OES is proud to announce the recipients of this year's GCP Seeds of Change Youth Climate Action Grant Program awards, funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies. Cincinnati's youth have responded enthusiastically to the call, submitting innovative projects aligned with the 2023 Green Cincinnati Plan's goals.  

Local young people ages 15-24 got teams together to develop solutions to climate challenges in their schools, organizations, and neighborhoods. These young leaders, and in many cases first-time grant writers, took this opportunity to gain valuable experience in proposal development, project planning, and climate innovation.  

An all-youth evaluation committee reviewed each proposal and played an important role in the selection of this year's projects.  

With summer approaching, teams will soon begin implementing their six-month grant projects, running from May through October 2025. The diverse initiatives include citizen science research, summer workshop series, pollinator plots, community gardens, and more! View the list of 2025 funded projects HERE. 

More awards will be made in May, so if you have a last-minute project idea, reach out to rachel.bickett@cincinnati-oh.gov to discuss further and apply if funds remain! 



As we approach the heat of summer and the increased need for cooling, it's important to know that electricity prices are on the rise. This increase, which will take effect in June, is driven by two factors: 1) rising capacity costs and 2) increases in wholesale electricity prices. Capacity is the ability of the electric grid to meet demand during peak periods of usage. IGS Energy provides a helpful analogy to understand capacity: “Think of it as a parking lot at a mall. Ample spaces must be installed to accommodate shoppers on the busiest shopping day of the season. Capacity provides sufficient generation (or a parking spot) for the hottest day/hour of summer” (source). Each year an auction is held to set capacity prices. As power plants become more expensive to operate, the prices set through the auction continue to increase.  

It is difficult to have certainty about the future of energy markets.  Current predictions indicate that demand for electricity will continue to outpace the development of new electricity generation.  This trend is driven by the investment in energy-hungry data centers and the spikes in demand caused by extreme weather events. If this is the case, it can be expected that electricity pricing will remain high and potentially continue to increase.  

If you own your home or a building, there are federal incentives in place to support energy savings and renewable energy production. Check the chart below and visit the Electrify Cincy website for more details. If you would like to explore energy-saving steps and habits, check out the Public Utility Commission of Ohio's list of suggestions. 

The Office of Environment and Sustainability welcomes, Lily Moulin, our new Recycling Technician! In this role, Lily will focus on leading bin campaigns and launching a multifamily building recycling pilot. She is a 2024 graduate from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in Environmental Studies. She comes to us after spending a year at Stantec as a Restoration Ecologist, working primarily in the field rehabilitating distressed properties. In her free time, Lily enjoys spending time with friends, cultivating her love for plants, and caring for her cat, Peep.