City of Maple Heights joins Power A Clean Future Ohio, Becoming 38th Community
(COLUMBUS, OH)— At a recent Maple Heights City Council meeting, the councilmembers unanimously adopted an emergency resolution to join Power a Clean Future Ohio, underscoring the community’s commitment to craft a comprehensive sustainability plan that will help take advantage of upcoming opportunities and grants, leverage the city sustainability efforts as a tool to attract younger residents to call Maple Heights home, and work with adjoining municipalities to pursue emerging opportunities. PCFO will work with local leaders to provide technical assistance as staff develop plans for the City of Maple Heights. With passage of this resolution, the City of Maple Heights became the 38th community to join Power a Clean Future Ohio.
Power a Clean Future Ohio is a nonpartisan coalition and campaign that is dedicated to working with local communities to develop equitable clean energy solutions to benefit the well-being of residents, the environment, and the economy.
Joe Flarida, Executive Director of Power a Clean Future Ohio said, “The City of Maple Heights is committed to improving the quality of life for its residents. By joining Power a Clean Future Ohio, local leaders and community members have access to the technical assistance, tools and resources to create carbon reduction goals through a roadmap that is achievable, measurable, equitable, and economical.”
Maple Heights Mayor Annette Blackwell said, “Within the recent past, the City of Maple Heights has established an ability to navigate existential challenges by nurturing our collective resilience. The City’s trials have ranged from emergency fiscal status, depreciating home values and patterns of disinvestment – but we have gotten through these times by pushing forward together, with a resurgent spirit.
Joining our peer communities with Power a Clean Future Ohio reflects the next step in our civic evolution, as well as our commitment to environmental stewardship. By improving our own environment, we anticipate better economic, health and social outcomes in a variety of measures – such as improving Black infant mortality, air quality, quality of life and our general standard of local pride. We look forward to collaborating across the State of Ohio as well as with our region to improve livability outcomes for everyone.”
Richard Trojanksi, Maple Heights Councilperson for District 6, said, "Climate change is real. It’s happening right now. Local governments no longer can procrastinate on the issue. Maple Heights is joining the coalition because Ohio’s economy, health and future depend on a new approach to clean energy and climate change. I’m excited Maple Heights is taking this bold step forward to become a leader in Southeast Cuyahoga County, by working collectively with business, industry and residents so we can take action on important issues such as clean transportation, renewable energy, land use, and energy waste reduction while also working to create new career opportunities for our residents."
Utilizing clean energy sources improves air quality, a significant issue for the state. Ohio ranks 46th in the nation in asthma rates for children ages 0-17. Poor air quality is a major contributor to asthma rates, particularly in disproportionately impacted communities, which is the leading reason for hospital ER visits in this age group. Developing innovative solutions to harmful air pollution will also serve to protect the health of all residents of Maple Heights.
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