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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Sign the #Ohio30by30 Pledge |
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Add your name to the growing list of local elected officials taking the #Ohio30by30 pledge! Your leadership and voice is needed in this movement, no matter which community you represent or the political party you call home. Tackling this global challenge requires us all. We can solve this global challenge with local solutions. Sign the pledge!
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Local Action Update
Sandusky Joins Power A Clean Future Ohio
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We are excited to announce that Sandusky has joined Power A Clean Future Ohio thanks to the votes of its city commissioners in a recent public meeting. Sandusky is the 13th community to join our growing coalition of leading cities across Ohio.
"We know that, collectively, it will take many communities to do this,” said Wobser. “The goal will be to look at ways we can mitigate our impact on climate change. We look forward to working with Power a Clean Future Ohio and other local governments to create a clean energy economy in Ohio.”
“The entire PCFO coalition is eager to get to work with Sandusky, and we applaud the City Commissioners and the City Manager Eric Wobser for their leadership on this critical issue. The city continues to demonstrate their commitment to protecting our environment and building a sustainable economy for the next generation of Sandusky residents. Prioritizing clean energy supports economic growth and the health and well-being of Ohio’s communities,” said Joe Flarida, Executive Director of PCFO.
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Ohio Clean Energy Summit: Local Communities Lead |
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Mark your calendars! The Ohio Clean Energy Summit: Local Communities Lead is happening May 17-20.
Join elected officials, advocates and industry experts from across Ohio and the Midwest for this exciting virtual event! These events will feature announcements on new clean energy initiatives and will provide a forum to discuss how your local government can access tools and resources to advance carbon reduction strategies to create a healthier, more prosperous community.
Participants will also be able to join other leading local governments in committing to the #Ohio30by30 pledge for 30% carbon footprint reduction by 2030.
Learn more about our events and register today to create your city’s plan for 2030.
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Ohio Climate Justice Fund officially launches |
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We’re excited to announce the launch of the Ohio Climate Justice Fund (OCJF), an emerging initiative that will invest in Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) organizations in Ohio, working at the intersection of racial justice and climate action.
Efforts to advance a clean energy future have historically excluded diverse voices. And studies have shown that nonprofit organizations led by people of color receive only a fraction of the philanthropic investment that White-led organizations receive.
The OCJF was created to elevate a diverse coalition of advocates that will build the power to influence policy change and help move us toward a just and inclusive clean energy economy for Ohio.
Launched with seed funding and support from the George Gund Foundation, Energy Foundation and the Cleveland Foundation, the OCJF will award competitive, one-time grants between $15,000-$30,000 to BIPOC led organizations across Ohio to host community listening sessions and lead communities in conversations about the best and most effective ways to address climate and environmental justice in their communities. Grant applications are due by COB on May 19, 2021.
The OCJF released a pre-recorded informational session to share more about the grant opportunity, the Fund’s advisory board, and goals. Please click here to watch it.
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Wapakoneta plans to add second, larger solar field |
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Wapakoneta's mayor, Tom Stinebaugh, recently announced at their State of the City, County and Schools event that they will constructing a new 13.5 megawatt project solar field in addition to their current 3.75 million kilowatt one that was built in 2013. The city is also providing $500,00 to $750,000 for an upsized transformer for the city-owned electric utility.
“It’s a little bit of money we’re going to have to spend, but that money’s going to be recouped inside of one year because of the savings to our electric customers over a year could possibly be $1 million,” Stinebaugh said. “That’s coming from the fact that transmission charges will go down.”
The city is making headway to upgrade several of their systems in addition to electric, including their water treatment system to the lighting in their schools. Continue reading how Wapakoneta is pushing forward for a better, cleaner environment for its community.
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Put Cities at the Heart of America’s Infrastructure and Economic Recovery |
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Mayor John Cranley of Cincinnati, a PCFO community, co-authored an article with Denor Mayor Michael B. Hancock that was recently published in the Rocky Mountain Institute outlining how cities have the ability to create the economic recovery that our country is searching for post pandemic. Cranley explains the different ways mayors can accomplish this in their cities and move the needle closer to a better, more equitable country, especially in the absence of federal support.
Outlined in this article, along with other great suggestions on how cities can move us toward a better post-covid world, is his stance on reforming our energy markets.
"In Cincinnati, we are constructing the largest municipal solar farm in the country—a major step toward our 100 percent renewable energy goal and a driver of new, green jobs," Cranley said.
He urges the federal government to allow cities to incorporate renewable power without the outdated rules and regulations that make it more difficult to make this transition. Continue reading this insightful article on creative solutions our country's cities can take to "heal our communities, rebuild our economy, and address the inequities plaguing our country."
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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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