Letter From the Editor
Thank you to the more than 100 people and businesses that joined or renewed their membership during our membership drive. Congratulations to J.M. Stevens from Painesville for winning two tickets each to a CAVS game and Monsters game. Thanks to the Quicken Loans Arena Green Committee for donating the tickets. The support of our readership is critical to the continuation of our organization. We sincerely appreciate the support and encourage readers who are not currently members to fill out the form on page 3 and join.
We are extremely excited to announce the celebrity guest speaker for our second annual Green Gala—visionary environmental leader and advocate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., a staunch defender of the environment who has been named one of TIME magazine’s "Heroes for the Planet." I hope you can join us on April 9 at Executive Caterers at Landerhaven in Mayfield Heights to hear Kennedy’s inspiring and critical talk on the pressing issues impacting the planet. Tickets are now on sale via our website or call 216-387-1609 to purchase tickets over the phone. Corporate sponsorship opportunities are available - click here to download a packet.
I have been an environmental advocate for more than 20 years and am seriously enjoying this moment in time when individuals and businesses from across the board are embracing sustainability. I am amazed daily at the incredible local, national and world-wide sustainability projects in place working to better our planet. One of these projects is the Evergreen Cooperatives in Cleveland which embraces the true sense of sustainability, where people, planet and profits are eloquently balanced to create a better community. Be sure to read the cover article and learn how Cleveland’s University Circle and six surrounding neighborhoods are striving to become one of the most sustainable places in the nation.
Four days before this issue went to print, I received the incredible news that American Municipal Power (AMP) withdrew its plans to build a conventional coal plant in southeastern Ohio. Many Ohioans have been working tirelessly to encourage AMP and the 81 communities that signed the 50-year contract to purchase electricity from this proposed plant to withdraw their plans and instead focus on creating power using renewable energy sources.
After spending months last fall encouraging Cleveland City Council to reconsider the AMP contract, I decided to focus my energies on solutions to show that businesses can rely on cleaner sources of fuel and Ohio can reduce its dependency on coal. Last January, I submitted a business idea to the Civic Innovation Lab and in March was granted funding to launch Expedite Renewable Energy to help business invest in wind and solar projects. In conjunction with launching my new business, I worked with Pearl Road Auto Parts to erect a 140-foot-high wind turbine that now generates nearly 100 percent of the company’s electricity at its property overlooking Interstate 480. The Pearl Wind Project is an excellent example of how businesses can invest in renewable energy, take control of their overall electricity costs, save money and lower their carbon footprint. Turn to page 7 to learn more about the wind project and also why AMP cancelled plans to build a coal plant.