Public News Service

Weston Lombard, at his Athens County farm, uses regenerative practices funded by the Inflation Reduction Act. (Photo credit Sijie Yuan)

Ohio reacts to Biden's investment targeting rural electrification

President Joe Biden has announced a landmark $7.3 billion investment, the largest since the FDR New Deal, aimed at electrifying rural America…

El proyecto de ley 458 de la C�mara de Representantes de Ohio limita qui�n puede entregar boletas en ausencia del votante, a los trabajadores postales o a familiares cercanos espec�ficos, excluyendo a los cuidadores y a las personas que no son parientes. (PhotoSpirit/Adobe Stock)

Estalla polémica por propuesta para prohibir buzones de correo en Ohio

Mientras Ohio se prepara para las próximas elecciones, los debates sobre la nueva normativa electoral se intensifican. La reciente propuesta del …

The Cleveland Cliffs Middletown Works project includes replacing an old blast furnace with two electric furnaces to produce iron with nearly zero greenhouse gas emissions. It is expected to create 170 permanent jobs, 1,200 temporary union construction jobs and sustain 2,500 existing jobs. (Adobe Stock)

Inflation Reduction Act boosts Ohio’s economy, environment

As the Inflation Reduction Act marks its second anniversary, Ohio communities are seeing changes spurred by investments in clean energy and …

The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act is the largest climate investment in U.S. history, allocating around $370 billion to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030, compared to 2005 levels. (DMstock/Adobe Stock)

Driving Ohio's energy-efficiency plans with IRA support

This past Friday marked the second anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act, a milestone for Ohioans looking to make their buildings and homes more …

The 2014 water crisis due to algal blooms had an economic impact of around $65 million. (Elena/Adobe Stock)

Climate change contributes to shift in Lake Erie’s harmful algal blooms

By Kathiann Kowalski for Inside Climate News.Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi for Ohio News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Networ…

A Great Plains Institute study found health benefits valued at $63.8 million to $144 million from reducing harmful co-pollutants by installing carbon capture technologies in the Midwest region. (Ramon Cliff/Adobe Stock)

Carbon capture: Balancing industry, environment in Ohio

Ohio is becoming a focal point in the fight against climate change, thanks in part to its industrial might and a growing interest in carbon capture …

Yellow Springs Development Corp. has applied for a $200,000 Department of Energy prize for the microgrid project. The prize winners will be selected by the end of August. (oasisamuel/Adobe Stock)

Solar microgrids bring energy and opportunity to Yellow Springs

The small community of Yellow Springs, Ohio, is leading an innovative effort to harness renewable energy while directly supporting low-income …

The most severe tornado this year occurred on March 14 in Logan County, where an EF-3 tornado resulted in three fatalities. (Nick Fox/Adobe Stock)

Record-breaking tornado number 66 hits Ohio

Ohio is experiencing an unprecedented year for tornadoes, with the latest confirmed touchdown occurring on Wednesday. In 2024, Ohio has seen its 66…

Ohio solar developers use Inflation Reduction Act to help overcome 'bias'

By Hilary Beaumont for Floodlight and Investigate Midwest.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Ohio News Connection reporting for the Investigate M…

Ohio has more than 13 million acres of farmland and agriculture is responsible for about 3% of the state's gross domestic product. (Donley Desdain/Adobe Stock)

USDA invests millions for 'climate-smart' ag programs in Midwest

Farms in the Midwest should become more resilient to challenges created by climate change, with a $10 million grant from the U.S. Department of …

The Black Swamp Conservancy has grown to protect more than 175 properties since 1997, covering more than 21,000 acres. (Linda/Adobe Stock)

Grants boost environmental education and restoration in Ohio

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is awarding $271,000 in grants for environmental education projects across the state. The programs will …

Ohio artist Kenia Lamarr created a mural for the rusty-patched bumblebee, the first native bee on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's endangered species list. (Kenia Lamarr)

