Bright future: EPA grant fuels solar expansion in Northeast Ohio

Last week marked a significant leap forward for solar energy in Northeast Ohio. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded over $129 million to Cuyahoga and Lake Counties to fund solar installations on six different landfills. The next couple of years will be crucial as design and engineering work takes place, leading to the commencement of construction.

This federal grant, known as the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant, will facilitate the development of 63 megawatts of solar energy across several sites. Notably, it will also enable the city of Painesville to close its coal-burning power plant.

The Citizens Utility Board of Ohio (CUB), a nonprofit, nonpartisan consumer advocate group, played a pivotal role in the grant-writing process. Led by Tom Bullock and championed by Dan Gray, CUB works on behalf of residential and small business utility customers.

Ohio is experiencing significant momentum in solar energy development. We have previously discussed CUB’s work on legislation in Columbus, including community solar (HB 197) and virtual net metering (SB 275). 

The Climate Pollution Reduction Grant will bring several high-profile projects into the spotlight over the next few years. Simultaneously, substantial legislative activity is occurring in Columbus. If SB 275 passes, it would enable solar development on landfills and brownfields across the state, restricted to these types of distressed sites and not extending to farmland.

To support these efforts, CUB Ohio has established a new affiliate to advocate both locally and in Columbus. Tom Bullock and Dan Gray will soon share more information about an exciting new opportunity for involvement in shaping Ohio's energy policy. To learn more, click here.

Shelby Hoge, a 2024 Summer Associate, assisted in the writing of this blog post.