In 2018, the state of Ohio was the 6th largest producer of CO2 emissions in the country, producing an estimated 209.2 million metric tons of CO2 (1). Reducing CO2 emissions is vital to the health of our planet, and The Makulinski Family Foundation is a proud supporter of a number of initiatives that aim to create a more sustainable Ohio.
In 2019, The Greater Toledo Community Foundation stepped up to the call to create a greener future for the community. The foundation developed a solar initiative project to support the environmental health and economic wellness of the communities of North Toledo, where over 168,000 people live and work.
Of the families living in North Toledo, more than 30,000 households report living under the federal poverty line (2). Historically, low-income communities have been disproportionately affected by environmental pollutants that cause cancer and other respiratory-related illnesses (3). The project seeks to bring sustainability to our planet and restore environmental justice to the human beings in neighborhoods impacted by industrial CO2 emissions and other toxic pollutants.
The solar initiative is two-fold in its tremendous impact on the surrounding neighborhoods. In addition to restoring environmental justice, it also generates a steady stream of revenue that continues to be reinvested into North Toledo neighborhoods.
The solar initiative began in 2019 when The Greater Toledo Community Foundation developed a 21,000-panel, 2.5-megawatt solar farm. In partnership with several solar engineering plants, the solar farm was built on land donated by the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, where locals will remember a historic Jeep plant that was torn down in 2006. The power generated from the solar farm is owned by a non-profit entity created by The Greater Toledo Community Foundation. The solar energy is sold to adjacent sustainability partner Dana Inc, which develops products for vehicle manufacturers.
- Article by Amanda Kern (February 2022)