WWW.SHAKER.LIFE | WINTER 2022 9
The City purchased its first electric vehicle in 2021. The vehicle is powered by the City’s 100
percent renewable electric plan.
Last fall, City Council approved a
resolution to join Power a Clean Future
Ohio (PCFO), further bolstering the City’s
efforts to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions.
Power a Clean Future Ohio
was founded in 2020 with the goal of
helping Ohio’s cities transition to a
low carbon future – and recognizing they
would need resources to do that,”
explains Michael Peters, the City’s
sustainability coordinator.
PCFO is funded by the Cleveland
Foundation, the George Gund Foundation,
and the Energy Foundation. By joining the
not-for-profit, the City will enjoy benefits,
including the opportunity to learn
from other Ohio communities. PCFO’s
membership roster includes Lakewood,
Euclid, and Cleveland Heights, along with
16 other cities across the state.
“We found that being in a cohort
of like-minded communities as part
of the LEED (Leadership in Energy
and Environmental Design) for Cities
program was really helpful,” says Peters.
“And we think being part of PCFO will
be too. We can learn from what other
communities are doing and bounce ideas
off them.”
Last May, the City achieved LEED
Gold certification from the U.S. Green
Building Council LEED for Cities and
Communities program.
“The other important benefit is the
resources PCFO can offer, as we seek
additional ways to lower greenhouse gas
emissions across the community,” explains
Peters. These could include working
with Clean Fuels Ohio, a PCFO partner,
to accelerate the City’s transition to an
electric vehicle fleet. Additionally, PCFO
helps cities evaluate goals through a
diversity, equity, and inclusion lens.
“Over the next several months,
we’ll work with PCFO to determine
what resources will be most helpful,” says
Peters. “Ultimately, we’ll identify two
policy areas to focus on and one
policy action.”
The City has been making steady
progress in its goal to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions. In 2020, it adopted a 100
percent renewable electric plan for all
City buildings and streetlights. It also
purchased its first electric vehicle (see
photo), added four new EV charging
stations, and has been transitioning
lighting in City buildings to LED.
“This is an exciting opportunity,”
says Peters. “Our peers in PCFO are at
the forefront of implementing sustainable
programs in their communities and we’re
looking forward to taking our next steps
toward a low-carbon future for
Shaker Heights.”
Learn more at shakeronline.com/
sustainability
City Joins Power a Clean Future Ohio
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3380 Fairmount Boulevard, Cleveland Heights, OH • 216.321.7571
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