Skip to main content

Department of Development awards $8M in grants for energy efficiency retrofits, upgrades across Ohio; Highland County Justice Center among recipients

By
Ohio Department of Development, Press Release

The Ohio Department of Development recently announced $8 million in support for projects that will improve energy efficiency measures in communities throughout the state. 

The grant funding was awarded through the Energy Efficiency Program for Ohio Communities (EEPOC), which was created to help municipalities, businesses, nonprofits and educational institutions complete energy efficiency retrofits in existing buildings.  

“Projects like these not only contribute to a more sustainable and resilient future, but they also play a crucial role in bolstering local economies and enhancing quality of life,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Department of Development. “Something as simple as installing LED lights can create enough of a savings that will allow these Ohioans to reinvest their money in what really matters, like growing their business or supporting their residents.” 

A total of 35 projects across 18 counties were selected to receive funding through this program for activities such as LED lighting, direct digital control systems, boiler replacements, HVAC upgrades, utility monitoring and more. Eligible projects received up to a maximum of $250,000, with a limit of no more than $1 million per county. 

Area recipients include:

• The Highland County Justice Center will receive a $247,599 grant to complete Direct Digital Controls upgrades. The project is expected to yield a utility savings of 22.5 percent.

• Ross County Board of Developmental Disabilities will receive a $117,693 grant to complete LED lighting, Direct Digital Controls and Variable Frequency Drive upgrades. The project is expected to yield a utility savings of 28.1 percent.

• Wilmington College (Clinton County) will receive a $250,000 grant to complete Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner (PTAC), HVAC, lighting, and window cooling unit upgrades. The projects are expected to yield 55.3 percent in utility savings.

A complete list can be viewed at https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/OHDOD/2024/02/22/file_attac….
 
Priority was given to projects located within Ohio's Disadvantaged Communities, identified using the Climate and Economic Justice Tool (CEJST) mapping system. Notably, 61 percent of the funding awarded is dedicated to supporting projects in these communities, accounting for a little more than $4.9 million. 

All projects selected for funding should reduce utility energy usage by at least 15 percent, ensuring a tangible and measurable impact on energy efficiency across the state. 

The U.S. Department of Energy recently allocated nearly $13.3 million in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) State Energy Program funds to Ohio in April 2023 for energy-related programs, with $8 million earmarked for EEPOC initiatives.  

The Ohio Department of Development empowers communities to succeed by investing in Ohio’s people, places and businesses. Learn more at development.ohio.gov. 

Publisher's note: A free press is critical to having well-informed voters and citizens. While some news organizations opt for paid websites or costly paywalls, The Highland County Press has maintained a free newspaper and website for the last 25 years for our community. If you would like to contribute to this service, it would be greatly appreciated. Donations may be made to: The Highland County Press, P.O. Box 849, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133. Please include "for website" on the memo line.
 

Add new comment

This is not for publication.
This is not for publication.

Plain text

  • No HTML tags allowed.
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
  • Web page addresses and email addresses turn into links automatically.
Article comments are not posted immediately to the Web site. Each submission must be approved by the Web site editor, who may edit content for appropriateness. There may be a delay of 24-48 hours for any submission while the web site editor reviews and approves it. Note: All information on this form is required. Your telephone number and email address is for our use only, and will not be attached to your comment.