Power A Clean Future Ohio News

October 29, 2020

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

A few communities this week took action against corporate corporation and bribery in the aftermath of House Bill 6, which bails out two nuclear power plants, two coal plants, ends energy efficiency and slashes renewable energy standards. House Bill 6 was passed in July 2019 and will start appearing on ratepayer bills this January.

The City of Findlay announced that city council voted against renewing the city’s energy aggregation program with Energy Harbor, which now owns Ohio’s two nuclear power plants and use to be owned by FirstEnergy Corp. The city has participated in an electricity aggregation program for 10 years. Mayor Christina Muryn said she would be more comfortable with another choice of suppliers, and not having the City of Findlay associated with “a company that does business that way.”

Yesterday, Cincinnati and Columbus filed a lawsuit to block the nuclear bailout fees from appearing on ratepayer’s electric bills claiming it’s an unconstitutional tax. The lawsuit names FirstEnergy Corp., Ohio Public Utilities Commission chairman Sam Randazzo and state Treasurer Robert Sprague. The suit wants a court injunction to block the new fee.

PCFO Community Spotlight: Euclid

Mayor: Kirsten Holzheimer Gail

Population: 46,946

Euclid joined as a PCFO Community after passing a resolution in city council on October 19th. The resolution also established an official emissions reductions goal of 30% by 2030. Over the past several years, Euclid has shown their dedication to sustainability through a number of different local projects. The city council created a Sustainability Committee to elevate these issues in the community and create a venue for discussion among residents and local government leaders.

Euclid has embraced clean energy, including the business community which has resulted in four local wind turbines that make the city a unique home to wind power that has traditionally been limited as an economic development opportunity for rural communities. Euclid has led the way with the installation of solar panels on top of the public library and city hall to meet the energy needs to these government operations. The projects reduces carbon by 150 tons per year.

The protection of Lake Erie is also a major priority for the city of Euclid, and they have funded the building of public pathways and boardwalks interwoven with shoreline protection, small beaches, wildlife habitats, and recreational enhancements along the lake.

Clean Energy and Community Choice Aggregation on the Ballot

Columbus and Grove City both have community choice aggregation initiatives on the ballot this election. Aggregation gives cities the ability to pool residents and small businesses together as a group to buy electricity on their behalf, providing competitive pricing and more local control over the energy sources.

Columbus residents have the opportunity to vote YES on Issue 1.

Grove City residents have the opportunity to vote YES on Issue 10.

Both Issue 1 and 10 ensure locally produced, 100% renewable energy at competitive prices to power their homes and small businesses. It will create local jobs and a healthier environment all without additional costs to residents.

Columbus and Grove City are not the only cities to want clean energy. 8 total local municipalities have electric aggregation on their ballot. Learn more about your city's community choice aggregation initiative and make your vote count.

Read Victoria Abou-Ghalioum's letter to the editor in the Lantern: Vote Yes on Issue 1 for Climate and Racial Justice

Read Joe Flarida's letter to the editor in the Columbus Dispatch on Issue 1: Columbus should follow Ohio cities with renewable energy

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.

PCFO Partner Spotlight: Scioto Analysis

Who is Scioto Analysis?

Scioto Analysis is a public policy analysis firm based in Columbus, Ohio.

Why is it important for Scioto Analysis to be involved in PCFO?

Energy markets impact the environment and the economy. Scioto Analysis is the firm in Ohio that calculates our state Genuine Progress Indicator, that calculates the economic impact of use of non-renewables, carbon emissions, and water and air pollution in the state. Overall, these environmental impacts total to tens of billions of dollars in economic costs per year. Local governments have the ability to reduce the economic impact of the energy sector through local policy levers.

How do you see local action on clean energy benefiting your work?

Scioto Analysis is a social enterprise working to improve policy analysis at the state and local level. Better accounting of impacts means better policy, which is what Scioto Analysis was created for.

Visit our Website

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