In this Q&A with PCFO, Shayna Fritz of OHCEF previews the National Conservative Energy Summit coming to Cleveland, and shares how Ohio is stepping into the spotlight as a leader in energy innovation and economic opportunity. She also discusses recent legislative wins, the urgent need for grid modernization, and more.

This week, House Republicans passed a budget bill that would gut American clean energy production and raise costs for families – while also killing manufacturing jobs and threatening the industry at large. Ultimately, this bill aims to eliminate clean energy incentives, and would increase costs for local governments and residents alike, while simultaneously destroying jobs.

On May 13, 2025, three Ohio mayors convened a press call to highlight the critical role of clean energy tax credits made available through the 'Direct Pay' provision of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). These clean energy tax credits are boosting local projects, lowering energy costs for local governments and working people, and creating good-paying jobs.

On Wednesday, December 11, Power a Clean Future Ohio (PCFO) hosted its highly anticipated 2024 Clean Energy Champions Awards at COSI in Columbus, Ohio. Mayors, elected officials, city and county staff, and advocates from across the state gathered to recognize the exceptional efforts of those powering emissions reductions and the clean energy transition in Ohio.

PCFO and the City of Toledo hosted a successful "Sustainability Showcase" on Friday, October 18, 2024, bringing together city leaders, staff, and community advocates to highlight innovative projects advancing sustainable practices across the region. The event showcased Toledo’s leadership in clean energy initiatives and the collaborative work being done to address climate change at the local level.

In 2022, Congress passed historic legislation to address climate change, clean energy, and public health. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provided expansive federal incentives for American-made renewable energy projects, energy-efficient appliances and buildings, and electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. In two years, this landmark legislation has powered the clean energy transition in Ohio, cut costs for families, created thousands of new jobs, and helped reinvigorate local industry and manufacturing. 

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced $7 billion in grant awards through the Solar for All program, funded by the Inflation Reduction Act. The Industrial Heartland Solar Coalition (IHSC), representing 8 states, 31 counties, and 18 cities, was awarded $156 million that will drive solar expansion in the region, creating good-paying jobs, saving families on energy costs, reducing emissions, and addressing climate change. 

A newly released report suggests that since historic federal clean energy legislation was signed into law in 2021 and 2022, Ohio has experienced a boom in clean energy projects, leading to thousands of new jobs and billions in local investment. The report ranked Ohio as the state with the tenth-highest total of new clean energy jobs in the nation.