TL/DR –
The Greater Cincinnati region could significantly improve its air quality, create jobs, achieve carbon neutrality, and save taxpayer money by tapping into the federal funding from the Inflation Reduction Act. The Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG), part of the act, could provide up to $500 million for solar panel installation on every municipal and school building, a move that could save millions in energy costs, reduce the carbon footprint, and improve public health. To have a better chance of securing the funding, the region must present ambitious, transformative plans and display regional collaboration.
Moonshot Ideas to Improve Greater Cincinnati’s Climate
With monumental federal support from the Inflation Reduction Act, the Greater Cincinnati region is poised to significantly enhance the region’s air quality, public health, and job opportunities. Moreover, this could make Cincinnati carbon neutral and save taxpayer dollars for local governments.
The signing of the IRA into law by President Biden in 2022, represents the largest climate investment in history. This aims to advance the Green Cincinnati Plan’s goal of being carbon neutral by 2050, a feat that needs visionary ideas.
A local team, including the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments (OKI) and Green Umbrella, is formulating regional climate plans to tap the IRA’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG). An anticipated $4.3 billion competitive grant under the CPRG’s implementation phase is expected, with an application deadline of April 2024.
Impact of Renewable Energy Investments
One of the most impactful areas of the CPRG grant and other IRA grants is renewable energy. These substantial investments, including over $120 billion in tax credits, could lead to the substantial goal of installing solar panels on every municipal and school building in the region.
Utilizing these investments for solar panel installation could have several transformational impacts:
- Saving taxpayer money: Other cities, such as San Diego, have shown that renewables can significantly lower energy costs. A $500M grant could equate to ~$24 million in savings/year for municipal governments.
- Accessible investments: The CPRG grant doesn’t require a local match, enabling more accessibility to these investments, especially for smaller governments.
- Improving air quality and public health: The Greater Cincinnati OH-KY-IN region ranks 18th in Year-Round Particle Pollution by the American Lung Association. A significant investment in solar could reduce carbon emissions and improve public health.
- Job creation: Installing solar can lead to well-paying construction jobs and job-training opportunities, especially in partnership with school districts.
Though the Greater Cincinnati region isn’t known for regional collaboration, rallying behind this ambitious renewable investment goal could have a generational impact. While views on climate change differ across the region, it’s agreed that improving air quality and saving taxpayer money is smart government.
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