Pollinator festival, mural highlight rusty-patched bumblebee in Ohio

An upcoming festival in Columbus, Ohio, aims to raise awareness about the plight of pollinators and ongoing conservation efforts. According to the U.…

The National Association of Broadcasters said more than 82 million individuals tune in to AM radio. (bennian_1/Adobe Stock)

Ohio senators back AM radio in new cars, critics warn of costs

The "AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act" now in Congress would mandate all new cars in the U.S. be equipped with AM radios, and it's stirring a debate in …

The United Nations estimates global shipping is responsible for about 3% of emissions worldwide. (Francis/Adobe Stock)

Cleveland port’s ‘electrification hub’ anchors progress toward net-zero emissions

By Kathiann M. Kowalski for Energy News Network.Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi for Ohio News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism …

Solar energy helps provide more than 263,000 jobs across the U.S., according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. (chungking/Adobe Stock)

Report: Ohio ranks 17th in U.S. for solar power installations

Ohio homes and businesses have installed enough solar energy to power nearly 300,000 homes each year. A new report released by the Solar Energy …

A previous Bloomberg grant laid the groundwork for significant initiatives, such as the city's solar array and passage of the Issue 7 transportation levy. (jonbilous/Adobe Stock)

Empowering Cincinnati: Bloomberg grant fuels climate and equity initiatives

Cincinnati is part of Bloomberg Philanthropies' $200 million Sustainable Cities initiative and will hire three new staff members to merge climate solu…

A recent study from Ohio State University finds older adults who said they were prepared to handle extreme weather emergencies had at least a three-day supply of necessities to sustain life during emergencies, including food, water, clothing, flashlights and medicine. (Adobe Stock)

Older adults in Ohio are among the most vulnerable to extreme weather

Twenty percent of older adults in central Ohio either were not prepared or did not know if they were prepared for extreme weather, according to a …

From 2017 to 2019, Ohio ranked 46th among 50 states for pollution exposure, including exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution. (Halfpoint/Adobe Stock)

Researchers link air pollution with dementia risk

Recent data ranks Columbus as the most polluted major city in the U.S., highlighting concerns about common pollutants, like smog and vehicle …

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said the indictment related to House Bill 6 is not only about the legislation:

FirstEnergy abandons interim clean energy goals to address climate change

Ohio-based FirstEnergy also comes in "first" to eliminate its short-term 2030 emissions reduction goal amid an ongoing bribery investigation related t…

In 2023, the USDA Forest Service and AmeriCorps signed a five-year agreement to establish the Forest Corps, which aims to create Job opportunities that reduce wildfire risk, support reforestation and make national forests and grasslands healthier and more resilient. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Biden’s Climate Corps could bring jobs to Appalachian Ohio

A Biden administration program called the American Climate Corps aims to hire and train 20,000 people in conservation, climate and clean-energy jobs…

Bowling Green, Ohio, resident Joe DeMare installed solar panels on his home to lower his monthly energy bills. (DeMare)

Bowling Green, Ohio, residents say costly power plant drives up energy bills

Some residents of Bowling Green, Ohio, are saying the city's main power source, Prairie State Energy Campus in Illinois, is expensive, dirty…

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the Justice 40 Initiative's policy plan includes increasing job energy resiliency and energy democracy and decreasing environmental exposure for disadvantaged communities. (Christopher Boswell/Adobe Stock)

USDA's climate action fellows to help Ohio farmers/small businesses access clean energy funds

Ohio will soon get a dedicated person to help farmers, ranchers and other landowners apply for federal grants to help fight pollution and climate …

Ohio is home to the Wayne State National Forest. A proposed federal rule would greenlight using national forests for carbon-capture operations. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio environmental groups skeptical of carbon-capture rule for public lands

The Biden administration is considering a rule change to allow carbon dioxide from air or industrial processes to be captured and stored in national p…

Appalachia is home to 26.3 million people and covers 206,000 square miles, encompassing 423 counties in 13 states, according to the Appalachian Regional Commission. (Adobe Stock)

