Explanation
Background: Ordinance No. 1490-2024 authorized the Director of the Department of Public Utilities to apply for, accept, and execute a grant agreement for the U.S. Department of Energy (US DOE) Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program and to execute a subrecipient agreement with the Human Service Chamber of Franklin County.
Ordinance 1490-2024 states that the program will be offered to nonprofit organizations; however, on January 30, 2026, the US DOE approved a scope change for the City 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 buildings in low-income communities will be prioritized. Additionally, the Columbus Region Green Fund will replace the Human Service Chamber as the subrecipient.
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 update the subrecipient and 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 Ordinance 1490-2024 to expand the scope of services for the US DOE-funded program and to change the identity of the subrecipient; and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Ordinance 1490-2024, passed by Columbus City Council on June 3, 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 2845-202...
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