On February 5, 2026, the Ohio Department of Development (the State Energy Office) announced that its Ohio Energy Efficiency Program (OEEP) awarded $700,000 in grants to support energy efficiency projects in four communities. The OEEP is funded by the Ohio Department of Development’s U.S. State Energy Program (SEP) and provides grants to state manufacturers, small businesses, school districts, colleges and universities, local governments, and non-profits for the purchase and installation of energy efficiency upgrades that will yield a reduction of at least 15 percent in annual energy usage.
Program awardees include the City of Oxford, Brecksville-Broadview Heights City School District, Hilliard City Schools, and Piqua City Schools, each of which will be provided with $175,000 for projects that are projected to save their communities 17 percent, 52 percent, 15 percent, and 18 percent on annual utility savings, respectively. The awarded projects are as follows:
- City of Oxford – installation of LED lighting in five city-owned buildings, energy efficiency improvements at a police station, and roof-mounted solar panels at the local senior center;
- Brecksville-Broadview Heights City School District – installation of LED lighting;
- Hilliard City Schools – installation of LED lighting;
- Piqua City Schools – upgrade central plant system and air handling unit controls.
For more information on eligibility requirements, future rounds of funding, and additional funding opportunities, please visit the Ohio Department of Development’s website. To learn more about the unique ways that State and Territory Energy Offices are leveraging SEP funds for energy efficiency, innovation, and development work, see NASEO’s U.S. State Energy Program webpage.