Federal funding could transform Ohio Valley into a manufacturing hub

Manufacturers in Ohio employ around 12% of the state's workforce, and advocates say the state's Appalachian region could bolster its economy by …

By 2030, more than 1 in 5 Americans will be at least 65 years old and by 2050, the number of people aged 60 and older globally is expected to double to more than 2 billion. (Cala Serrano/Adobe Stock)

Older adults and climate advocacy

While scientists say extreme climate changes are happening more frequently, a new study aims to link aging adults to its risks and their potential to …

Research shows people living in rural areas and communities of color are more likely to worry about exposure to air pollution. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Cleveland expands local air monitoring program

The City of Cleveland wants new community air advisers to help expand air monitoring in historically redlined neighborhoods. Christina Yoka…

Appalachia is likely the source of more system-wide fossil fuel methane emissions than any other region in the United States, according to the Ohio River Valley Institute. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio stands to gain from EPA's new methane rules

The Environmental Protection Agency is clamping down on methane emissions, a harmful pollutant and driver of climate change Appalachian communities …

The Department of Energy is revoking $37 million previously awarded to Ohio's six-turbine Icebreaker wind project, which has been in the works since 2009. (Florian Kunde/Adobe Stock)

Future of offshore wind in Lake Erie in flux as Icebreaker project shelved

Offshore wind development in the Great Lakes region has had a turbulent history and faced many challenges. Initially considered a promising location …

Clean-air advocacy groups and the electric truck sector are calling on state governments to consider tax credits that would make EV trucks more affordable. (Adobe Stock)

EV companies call for building heavy-duty vehicle infrastructure

Clean-energy advocates in Ohio and around the country say now is the time for the government to ensure the nation has the medium- and heavy-duty truck…

Climate Change meteorologist Lauren Casey said Halloween pumpkins may rot sooner in the warm October temperature. (climatecentral.org)

Climate extremes have some OH families rethinking their Halloween

Tropical Storm Tammy has sprung back to life over the weekend, sending spooky fears of high winds for trick or treaters along the Eastern Seaboard…

Residential solar power installations rose by 34% from 2.9 gigawatts in 2020 to 3.9 gigawatts in 2021, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Residents sue Ohio city over rooftop solar fees

Residents in Bowling Green continue to push back against the Ohio city's tax on residential solar panels. One couple has filed a takings-claim …

Fracking-related activities release an estimated 450,000 tons of pollutants into the air each year nationwide, which can have immediate public health effects.(Adobe Stock)<br />

Activists rally over pending fracking on Ohio's state lands

A governor-appointed commission could begin approving fracking leases on Ohio's state lands as early as next month. Jenny Morgan a volunteer for the …

Droughts can cause drinking water shortages and negatively impact crop production, so researchers want to help agricultural producers better plan for how they'll prepare for them. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Research: Ohio’s droughts worse than often recognized

New drought-modeling technology could help Ohio's farmers better prepare for dry weather conditions. Steven Quiring, a geography professor at Ohio …

Advocates tout blue hydrogen as a clean, low-carbon way to produce energy from methane or coal, while reducing the world's greenhouse gases emissions. Opponents counter its benefits are overstated. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Blue hydrogen hype not backed up by science

New research from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis found making hydrogen from natural gas, so-called "blue hydrogen," is not …

Climate change board games emphasize teamwork and group success. Either all players win together, or no one survives. (dvande/Adobe Stock)

Board games help players understand climate change

By Debra J. Rosenthal for The Conversation.Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi for Ohio News Connection for the Public News Service-Conversation …

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing standards to regulate HAP emissions from five unmeasured fugitive and intermittent particulate sources that currently are not regulated. (Clive Winward/Wirestock Creators/Adobe Stock)

EPA's Last Call on Comments About Rules for Blast Furnaces is Today

Emission standards for blast furnaces such as the iron and steel mills in Ohio have not been updated in years. The Environmental Protection Agency …

