Energy and Air Quality
Together, we can build upon the city’s progress, and embrace even greater innovation for clean energy along the way.
Highly trafficked roads, Ohio’s overreliance on coal-fired power plants, and a warming climate worsen air quality. Poor air quality exacerbates pre-existing conditions such as allergies, asthma, and other lung illnesses. In the 2020 American Lung Association State of the Air Report, the Cleveland Metro Area was ranked 31st for high ozone days and 11th in annual particle pollution. For 2020, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America ranked Cleveland the fifth worst city for asthma sufferers, and the burden is highest for poor and minority children. Air pollution has been linked to low birth weight and premature birth as well as cardiovascular complications in pregnant women. The health of the environment is connected to the health and well-being of people who are pregnant, especially those of color.
Using the city’s most important assets in combating climate change and air pollution—a municipal utility, a smart climate action plan, and a community choice aggregation initiative—we can build upon the city’s progress and embrace even greater innovation along the way.
Questions to Ask Candidates:
How will you work to support community solar or cooperative solar projects that develop a citywide rooftop solar program by 2025?
Do you commit to using long-term power purchase agreements to require more locally sourced renewable energy?
Will you stand with community members to oppose efforts in Congress that worsen air quality standards and limit clean energy development?