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EPA awards Cincinnati $500,000 to reduce greenhouse gases

Release Date: 03/05/2010
Contact Information: Phillippa Cannon, 312-353-6218, cannon.phillippa@epa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 10-OPA024

CHICAGO (March 5, 2010) — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has chosen Cincinnati to receive a $500,000 federal grant as one of 20 Climate Showcase Communities nationwide. The funds will help the city promote its plan to reduce greenhouse gases to people and businesses in greater Cincinnati through advertisements, promotions and development of a climate protection toolkit for use in local schools.

“This is a tremendous achievement for our city,” said Mayor Mark Mallory. “Our Green Cincinnati Action Plan is a collaboration among dedicated citizens, community organizations and businesses in our region. Our partners all realize that making Cincinnati a ‘Green City’ is essential to making Cincinnati a successful city in the future.”

“The Green Cincinnati Plan is an innovative strategy to reduce greenhouse gases and cut energy bills for families and businesses,” said Cheryl Newton, EPA regional air division director. “Taking action on climate change is one of EPA’s top priorities. EPA is pleased to support the city’s efforts to fight climate change.”

The Cincinnati Energy Alliance will provide energy audits for 20 selected nonprofit organizations and create a loan program to finance the organizations’ energy efficiency improvements.

Cincinnati will contribute $250,000 in matching funds and has committed to sharing lessons leaned with other communities.

The project is expected to reduce Cincinnati’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2 percent each year for three years. CEA’s energy audits are expected to lead to about $470,000 in investments in energy efficiency measures, saving 1 million kilowatts of electricity and 25,000 therms of gas.

The Climate Showcase Communities Grant Program is administered by EPA’s State and Local Climate and Energy Program that provides technical assistance, tools and guidance to help state, local and tribal governments implement policies and programs to mitigate climate change.

A list of the 20 Climate Change Showcase Communities and profiles of each recipient is available at: https://www.epa.gov/statelocalclimate/local/showcase.

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