City Office of Environmental Quality receives $500K for Green Cincinnati Action Plan

The City of Cincinnati's Office of Environmental Quality was awarded a $500K, EPA Climate Showcase Community Award for its Green Cincinnati Action Plan. The grant will be paid out over three years.

The Green Cincinnati Action Plan, formerly the Climate Protection Action Plan, contains 80 specific steps the city can take to become a national leader in addressing global climate change.

Recommendations include:

• Reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions 8% below 2006 levels by 2012.
• Reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions 40% below 2006 levels by 2028.
• Reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions 84% below 2006 levels by 2050.
• Supporting a regional light rail system and passenger rail.
• Encouraging home energy efficiency measures.
  

"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.  Once again the Office of Environmental Quality is bringing in outside resources to improve the quality of life for the citizens of Cincinnati," said Mayor Mark Mallory.

This award reinforces Cincinnati's status as a national leader in its sustainability efforts. Just 20 cities were granted funds out of 450 applicants. Also, the EPA will use Cincinnati's plans as an example of how other cities can Green Up.

"This funding will provide a tremendous boost to fulfilling the vision and programs in the Green Cincinnati Action Plan" said Larry Falkin, director of the City of Cincinnati's Office of Environmental Quality.

Writer: Feoshia Henderson
Source: City of Cincinnati