An estimated 2.4 million people work on farms and ranches nationwide, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Census of Agriculture. (Diego/Adobe Stock)

Ohio Falls Short in Protecting Outdoor Workers from Heat

By Mónica Cordero, Investigate Midwest/Report for America and Eva Tesfaye, Harvest Public Media for Investigate Midwest.Broadcast version by …

The share of electric cars in total sales has more than tripled in three years, from around 4% in 2020 to 14% in 2022, according to IEA. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Ohio Drivers Remain Interested in Electric Vehicles

Despite reports electric vehicle sales are slowing down, experts say consumer interest in Ohio remains high. Four in 10 Americans said they are …

Massive Canadian wildfires, which began in May, have since sent much of the eastern United States indoors because of air-quality advisories. (Adobe Stock)

Experts Unclear on Whether Hazardous Air Quality Will Persist This Fall

By Leah Shephard/for the Kent State-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. On several days this summer, Ohioans awoke to their homes and neighborhoods …

$New polling shows nearly two-thirds of Ohioans are opposed to or unsure about fracking. (Adobe Stock)$

Polls: Ohioans Skeptical More Fracking Would Bring Benefits

At a time when Ohio state lawmakers are pushing to expand fracking on public lands, polling in recent years finds most residents are either strongly …

$By 2025, estimated health damages caused by methane leakage during fracking would cost $13-29 billion each year, according to the consulting firm Seed Scientific. (Adobe Stock)<br />$

Dangers of Fracking Wastewater Put Spotlight on 'Halliburton Loophole'

A law known as the "Halliburton Loophole" is under growing scrutiny. It exempts oil and gas companies from revealing the chemicals they use in the …

Since 2011, Ohio has allowed companies to lease state land for oil and gas drilling. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Scientists Sound Alarm on Fracking Near Muskingum, OH Watershed

The Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District is drawing ire for its continued leasing of land for fracking. Last year, the district, which stewards …

Kris Swartz, a farmer in Wood County, Ohio, says he's seeing more rain and hotter temperatures than he did 30 years ago when he started farming. (NewsLab photo by Baylee Sweitzer)

Climate Change Challenges Ohio Farmers

By Baylee Sweitzer for Kent State News Lab.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan reporting for the Kent State-Ohio News Connection Collaboration…

Train cars containing hazardous chemicals burned after a Feb. 3 derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. (Jamie Cozza)<br /><br />

How Dangerous Was Ohio Chemical Train Derailment?

By Andrew J. Whelton for The Conversation.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Ohio News Connection for the Public News Service-Conversation …

East Palestine, Ohio, resident Kyla Rose Cozza, 3, plays in her backyard just a few steps away from one of the creeks now contaminated with toxic chemicals after a massive train derailment Feb. 3. (Jamie Cozza)<br />

Lacking Answers, East Palestine Residents Plan to Test Soil, Water

East Palestine, Ohio, residents have been given the green light to return home, but many believe it is not safe to do so. They're experiencing skin …

Carleton See, an environmental monitoring specialist, changes filters on an air monitoring device at the George T. Craig Air Quality Monitoring Site in downtown Cleveland. (Gus Chan for Eye on Ohio)

Tighter Standards Could Change Cleveland’s Air Quality Issues

By Christopher Johnston for Eye on Ohio.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Ohio News Connection Collaboration reporting for the Ohio Center for I…

More than 220,000 productive oil-and-gas wells have been drilled in Ohio, around 60,000 of which are in current operation, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. (Adobe Stock)

New EPA Rules on Methane Could Be a Win for Ohio's Economy

The Environmental Protection Agency has released rules which would for the first time require regular inspections of all methane-emitting oil and gas …

The Farm Bill is a five-year spending measure that addresses the agriculture industry, food systems, nutrition programs and more. (Mike/Flickr)

2023 Farm Bill: Creating Healthier Future for Farming, Food

Congress must pass a 2023 Farm Bill before the end of the year, a measure which not only impacts farming but also what's on our plates. The Ohio …

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OH: Climate Change