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
PCFO Welcomes Two New Communities - Toledo and Worthington
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It's been a busy couple of weeks for Power A Clean Future Ohio. We welcomed two new PCFO Communities.
On July 19, Worthington City Council officially passed a resolution to join Power A Clean Future Ohio. The first priority is to work together with the city on engaging the community and integrating sustainability and carbon reductions into long-term planning.
Councilman Pete Bucher sponsored the resolution to join PCFO. Councilman Bucher said, “I’m proud that our city became the 16th PCFO Community in the state. Worthington has become a leading city in central Ohio on sustainability by embracing clean energy and prioritizing climate action. We have an opportunity through PCFO and its partners to work collaboratively with other central Ohio communities and leaders across the state. It will benefit not just our community, but our entire region and we can be an example for the rest of Ohio. I’m excited to further engage the community in this conversation and hear about the opportunities they are most excited about.”
On July 27, members of Toledo City Council along with Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz held a press conference to announce that the council voted unanimously to adopt the resolution to join PCFO. We will work with local leaders to provide technical assistance and partnerships to build on Toledo’s leadership in sustainability and clean energy. This work will ultimately help reduce the city’s carbon emissions by 30% by 2030 as set in the resolution.
Council Members Nick Komives and Sam Melden sponsored the resolution to join PCFO and have been leading voices on Council on these issues.
“Local governments have a unique opportunity to address energy and climate issues in our state and to move toward clean energy generation and greater community resiliency and quality of life,” said Councilman Nick Komives, Council Member At-Large. “Our goal by joining PCFO is to provide environmentally healthy and cheaper-to-operate public buildings; encourage new economic development and local jobs while supporting local renewable energy production.”
“Our city was just named by Site Selection Magazine as #1 in environmental sustainability beating out other major metro areas across the country,” said Councilman Sam Melden, Council Member for District 5. “We have made ongoing sustainability efforts a key priority for our city and we believe joining PCFO is another way we’re showing our community, residents, and businesses that we’re listening and know that being part of an environmentally responsive city is a priority for everyone.”
Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz also shared his vision for this work: “I’m proud of the work Toledo is doing to plan for the future – whether it’s clean energy development or electric vehicle manufacturing – we know the jobs of the future are changing and Toledo must be ready. Over the past several years, our city and the region has taken a number of steps to support a rapid transition to clean energy technologies. I look forward to partnering with this expansive coalition to further that work.”
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Upcoming Events: The City Club of Cleveland Forum
August 6 at 12 p.m.
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Environmental activism and environmental racism are not new to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. The consequences of climate change generate heat islands in urban areas, air pollution, severe storms, and flooding—all which disproportionately harm communities of color. However, efforts to advance a clean energy future have historically excluded diverse voices.
For more information or to register, click here.
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Ohio Conservative Local Leaders Recognized for Leadership on Clean Energy |
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Conservatives for a Clean Energy Future (CCEF), a national nonprofit advancing state-based clean energy policy solutions, recognized Ohio local elected leaders Mayor David Scheffler of Lancaster, Ohio, Mayor Richard “Ike” Stage of Grove City and Councilman Ted Berry also of Grove City as Clean Energy Champions. Under Mayor Scheffler’s leadership, Lancaster joined Power a Clean Future Ohio in early 2020 and has been working with PCFO to identify clean energy solutions that can benefit his city’s budget. PCFO supported the adoption of Issue 10 in Grove City to move the entire city to a 100% renewable energy portfolio. Councilman Berry and Mayor Stage have demonstrated real leadership on these issues in Ohio! |
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Ohio Climate Justice Fund is accepting new grant applications |
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If you are or know of a Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) led or governed organization in Ohio, applications are back open to receive a grant for $15k-$30k to lead communities in conversations about the most effective ways to address climate and environmental justice.
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Melink receives Solar Power World’s Greenest Contractor award |
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Congratulations to Melink Corporation, a Cincinnati-based solar EPC, which was recently named Solar Power World's greenest contractor. Melink facilities produce little to no carbon, and they focused on helping employees develop a greener lifestyle too. The following was taken from the Solar Power World article.
"At a personnel level, the company created a pledge to have every Melink employee select the clean power option from their utility and drive an electric vehicle powered by clean energy by 2025. As of 2019, 57% of Melink employees drove electric vehicles and many of them also serve on boards or are members of local organizations promoting renewable energy, green living and general wellness, including the Greater Cincinnati Green Building Council, Green Energy Ohio, Sonlight Power and EV Cincy. The rest of the company has four more years to meet the Melink 2025 Pledge, and Melink will support employees in this process if they encounter financial barriers by offering benefit incentives, leasing programs and lower market prices for EVs."
Read the full article here.
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Keep an eye out on PCFO’s website and with our partners for employment opportunities in the days and weeks to come. Join us in working towards a clean energy future!
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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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