Explanation
Background: Ordinance No. 2845-2024, as amended by Ordinance No. 3393-2024 and 3026-2025, authorized the Director of the Department of Public Utilities to execute a Subrecipient Agreement - Not-For-Profit Service Contract with the Columbus Region Green Fund. This contract will authorize the subrecipient to implement an energy audit and technical assistance program funded by the City’s US Department of Energy (US DOE) Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG grant) award.
Ordinance 2845-2024 states that the program will be offered only to nonprofit organizations; however, on January 30, 2026, the US DOE approved a scope change to remove this eligibility limitation. The program will instead target commercial and multi-family residential buildings larger than 25,000 square feet regardless of ownership. Nonprofits, affordable housing, and building in low-income communities will be prioritized.
Emergency Justification:
Emergency action of this ordinance is requested because the program needs to be completed within the performance period of the US DOE Assistance Agreement, which ends in July of 2026. An extension may be requested but progress must be demonstrated.
Fiscal Impact
This ordinance will expand the scope of services offered through a US DOE EECBG grant currently appropriated to the Public Utilities Electricity Grant Fund 6316 in the amount of $778,900. No fiscal impact.
Title
To amend the Background section of Ordinance 2845-2024 to expand the scope of services for the US DOE-funded program; and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Ordinance 2845-2024, passed by Columbus City Council on November 18, 2024, authorized the Director of the Department of Public Utilities to administer an energy audit and technical assistance program for nonprofit organizations; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 3393-2024 was passed by Columbus City Council on December 16, 2024, to correct administrative errors in Ordinance 2845-2024; and
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