Summit County joins Power A Clean Future, commits to sustainable practices

SUMMIT COUNTY, OHIO—County Executive Ilene Shapiro and County Council affirmed the County’s ongoing commitment to carbon reduction and sustainable practices on Monday night with passage of a resolution authorizing the County to join Power A Clean Future Ohio (PCFO). The organization is a nonpartisan coalition that works with local governments to develop and implement climate solutions. PCFO empowers local leaders with tools and resources to create achievable, measurable, equitable, and economical carbon reduction plans. The nonprofit’s services are provided at no cost to the County.

Summit County joins counties and communities across the state, including Cuyahoga Falls, Green and Munroe Falls as PCFO members. As the nation and world moves toward sustainable practices and a greener economy, Summit County intends to position itself as a local leader in the transition.

“No matter what issue my team is addressing, we are always looking to the future. It is critical that we take steps now to ensure we are building a healthy and livable community for our children, grandchildren, and future generations to inherit,” said County Executive Shapiro. “Membership in Power A Clean Future will help us implement achievable and economical practices to reduce our carbon footprint. If we all take practical steps today, we can make a significant collective difference tomorrow.”

Membership in PCFO builds on previous efforts taken in recent years to reduce the County’s carbon footprint. In 2019, Council formed the Environmental Task Force to examine and recommend plans to incorporate sustainability into the County’s practices. Executive Shapiro’s staff has led additional efforts to enact energy-reducing policies and legislation since 2021. Her team increased efficiency and lowered maintenance costs by updating lighting fixtures in 12 County Buildings with energy efficient LED lights. She also implemented the usage of electronic signature software that has saved hundreds of thousands of pieces of paper.

The County plans to achieve further carbon reduction through strategic, cost-effective efforts, including increasing the number of publicly accessible electric vehicle charging stations and requiring the use electronic signatures, and exploring other sustainable options as they pertain to current operations and future Executive Office projects. The federal government’s investment in climate action through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity for local governments to reduce their emissions. PCFO’s technical assistance, including federal and state grant application support, will be a valuable tool to leverage these funds in Summit County.

"Summit County is home to businesses, residents, and local governments that see the importance in planning for the emerging clean energy economy. Investing in clean energy and clean transportation solutions is the right move for the health and well-being for the most vulnerable in our communities and all that call Summit County home,” said Joe Flarida, PCFO Executive Director. “Power A Clean Future Ohio looks forward to working with Summit County to implement proven solutions to reduce emissions and take advantage of historic federal funding in this area."

More information about Power A Clean Future is available at https://www.poweracleanfuture.org/.

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