PCFO Supports Climate Pollution Reduction Project Awarded $129 Million
The application will develop brownfield and landfill solar, shutter a coal-fired power plant, and put Northeast Ohio on track to achieve its 2030 and 2050 emission reduction goals
(Cuyahoga County, OH) – The US EPA announced that 25 projects have been selected to receive over $4.3 billion in Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) awards, with $129 million awarded to an application led by Cuyahoga County, in partnership with the cities of Cleveland and Painesville. The grant will fund the development of over 60 megawatts (MW) of solar energy across several Northeast Ohio sites, in addition to allowing the city of Painesville to replace its coal-fired power plant with a solar installation and battery backup system.
Power a Clean Future Ohio (PCFO) is pleased to have aided in the conceptualization of this project and supported the application process, alongside the Citizens Utility Board of Ohio (CUB) and Go Sustainable Energy. The project also received critical support from the Cleveland Foundation and Gund Foundation.
“Power a Clean Future Ohio is excited to see three municipal utilities committed to the expansion of renewable energy throughout Northeast Ohio – with a focus on communities most impacted by climate change and with least access to renewable energy solutions,” said Power a Clean Future Ohio Project Manager, Alyssa Johnson.
“These projects are pro-consumer since they’ll lower monthly bills for years to come,” said Dan Gray, Director of Local Strategies for the Citizens Utility Board of Ohio.
Through this project, Cuyahoga County and the City of Cleveland will utilize brownfield and landfill solar projects to bring 28 MW of clean energy to the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and planned central services facility for the county. The former Diamond Shamrock chemical plant in Painesville will receive the most significant development of solar through this project, replacing the Painesville Municipal Electric coal-fired plant with a 35 MW solar-powered system and 10 MW battery backup, in addition to implementing space for public trails and recreation, converting industrial land into natural habitat for wildlife through the West Creek Conservancy. Manufacturing Works (MW), a local workforce development organization, will also receive $2 million in funding to develop a renewable energy-related pre-apprenticeship program.
While Ohio is the nation’s fifth-highest emitter of greenhouse gasses and trails other Midwest counterparts in emission reduction strategies, the state has more than 70 municipal utilities that can deploy clean energy more rapidly, reducing GHG emissions, responding to needs of local communities, reducing pollution, and creating equity-driven projects. The 63 MW of solar represented in this awarded project, spanning three municipal utilities, will remove nearly one million metric tons of carbon over their lifespan.
"This historic investment in Cleveland and our municipal electric utility, Cleveland Public Power, will reduce the cost of electricity for our residents, help power our airport operations, and benefit community members by transforming landfills and brownfields into "brightfields" that generate power from the sun," said Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb.
“The grant is instrumental to the sustainability of our public power system,” said Painesville City Manager, Douglas L. Lewis. “Since we are limited to generating power at our coal-powered plant at peak times, the funding will enable us to transfer to an environmentally friendly, efficient, and cost-effective source of power for our residents,” he added.
CPRG Implementation awards are directed towards projects implementing community-driven solutions to address climate change, reduce air pollution, advance environmental justice, and accelerate America’s clean energy transition. The EPA estimates that these projects will result in greenhouse gas emission reductions of 148 million metric tons by 2030 and 971 million metric tons by 2050.