City of University Heights joins Power A Clean Future Ohio
Action Underscores Goal of Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
(COLUMBUS, OH)— At the June 21, 2022, City Council meeting, councilmembers voted unanimously to adopt a resolution joining Power a Clean Future Ohio, furthering the city’s commitment to improving sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint. PCFO will work with local leaders to provide technical assistance and partnerships to help staff as they work toward the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030 from 2010 levels. According to Cuyahoga County data, the City of University Heights is already at a 17% drop as of 2019. They will develop a roadmap during Fiscal Year 2022 for the city to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and proactively seek input from the community in developing and promoting the plan.
“I’m excited about the opportunity of becoming a Power a Clean Future Ohio community and looking forward to their insights in helping us identify strategic capital investments to help drive down overall operational expenses all while reducing greenhouse gases within our community,” said Councilperson Brian King, who sponsored the resolution. “This provides us with the ability to work collaboratively with other PCFO cities in the Northeast Ohio region.”
City administration signed the PCFO “30 by 30 pledge” on Earth Day 2021 to commit to reduction of carbon emissions in the City by 30% by 2030 below 2010 levels. Mayor Michael Dylan Brennan said, “As this city’s chief executive officer and administrative officer, I intend to do as much as I can to continue to support this issue as it is an important cause that means a lot to me and to the residents of University Heights.”
City priorities include prioritizing energy efficiency in new municipal facilities, green building standards, and building decarbonization strategies. University Heights leaders are also interested in making it easier for residents to install solar on their homes through code updates, as well as upgrading their municipal streetlights to LEDs. They are also very interested in utilizing the Infrastructure Grant Assistance Program (IGAP) which helps local governments be prepared to apply for and strategically deploy these federal resources to advance their clean energy priorities.
With the passage of this resolution, the City of University Heights became the 32nd community to join Power a Clean Future Ohio. More than one-third of Ohio residents now live in a community or county that is part of the Power a Clean Future Ohio initiative.
Power a Clean Future Ohio is a nonpartisan coalition 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, “Power a Clean Future Ohio aims to provide Ohio communities support on their respective pathways to carbon emission reductions based on implementing practical policies that work for the individual community and region. Due to the multiple environmental, economic, and social dimensions of this work, we are excited to work with both the leadership from city council and the administration alongside community members and the private sector to ensure success.”
In 2020, 103,400 people were employed in clean energy jobs throughout the state, and Ohio auto manufacturers are planning major investments to build more electric vehicles in Ohio in the coming years. In addition, 39 companies that are either headquartered in Ohio or are among the state’s 100 largest employers have dedicated plans to be powered by 100% renewable energy by a specific date.
Cities like University Heights are joining with these employers in making a commitment to spur the economic growth and job development that results from embracing clean technologies and advanced transportation. University Heights is prepared to move the city into a clean energy future while reducing harmful carbon emissions.
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