The city of Athens is leading a project to reduce carbon emissions by 50% by 2030. In February 2020, the Athens City Council passed a resolution that declared a climate emergency and expressed the city’s intention of limiting carbon emissions and becoming more energy conscious.
Since passing the initiative, Athens has made many steps to increase solar energy usage. The city established a 2.1 megawatt solar array next to the Athens Community Center, powering 100% of the swimming pool, 50% of the wastewater treatment plant and a large portion of the community center itself.
Athens City Mayor Steve Patterson said the city uses solar power at the Athens Armory, and both solar and geothermal energy at the Athens Fire Department Station on East Stimson Avenue. The city was able to implement geothermal energy at the fire station by utilizing the heat from the Earth, due to its location on the Hocking River.
The city also encourages homeowners to install solar panels on their houses. Patterson said Athens was recognized by SolSmart, an organization aimed at supporting the expansion of solar energy within local governments.
The recognition allowed the city to have a streamlined process for citizens to apply for and obtain solar energy.
“They can do it online, and they can typically get their permit within 24 hours if everything checks out fine for their property, which is going to accelerate residential solar in the city of Athens, which again, will be a private property owner initiative,” Patterson said.
This year, Athens earned the SolSmart Platinum designation, an honor that highlights local governments for contributions to solar energy usage. Athens is the first community in Ohio to receive the platinum designation.
Another program the city has pioneered offers residents of Athens the opportunity to trade in their two-stroke engine lawnmower, weed whacker and leaf blower, in exchange for a rebate.
“If someone purchases an electric lawnmower, demonstrates via video or photo that they're using that new lawnmower, and turns their two-stroke fossil-fueled lawn mower into the city's service garage for disposal … they get a check for $250 rebate,” Patterson said.
The program provides smaller rebates for weed whackers and leaf blowers. Patterson said it has been very successful so far and garnered much interest with residents of the city.
Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council provided a grant of around $9,000 for the project.
Athens has also worked closely with the Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council during its process of expanding solar energy. The organization recently proposed a carbon fee that passed via ballot initiative in 2018, which went into effect in 2020. The initiative produces about $110,000 per year.
“In 2018, there was a ballot initiative that was put before the electorate here in the city of Athens to add 0.2 cents per kilowatt hour onto their electric bill,” Patterson said. “That money, as it accumulates, could only go toward city government, mercantile accounts and electric accounts.”
The initiative passed with 76.34% of the vote. Patterson cited this majority vote as a testament that Athens residents find carbon neutrality extremely important.
The carbon fee is used to offset the cost of some of the city’s renewable energy projects. Athens also receives yearly grants from the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council and has received grant money from Kokosing Solar.
Though Ohio University is in collaboration with Athens on this mission, they are leading its own initiative to fuel clean energy usage. OU passed the Sustainability and Climate Action Plan in 2021, which outlines the university’s plan for environmentally friendly initiatives in the coming years.
Director of Sustainability at OU, Sam Crowl, commented on the university’s goals for carbon emissions.
“The university has signed an international pledge to be carbon neutral by 2050, and in our plan, the Ohio University sustainability and climate action plan, we have goals for the reduction of our greenhouse gas emissions by 2030,” Crowl said.
Crowl also discussed OU’s wish to increase the purchasing of local foods for the culinary division. He said the university currently purchases 10% of its food from local producers but hopes to increase that amount to 14% within the next 5 years.
The plan also includes the intention to reduce carbon emissions from transportation by providing more options to and from campus and increasing hybrid vehicles in the campus fleet.
Patterson said he is confident Athens will be able to meet its goal, stating it could even strive to reduce carbon emissions by 75% by 2030.
“We need to step up and save the planet,” Patterson said. “It's important because my generation screwed this planet over, and it's a reckoning. It's time for us to step up and do what we need to do to protect the planet for the generations to come.”
