Akron Reporter

Akron, Ohio — On June 2, the U.S. Conference of Mayors announced the winners and honorable mentions for the 2023 Mayors’ Climate Protection Award. Mayor Horrigan received an honorable mention for modernizing Akron’s District Energy Steam Plant. He joins other honorable mentions: Chicago's Lori Lightfoot, L.A.'s Karen Bass, San Diego's Todd Gloria, and Tallahassee's John Dailey. The top two winners were Denver’s Mayor Michael B. Hancock and River Forest’s Mayor Cathy Adduci. Full descriptions of the 2023 Mayors Climate Protection Awards winning programs can be found at: https://www.usmayors.org/climateprotection/2023awards/.

In 2018, during Mayor Horrigan’s first term, Akron City council authorized a $25.4M renovation of the city’s district energy plant. That investment has allowed Akron Energy Systems (AES), who operates the city’s steam plant, to transform the city’s waste-to-energy power plant from a dangerous, trash-incineration facility to a safe, cost-effective power-generating operation. As the City of Akron’s community energy system operator, AES delivers a finished heating and cooling product to buildings in the city’s downtown business district including City Hall and the hospitals.

“I’m honored to be recognized by the U.S. Conference of Mayors for Akron’s work to reduce carbon emissions,” said Mayor Horrigan. “Our partnership with Akron Energy Systems is a real sustainability success story. By modernizing our steam plant, we have reduced fuel use by 46% since 2010, reduced annual output of carbon emissions by a staggering 117,000 tons, and reduced water use by 30M gallons per year. In Akron, we’ve reduced governmental emissions by 40% since 2005 simply due to our investment in our steam plant. I’m incredibly proud of the work we’ve done to better our environment here in Akron.”

“Again and again, mayors throughout this nation are showing all of us how to be more efficient in the use of our energy resources and cut carbon use in the process,” said USCM President Miami Mayor Francis Suarez. “These awards help tell the story of mayoral leadership, one where these local leaders confront the real challenges of the day and do so in ways that make our cities cleaner, smarter and more livable.”

In 2022 alone, Akron’s district energy system accomplished the following for our community:

• 97% reduction in air pollutants
• 46% improvement in energy efficiency
• 99.999% reliability of system operations
• 27 jobs were retained and 10 new jobs created
• Added 6 new customers to the system including Akron Summit Library Main Branch, Ocasek Building, and Goodrich apartments
• 50% increase in cooling sales
• $155 million in community investment savings

AES founder and CEO Marc Divis said, “Congratulations to Mayor Horrigan on his numerous, generational achievements in environmental sustainability, with the district energy system being just one of several projects. Mayor Horrigan and his administration provided tremendous leadership, dedication and support to bring this critical, low-carbon infrastructure solution to downtown Akron. This project required a whole-of-the-community effort over a period of years. The team at Akron Energy Systems is honored to be a collaborative partner with the City of Akron, Akron Children’s Hospital and Cleveland Clinic Akron General in making this project an environmental, operational, and financial success. Mayor Horrigan’s achievements to improve the environment will benefit Akron for generations.”

Original source can be found here.