12-2 p.m. ET

The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) will hold its 2023 Annual Meeting and Luncheon on Oct. 20, from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland, located at 300 Lakeside Ave East, Cleveland, Ohio. Registration is required for this event.

MORPC Sustainability Summit

Thursday, October 26 | 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

This is MORPC’s signature environmental conference, bringing hundreds of community leaders together to explore and share sustainable ideas and solutions, and to celebrate individuals and collaborative sustainability efforts with the Regional Sustainability Awards. The Summit will feature two plenary sessions and breakout sessions that will focus on MORPC’s sustainability programs. Register here.