State Government Roundup

The Ohio Energy Office in the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD) is accepting applications for $14 million in funding available through the Deploying Renewable Energy: Wind and Solar grant program. These are the first renewable energy grants to be funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) in Ohio.

“Ohio has demonstrated a potential to realize significant job growth by deploying renewable energy derived from wind and solar installations,” said ODOD Director Lisa Patt-McDaniel. “Combined with the aggressive pursuit of energy efficiency through the Recovery Act, Ohio is well-positioned to meet the goals set forth in Gov. Ted Strickland’s Advanced Energy Portfolio Standard.”

The grant program is part of Ohio’s $96 million proposal for the State Energy Program that was accepted on June 26, 2009, by the U.S. Department of Energy. This prompted the release of Recovery Act funds to the state for direct funding of eligible energy projects.

“These grants are a great opportunity to meet the growing interest and use of wind and solar energy across the state,” explained Mark Shanahan, Strickland’s energy adviser. “By investing in these new technologies, we will create jobs in a growing industry and position Ohio for economic development and future success.”

Deploying Renewable Energy: Wind and Solar seeks eligible applicants including individuals, partnerships, companies and entities that meet the minimum size and other for the installation of qualified solar electric, solar thermal and wind electric technologies. Projects that involve third-party ownership and financing arrangements are also eligible to apply.

Awards will range between $250,000 and $1 million and will be selected through a competitive process. All eligible projects must be located within Ohio, include a matching investment of at least 50 percent of total costs, demonstrate completion within 12 months, and provide direct economic effects in Ohio.

Interested applicants must submit a one-page project proposal no later than 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 21 at http://recovery.ohio.gov/opportunities/state/. Entities that have already submitted a proposal are not required to submit again. To submit forms on the website, applicants should click “submit your proposal,” then choose the program category “Energy and Environment” and the subprogram “State Energy Program.” Only projects that have submitted initial proposals to www.recovery.ohio.gov will be considered for formal proposals in response to this request. 

Applications are due to the Ohio Energy Office by 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, 2009.

Additional information on the Deploying Renewable Energy: Wind and Solar grant program and the requirements are online at http://www.development.ohio.gov/recovery/FundingOpportunities.htm.

Ohio's Peregrine Nesting Season Concludes

Biologists with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife estimated Tuesday that 64 young peregrine falcons fledged from 19 successful nests across the state this year. In 2008, 65 peregrine falcon chicks fledged from 21 nests. Biologists were able to band 59 of these young falcons from 18 successful nest sites during 2009; limited access at some nest sites prevented all young from being banded.

"While not a record-setting year for falcons, 2009 was still a very good year for peregrines around the Buckeye State," said Dave Scott, peregrine falcon project coordinator for the division. “We continue to see pairs show up at new sites, which will help the population grow in future years.”

In all, 28 territorial pairs of peregrine falcons were monitored around Ohio in 2009. Eggs were produced at a minimum of 24 sites. Eggs were not seen at two sites, but were confirmed by the extended incubation behavior of the adults.

Five of the six falcon pairs in Cleveland, along with two pairs in Toledo and individual pairs in Aberdeen, Akron, Boston (northern Summit County), Canton, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, Eastlake, Ironton, Lima, Oregon (Lucas County) and Youngstown produced between two and five young per nest. Nests located in Cleveland, the village of Cleves (Hamilton County), Lakewood, Shaker Heights (Cuyahoga County) and Wrightsville (Adams County) failed this season. Two new pairs were monitored briefly this year but did not nest; one pair was at the Ohio Stadium area of Ohio State University (Franklin County) and the other was on a water tower in Warren (Trumbull County).

"After the nesting season and prior to migration, Ohio's peregrine falcon population is estimated to reach 110 to 130 birds," Scott added. Included in that number are individual falcons that have been spotted in other areas of the state. These birds, as well as the territorial pairs that did not nest this season, could return next year to establish territories and perhaps successful nests. Migratory movements will start in late summer and early fall. While some Ohio falcons stick around all year, other falcons from Ohio probably spend their winters in the southern United States and Central America.

Anyone interested in following peregrine falcon activity in Ohio can view the latest updates online at wildohio.com. The peregrine falcon page features information on the bird's history, nest status and links to cameras that record activity at several of the nest locations across Ohio each spring.

In 1989, wildlife experts with ODNR initiated a program to establish peregrine falcons in Ohio. For more than a decade, peregrines have successfully nested in Akron, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Toledo.

Ohio's peregrine falcon management program is funded by donations to the Endangered Species and Wildlife Diversity Fund and sales of the cardinal license plate.