A quick update to share some recent events:
Last week we had the privilege to share some of our expertise with investors of the BG Chamber of Commerce and learn more about what’s going on in BG. This community really gets the impact that can happen by taking advantage of energy efficiency and renewable technologies. They are pushing over 40% of the power to their community in an alternative form of generation (wind, solar, efficiency, hydro, etc.) and the community is seeing the benefits. They have new business coming into BG and existing ones expanding. There are local events like the recent Green Energy Ohio symposium being held here.
We also had an opportunity to attend the Ohio Interfaith Power & Light Earthkeeping Summit where there was a great deal of conversation around climate issues, theology, and the connection to social issues. Many urban areas today are dealing with climate change and the effects of both past and current air quality issues. Energy conservation can occur through better education, action, and advocacy.
We are wrapping up development of Energy Plans with several Ohio businesses as we work with the Ohio programs to co-facilitate an energy efficiency program for non-manufacturing businesses. We were able to connect 7 non-profit organizations and 1 other commercial business with State grants for building their Energy Plans at 17 different sites around Ohio. We will continue to find these resources and deploy them to lower cost of the small business and non-profit communities conducting business in Ohio.
Working with communities of faith, small businesses, and non-profits provides a greater reach for the work to improve energy conservation and efficiency since there is more at stake than just the dollars and cents.