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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Local Action Update:
Year in Review
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We started 2021 with nine communities as part of Power A Clean Future Ohio. Now, we're at 24 communities including two counties and cities and villages in every corner of Ohio. We owe this success to local communities and leaders who recognize the need and see the economic benefits of a clean energy future.
This year, also marked our first-ever Ohio Clean Energy Summit: Local Communities Lead, which was held virtually over several days. Over the course of 2021, our coalition of advocates and technical experts worked with communities to provide new and valuable resources including fleet inventories, equity coaching, greenhouse gas inventories, sustainability planning and so much more.
This next year will see continued growth in our work and collaboration with Ohio climate leaders and clean energy champions. We will expand our resources that we provide to cities and counties, and we will add a new emphasis on helping local governments pursue federal grants to fund clean energy and clean transportation projects in their community. If your city is interested in this opportunity, please contact us.
In celebration of the amazing progress of our collective work, please watch the following video featuring local leaders discussing what PCFO has meant for their community and why they're urging other communities to join.
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Columbus Outlines Plan to Achieve Net-Zero Emissions |
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Last week, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther unveiled a plan to reduce the city's carbon footprint. The plan includes reducing the city's carbon emissions by 45% by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
In his letter to residents, Mayor Ginther said, “The Columbus Climate Action Plan outlines how to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions and pollutants, and ensures that we eliminate the environmental racism that has plagued our most vulnerable communities for far too long. It also emphasizes the need to build a Columbus that is resilient to global climate change while mitigating future risks. The threat is clear. The stakes are high. And our obligation to our children, and their future, compels us to act now. We owe it to our city, our region, our country and, indeed, our world."
The plan will focus on offering business incentives, encouraging the use of public transit, funding environmental groups, installing solar panels, planting trees, adopting new building codes and reducing waste.
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Farewell to our PCFO Community Mayors |
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As a few leading mayors in PCFO Communities near the end of their terms, we want to share our immense gratitude for their leadership and the opportunity to work collaboratively with them and their teams in building a clean energy future for their communities. The change that has already begun in these cities is all thanks to their initiative and commitment to addressing the environmental challenges we all face and providing clean energy solutions for their residents and governments.
A huge thank you to Mayor John Cranley of Cincinnati, the leader of our very first PCFO Community and tireless champion of smart local clean energy policy. Thank you to Mayor Nan Whaley and her team for ushering in a new chapter in Dayton’s sustainability planning and investments. We have also appreciated the opportunity to work with Mayor David Berger of Lima and Mayor Frank Jackson of Cleveland and commend both of them for their service to their cities and for prioritizing environmental advocacy and smart clean energy policy for their communities.
It has been an honor to work alongside these outstanding leaders, and we wish them all the best in their future endeavors.
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Left to right: John Cranley, Nan Whaley, David Berger, Frank Jackson |
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A recent study shows a direct correlation between air pollution and race |
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Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities are primarily affected by negative environmental exposure. In a study published by Environmental Health Perspective, they show the direct correlation between high levels of pollution and BIPOC communities. The research even shared how skin color mattered more than income when determining who lived with the most air pollution.
While progress has been made in recent years, it remains a serious problem in urban areas across the U.S. The increase in carbon emissions from small auto body shops and dry cleaners to large factories and freeways do not consider the lives they are affecting in their cities.
"Research has shown that air pollution causes about 100,000 deaths in the US each year. New studies have tied polluted air to preterm births, miscarriages, dementia and Covid-19."
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Save the Date - ReImagine Appalachia January Strategy Summit
When: January 11-12, 2022 @ 11 a.m.-1:15 p.m.
Join ReImagine Appalachia and their partners for the 2022 ReImagine Appalachia Virtual Strategy Summit.The virtual convening will offer keynote sessions, panels, and workshops to help guide and create the development of the coalition’s 2022 vision and priorities. Find out more about how the Appalachian region can maximize the community benefits of federal infrastructure dollars, how local elected officials can get involved, and share your thoughts on restoring prosperity to the area.
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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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