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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Power a Clean Future Ohio Announces Inaugural Board of Directors |
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Power a Clean Future Ohio (PCFO) recently named the members who will comprise its inaugural board of directors to guide its work with cities and local governments across the state in their efforts to transition to clean, sustainable energy.
The 2023 Power a Clean Future Ohio Board of Directors includes:
- Dayna Baird Payne, President
- Rashida Manuel, Secretary
- Randi Leppla, Treasurer
- Kyle Strickland, Board Member
- Divya Sridhar, Board Member
“There are currently 44 cities, villages, and counties under the PCFO umbrella,” said Joe Flarida, Executive Director of Power a Clean Future Ohio. “We are thrilled to announce the members of our first Board of Directors who are committed to helping us grow and engage these communities all across Ohio.”
Under the direction of its board, PCFO will continue its work providing local leaders with tools and resources to create carbon reduction plans and implement them in ways that are achievable, measurable, equitable and economical.
"Power a Clean Future Ohio has a proven track record of working with local communities to lower emissions, save money, and bring federal dollars to our state," said Dayna Baird Payne, Board President, and long-time political and clean energy consultant. "As PCFO becomes a formal nonprofit organization, I'm eager to continue supporting the organization as the first President of the Board of Directors."
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PCFO Inflation Reduction Act Resource Hub Helps You Navigate New Federal Funding Opportunities |
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Did you know that the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) contains many federal grants and tax credits for local governments, businesses and nonprofits working to transition to sustainable power? It does! In fact, this act represents the largest investment ever made by the United States in climate action.
PCFO wants to connect qualifying entities with the resources contained in the IRA that will benefit them most. To do that, PCFO launched the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Resource Hub. This website aims to help Ohioans make the most of every available dollar by keeping them up to date on the latest news and resources pertaining to the IRA. Using the hub, you can gain access to resources like the Local Government Guide for Solar Deployment, the C40 Knowledge Hub and information about the Direct Pay program.
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PCFO Electric School Bus Webinar Recap |
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On June 29, Power a Clean Future Ohio hosted a webinar discussion around the US EPA’s Clean School Bus Grant Program. The program focused on providing assistance to school districts to utilize a portion of the $5 billion allocated through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to replace their current diesel fleets with healthier, low-and-zero emissions buses.
Speakers from Power a Clean Future Ohio, Moms Clean Air Force, Environmental Law and Policy Center, and Highland Electric Fleets offered information on the application requirements of this round of grant funding, options for purchasing electric school buses, and resources available to move school districts through this competition process. With nearly 15,000 school buses on the road in Ohio today, the transition to electric buses will play a critical role in promoting sustainable transportation practices and transitioning communities toward lowering their carbon emissions.
Speakers also addressed the challenges that come with making the transition to electric fleets and answered questions about best practices and the savings that come from lower fuel and maintenance costs. This webinar was recorded and is available here.
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Solar for All Funding Opportunity Aims to Increase Residential Solar in Disadvantaged Neighborhoods |
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A new $7 billion grant competition through the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) called Solar for All aims to increase access to affordable, clean solar energy for millions of low-income households. Too often, low-income and disadvantaged communities are the least prepared to welcome residential solar investments. The Solar for All competition is an effort to change that by expanding the number of these communities that are primed and ready for residential solar.
With up to 60 grants available to states, territories, tribal governments, municipalities and eligible nonprofits, the program will support solar programs that provide financing and technical assistance, such as workforce development, to enable low-income and disadvantaged communities to benefit from residential solar energy.
To apply for the Solar for All competition, submit a Notice of Intent to the US EPA by September 26, 2023. Additional details can be found in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.
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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.
Funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Ride and Drive Electric Program aims to address discrete challenges to a convenient, affordable, reliable, secure, and equitable EV charging network by enhancing institutional capacity, encouraging holistic approaches, fostering inclusive and equitable outcomes, and ensuring a world-class customer experience.
Concept papers due: June 16, 2023
Full applications due: July 28, 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
Brownfields Job Training Grants support programs that recruit, train, and retain a local, skilled workforce by prioritizing unemployed and under-employed residents to obtain the skills and credentials needed for pathways into full-time employment in hazardous and solid waste management and across the larger environmental field.
Application Deadline: August 2, 2023
Created under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, PROTECT Discretionary Grant Program aims to fund projects that address the climate crisis by improving the resilience of the surface transportation system, including highways, public transportation, ports, and intercity passenger rail. By funding projects that improve resilience to natural hazards and climate change impacts, thePROTECT Discretionary Grant Program aims to reduce damage and disruption to the transportation system, improve the safety of the traveling public, and improve equity by addressing the needs of disadvantaged communities that are often the most vulnerable to hazards.
Application deadline: August 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
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
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July 11 | 11 a.m.–12 p.m. ET
The Better Project and Better Practice awards acknowledge partners for their endeavors in decarbonization, energy and water efficiency, and waste reduction. The Better Project award focuses on specific facilities, while the Better Practice award examines practices and procedures more broadly. Join a US Department of Energy webinar to learn from 2023 Award Winners about their projects and practices.
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July 12 | 2–3:15 p.m. ET
The ‘Building with Benefits’ webinar series will feature leading experts in each of the five meaningful benefit categories, plus an innovation and community engagement category.
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July 13 | 1–2 p.m. ET
Join the US Department of Energy for office hours and get answers to your questions about Renew America's Nonprofits grant. They will provide timeline reminders, program scenarios, and assistance navigating the Q&A spreadsheet.
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July 13 | 1–2:30 p.m. ET
Engaging stakeholders is crucial for program success. Learn about effective stakeholder mapping, prioritization steps, and defining scope and methods in the next Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call.
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Thursday, July 13, 2023, 5:30 - 7:30 PM
Covelli Center Community Room
Join The Ohio Environmental Council and Citizens Climate Lobby of the Mahoning Valley for an Earth Day Everyday discussion. We will hear from OEC, PCFO, and Scioto Analysis on the projected costs of climate change in Youngstown, as they highlight the groundbreaking report released in July of 2022.
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July 25 | 11 a.m.–12 p.m. ET
Third-party companies like Energy Performance Contracts (EPCs) and Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) offer solutions to help housing professionals address decarbonization, adopt new technologies, and exploit funding opportunities. Join this US Department of Energy webinar to learn more.
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July 25 | 2–3:15 p.m. ET
NREL's 'Building with Benefits' webinar series will feature experts in five benefit categories, innovation, and community engagement. Sunny Award winners will also participate in panels to share best practices for developing community solar projects with significant benefits at scale.
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Aug. 8 | 11 a.m.–12 p.m. ET
Heat pumps offer a decarbonization strategy for various building types, providing heating, cooling, and domestic hot water without using fossil fuels. To learn more about using heat pumps for effective decarbonization, building owners can benefit from the insights of multiple building stakeholders. The US Department of Energy webinar highlights the top 5 things building owners need to know.
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Aug. 15 | 11 a.m.–12 p.m. ET
Community solar provides renewable energy for those who cannot install traditional rooftop solar systems. This strategy enhances resilience, workforce development, and cost savings while increasing solar energy accessibility for low- to moderate-income households. Join this webinar to learn more about the benefits of community solar, get resources from the Department of Energy's Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO), and learn how Better Buildings partners encourage equitable community solar systems.
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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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