The State of Ohio was recently awarded $156 million in federal funds to expand the use of renewable solar energy in traditionally underserved communities.

The Ohio Air Quality Development Authority (OAQDA) and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) will administer the Solar for All funds.

The funds will provide grants and low-cost financing for residential and community solar energy projects in disadvantaged areas of Ohio. These funds will ultimately lower electricity bills in low- to moderate-income households and improve air quality through decreased greenhouse gas emissions. OAQDA and OEPA expect to put solar on rooftops of single family and multi-family housing buildings, finance publicly-owned projects that lower energy bills for residential residents, and other interventions.

Installation of solar projects and other “green” interventions will require a trained workforce, which will create jobs for Ohioans as well.

While OAQDA and OEPA still need to write program rules and regulations, they are already asking communities to share information about projects that may benefit from the funds.  The intake form for potential projects is here.

OAQDA and OEPA will continue to share information and competitive RFPs through the OAQDA website.

Additionally, Growth Opportunity Partners (Growth Opps.) received a $156 million commitment.  Growth Opps is the first “green bank” in Ohio and the country’s first African American-led green bank.  Growth Opps’s commitment will be utilized by the “Industrial Heartland Solar Coalition,” which covers 31 municipalities in 8 midwestern and “rustbelt” states, including Ohio.

GOPC will provide periodic updates on the OAQDA/OEPA and Growth Opps programs in our newsletters and blog.