Is the Future Bright for Solar Farms?

Podcast: Solutions Sidebar – Bringing Energy Insecurity to Light with researcher Diana Hernández

New government figures find that even before the Iran war, one in three households faced some form of energy insecurity. Not only did people have trouble paying their heating and cooling bills, but a separate study found the problem affected their mental health. Advocates like Diana Hernández are trying to bring energy insecurity to light and help those in need.   Interview guest: Co-author of Powerless and Columbia University researcher Dr. Diana Hernández is the founding principal investigator of the Energy Equity, Housing and Health Program and the co-director of the Energy Opportunity Lab [https://www.energypolicy.columbia.edu/initiatives/energy-opportunity-lab/] at the Center on Global Energy Policy.   Please give us your feedback:  https://forms.gle/16YosVHyL7mE3Up9A [https://forms.gle/16YosVHyL7mE3Up9A]    Brick by Brick Website [https://www.cetconnect.org/brick-by-brick/] * Feedback Survey [https://forms.gle/1B8EbgsnACYXTLA18]

Neighborhood Summit Envisions the Future

A recent survey finds only half of Hamilton County residents consider themselves thriving. And for a variety of reasons, an increasing number is suffering. Community leaders want to turn this around, and during a recent Cincinnati summit envisioned neighborhoods with more housing, investment and a greater sense of belonging. Organizers hope the entire region can learn from the event.  Interview guests: Elizabeth Bartley, executive director Invest in Neighborhoods; Brandon Rudd, deputy director of the Office of Strategic Growth for the City of Cincinnati; Laura Castillo, interim chief Procurement Office for the City of Cincinnati; Ruth Anne Wolfe, founder Community Happens Here; Ezra Logan, intern Community Happens Here;  Andrea Jandricek, architect and co-founder The Changing Ground Project; Ed Mathis, vice president of Republic Commercial Real Estate; Macda Mulugeta, Ohio State University graduate;  Gerald Stewart, ToolBank coordinator; Luke Greiner, UC freshman, led Project CREATE; Chris Valesky, UC senior.  Please give us your feedback: https://forms.gle/16YosVHyL7mE3Up9A [https://forms.gle/16YosVHyL7mE3Up9A]   Brick by Brick Website [https://www.cetconnect.org/brick-by-brick/] * Feedback Survey [https://forms.gle/1B8EbgsnACYXTLA18]

The Arts + Community = Impact

For the individual, research shows that the arts can boost memory, decrease depression and foster creativity. For a community, it can improve the quality of life and benefit the economy. Despite finances drying up - both nationally and locally - cities and counties are figuring out how to ramp up the arts because they see the benefits are increasingly worth it.   Interview guests: Mary McDonald, Montgomery County Commissioner; Pete Metz, Cincinnati Regional Chamber Vice President of Civic Strategy and Policy; Stephanie Keinath, Executive Vice President Dayton Chamber of Commerce; Rodney Veal, Host of The Art Show and Inspired By; Andrita Pickens, teacher Cheviot Elementary; Ray Gargano, ArtsWave VP of Community Impact; Shelby Young, Cheviot Elementary Teacher Aide; Joe Wessels, Media Relations Associate CPS; Lisa Wagner, Executive Director Levitt Pavilion; Brooke Reinke, Director of Marketing Windsor Companies.  Please give us your feedback: https://forms.gle/16YosVHyL7mE3Up9A   [https://forms.gle/16YosVHyL7mE3Up9A ] Brick by Brick Website [https://www.cetconnect.org/brick-by-brick/] * Feedback Survey [https://forms.gle/1B8EbgsnACYXTLA18]

Is the Future Bright for Solar Farms?

The Ohio Supreme Court is set to decide the fate of a handful of solar farm projects. This, as the state already leads the nation in the number of projects rejected while facing a need for affordable electricity. Cincinnati is seeing success with its solar farm, originally the largest among municipalities. But plenty of others are putting on the brakes, not wanting to give up fertile farmland.   Interview guests: Ollie Kroner, Director of the Cincinnati Office of Environment & Sustainability; Cincinnati Energy Manager Rob McCracken; Rick Lohnes, Clark County Commissioner; Bill Agle, Clark County farmer and Adam Sokolski, EDF Renewables Director of Regulatory and Legislative Affairs.   Please give us your feedback: https://forms.gle/16YosVHyL7mE3Up9A [https://forms.gle/16YosVHyL7mE3Up9A]   Brick by Brick Website [https://www.cetconnect.org/brick-by-brick/] * Feedback Survey [https://forms.gle/1B8EbgsnACYXTLA18]

County Corp Focused on Neighborhood Needs

Dayton and Montgomery County, like so many other places in the U.S., continue to face a shortage of low-income housing. For nearly 50 years the private nonprofit development corporation County Corp, has been creating generational wealth by adding new housing and working to revitalize neighborhoods. How is the organization doing it and can it be replicated?   Interview guests: President of County Corp Steve Naas; County Corp Vice President of Housing Adam Blake; Homeowner Chris Voltz; Dayton YouthBuild Executive Director Dr. Jerry Farley; YouthBuild Instructor Mackenzie Johns; Greater Cincinnati Realtist Association President Felicia Bell; and Cora Diggs with Howard Hanna Realtors.   Please give us your feedback: https://forms.gle/16YosVHyL7mE3Up9A [https://forms.gle/16YosVHyL7mE3Up9A]   Brick by Brick Website [https://www.cetconnect.org/brick-by-brick/] * Feedback Survey [https://forms.gle/1B8EbgsnACYXTLA18]