January 14, 2021
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.
Local Action Update
It is hard to find a good reason to look back on 2020 and celebrate the year. However, there were some bright spots in 2020 in the work to transition Ohio to a clean energy economy, and that work was spearheaded by local community action. Ohio saw local communities leading the way to embrace renewable energy, expand electric vehicle use, grow clean energy jobs, and to begin conversations around environmental justice, racial justice, and real solutions to create more sustainable, equitable communities where we all live, work, and grow.

Here are just a few of those accomplishments:
  • In Ohio, 23 communities passed resolutions or declarations stating racism is a public health crisis. The PCFO campaign continues to emphasize the intersection of racism, environmental justice, and public health in our work with local leaders.
  • Euclid, Ohio passed a resolution codifying an ambitious carbon reduction goal of 30% by 2030. This goal will be reflected in the city’s sustainability planning going forward.
  • Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther announced the city’s plan to be carbon neutral by 2050 and the city’s residents subsequently passed community choice aggregation to allow the city to be powered by 100% renewable energy in only three years.
  • The City of Athens became the first city in Ohio to adopt a resolution declaring a climate emergency and committing the city to adopt plans to address their city’s impact on climate change.
  • Dayton, Ohio released a comprehensive Sustainability Plan creating a framework to make the city greener, more efficient, more livable, and less carbon intensive.
  • South Euclid adopted a resolution establishing a goal of 100% clean energy for the city’s facilities by 2025 and the community at-large by 2035. The city joins Athens, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, and Lakewood in pursuing this goal for their community.
  • Grove City passed community choice aggregation on the ballot and will use this supply contract to move the city to 100% clean energy.
  • With the support of city council along with the partnership of 59 other Ohio communities, Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz announced the city’s plans to pursue a purchasing contract from a new utility-scale solar project that would provide 25% of the city’s electricity needs.
Future looks bright for solar projects in Ohio
Ohio is on track to welcome projects generating about 4,000 megawatts of solar power at sites across the state, according to the Ohio Powering Siting Board. With nearly two dozen solar farms in different stages of development, their generating capacity would total roughly one-seventh of the state’s current electricity production.

Projects are being developed in Madison and Defiance Counties, and Pickaway County Commissioners have recently announced their agreement for the Atlantic Solar Farm Project being developed in Western Pickaway County. County officials are set to receive $6 million upfront from the project in 2021 and 2022 which will be distributed to Westfall Schools and other government entities such as the county park district and senior center.

Companies with large facilities in Ohio, including Facebook, Google and Amazon, have made pledges to increase sustainability and reduce their carbon footprints, often switching to more renewable power purchases.

Market forces have contributed to the solar boom in Ohio, with the cost of utility-scale solar continuing to drop significantly. Read more about these potential solar projects and reasons why they are being embraced in Ohio as opportunities to save money, reduce carbon emissions and provided needed revenue to local communities around the state.
Upcoming Events
Transportation Energy Partners will present a webinar on Friday, Jan. 15 at 1 p.m. to discuss what the new administration and Congress could mean for clean fuels and vehicles. Representatives from the Electric Drive Transportation Association, NGVAmerica, National Biodiesel Board and other prominent clean transportation organizations will join to discuss important topics and questions related to the industry and future. To register, click here.
Monday is the national observation of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. In Dr. King’s honor, we encourage everyone to make it “a day on, not a day off” and join in for this national day of service. Consider a blood drive, a fundraiser, or a virtual workshop to immerse you and your family, friends, or colleagues in a conversation around racial equity and justice. Find events here: MLK National Day of Service (AmeriCorps).
Welcome Sustainable Delaware
PCFO is proud to welcome our newest partner - Sustainable Delaware. Sustainable Delaware is a group of residents focused on promoting environmental, social and economic sustainability for the Delaware community through awareness, advocacy and action. We look forward to working together to help the organization reach their mission of modeling their green thought leadership on programs they've observed in surrounding areas of central Ohio.
Interested in getting started? Join today!
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 organizations 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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