SOPEC’s Community Grant Program
Member communities of SOPEC with an active opt-out electric aggregation program have the option to participate in the SOPEC Community Grant Program, which provides funding for local governments to invest in energy efficiency measures and sustainable energy projects.
Community Grant Projects
Athens County | Solar for Net-Zero EMS Station
The Athens County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Station #51 was designed to be a net zero energy building, meaning the building will produce as much energy as it uses.
SOPEC provided $20,000 toward the installation of a solar array at the Athens County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Station #51, located in Athens, Ohio. The new station has a 34.2 kW photovoltaic (PV) solar system. This is the first active solar PV system for the government of Athens County. The project’s cost was $74,688 and was installed by Athens-based Third Sun Solar, now Third Sun Kokosing Solar.
City of Athens | Solar-Powered Battery Back-Up Power
This 250 kW/1,140 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery energy system is expected to be able to maintain power to the plant for up to five days in the event of an outage.
As part of AEP Ohio’s effort to demonstrate that microgrids can keep the power flowing in the event of an extended outage, SOPEC provided $28,617 as matching funds toward the City of Athens’ bid to host a solar-powered backup power system at the Athens Water Treatment Plant. The 230+ kilowatt (kW), 658-panel solar array on site will partially power the lithium-ion batteries (left) to support the microgrid system.
The Logan Police Department became the first law enforcement agency in Ohio to upgrade its fleet of traditional police cruisers with two Tesla electric vehicles (EVs), upfitted as fully-equipped patrol cars.
City of Logan | Tesla Wall Connectors for Logan Police Department’s Upfitted Tesla Cruisers
The City of Logan partnered with Enterprise Fleet Management to lease Tesla Model Ys. SOPEC provided $5,796 toward the installation of the Tesla Wall Connectors that will charge the branded Tesla police cruisers in between shifts. Cincinnati Safety Upfitters led the upfitting pilot project and hopes to become an authorized modifier for Teslas in Ohio. The Teslas will save the city on vehicle maintenance and fuel costs with zero tailpipe emissions. The EVs for fleets pathway taken by Logan is a model for Ohio communities.