November 9, 2023

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.

Ohio Department of Development Announces LED Streetlight Conversion Program for Vulnerable Ohio Communities

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik have introduced a $3.1 million grant program to enhance energy efficiency in Ohio's vulnerable communities. The Brightening Ohio Communities (BOC) Grant Program, administered by the Ohio Department of Development, aims to support lower-income areas by funding energy-efficient streetlights, perimeter lighting, and municipal-owned parking lot lighting.

Approximately $130,000 of the funding will provide technical assistance for local governments during the grant application process, while the remaining $3 million will be used to replace current lighting with energy-efficient options, including LEDs, solar, and motion sensor lighting.

Funding for this program comes from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program, made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).

Learn more about the program and how to apply here.

Columbus Community Seeks Carbon Neutrality by 2050

Columbus is on a path to a greener and more equitable future, with an ambitious Climate Action Plan aiming for significant carbon reductions by 2030. With a strong commitment to equity, environmental justice, and anti-racism, the city has joined forces with IMPACT Community Action to engage local neighborhoods. Their goal is to empower lower-income communities most affected by climate change, fostering more resilient neighborhoods based on a needs assessment conducted by IMPACT.

Sustainable Columbus, in collaboration with IMPACT, is leading the charge, channeling their efforts through a justice and equity-focused lens to enhance the well-being and safety of the city's diverse neighborhoods. Learn more about Columbus’ clean energy initiatives by viewing the videos below.

Shaker Heights Recipient of Two EV School Buses

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has allocated $3.2 million to seven organizations in the state to replace diesel-powered vehicles with electric ones. The standout recipient is the Shaker Heights School District, which is pioneering the adoption of electric school buses in Northeast Ohio.

Shaker Heights will receive $596,144 to replace two 2010 diesel school buses with all-electric vehicles. Electric buses require less maintenance and offer long-term savings. The Ohio EPA grant program requires recipients to cover 25% of the cost, making the investment in electric buses a wise choice for the district.

Ohio EPA Director, Anne Vogel, recognized the challenges faced by school districts in prioritizing such environmentally friendly initiatives but expressed the agency's commitment to partnering with communities to create opportunities for grants. This initiative aims to reduce pollution, with an estimated reduction of 6.440 tons of nitrogen oxides and 4.627 tons of other pollutants. These grants are funded from the Volkswagen settlement under the Clean Air Act.

PCFO INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT SNAPSHOTS

Federal Funding: Find it here!

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.

Career Skills Training Program

Created under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this grant will fund nonprofit partnerships to establish Career Skills Training Programs, under which students concurrently receive classroom instruction and on-the-job training for the purpose of obtaining an industry-related certification to install energy-efficient building technologies.

Application deadline: November 27, 2023

Preventing Outages and Enhancing the Resilience of the Electric Grid

Funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the PUCO is responsible for administering the Grid Resilience Formula Grant Program on behalf of the State of Ohio. PUCO is seeking applicants for sub-awards to improve the resilience of the electric grid against disruptive events.

Application deadline: December 1, 2023

Farm to School Grant Program (NEW)

The Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program is designed to increase the availability of local foods in schools and help connect students to the sources of their food through education, taste tests, school gardens, field trips, and local food sourcing for school meals. Grants can launch new farm-to-school programs or expand existing efforts.

Application deadline: January 12, 2024

Clean School Bus Rebates (NEW)

Created under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program will provide $5 billion to replace existing school buses with zero-emission and low-emission models. EPA has opened applications for the second round of the Clean School Bus Rebate Program to fund the replacement of existing school buses with cleaner buses.

Application deadline: January 31, 2024

NOAA Climate Resilience Regional Challenge

Created under the Inflation Reduction Act, the NOAA Climate Resilience Regional 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

Green and Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP) Elements Cohort

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

Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) Program Implementation Grants

The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) Program Implementation Grants will fund greenhouse reduction measures identified in a Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP). CPRG is designed to create a localized approach to address environmental inequity, combat climate change, and build climate resilience.

Application deadline: April 1, 2024

Green and Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP) Leading Edge Cohort

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 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

Green and Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP) Comprehensive Cohort

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

Upcoming Events

Climate Pollution Reduction Grant: Program Overview and Q&A

Thursday, Nov. 16 | Zoom

Ohio EPA was recently awarded federal funding under the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) Program. With this program, Ohio EPA will fulfill three key deliverables as required to meet CPRG objectives.

Ohio EPA wants to hear from all stakeholders to help ensure their priorities and projects are represented throughout the process. This webinar will be led by Jessica Kuenzli, Deputy Director, Business & Regulatory Affairs Ohio EPA and Brooke White, Air Quality Evaluation and Planning Supervisor, Ohio EPA.

Interested in Getting Started? Join Today!

PCFO is an expansive, diverse coalition engaging with cities and local overnments 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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