COAD begins 100% renewable energy supply agreement with SOPEC Public Pricing Program
Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development (COAD) main office in Athens, Ohio.
The Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development has begun its electric supply contract through SOPEC’s Public Pricing Program (P3), procured by AEP Energy. The nearly 2 year supply agreement includes 100% renewable energy attributes through the purchase of Renewable Energy Credits.
Are you a public entity - an Ohio-based government, political subdivision, or non-profit organization? If so, you’re eligible to join the P3!
For a limited time, mention “COAD” and we’ll provide $0.25 off per megawatt-hour (MWh) your final P3 supply rate!
LINK to Public Pricing Program webpage - Or email support@sopec-oh.gov / 740-597-7955
Who Is COAD?
COAD serves as an umbrella agency for 17 community action delegate agencies in the 30-county region of Appalachian Ohio. COAD’s weatherization and utility-funded energy conservation program staff have vast experience in the field of weatherization and energy efficiency and conservation, operating a multitude of successful programs since 1975. COAD staff have numerous professional and technical credentials including certifications and licensures in BPI, EPA Lead Risk Assessor; HVAC; Energy Star Home Performance; EPA RRP; OSHA 10 Hour and 30 Hour; Lead Inspector; and other industry-recognized accreditations. Most have extensive field experience, and many have presented at national, regional and state industry conferences as experts in the industry. COAD has weatherized more than 100,000 dwellings in Ohio since 1975.
Energy savings average 35% in a typical low-income home with households saving an average of $437 in reduced first-year energy costs. Reducing energy demand decreases the environmental impacts of energy production. Weatherization reduces the average fuel consumption in a household by 23% - thereby reducing greenhouse gases and environmental impact as it mitigates approximately 2.65 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. Weatherization creates non-energy benefits as well, including healthier and more comfortable homes while at the same time reducing impact to our environment.
COAD’s Community Development Division provides services to low- and moderate-income Appalachian Ohio residents and service providers. The mission of the division is to help make housing and communities better and more sustainable places in which to live and work. The service network includes training, community development, housing and energy efficiency-related programs.
Home Weatherization Assistance Program (HWAP)
Training and Technical Assistance
The OWTC provides classroom, lab, and field training as well as on-site technical assistance to HWAP providers in the Ohio Weatherization Assistance Program network. The extensive hands-on nature of the training and technical assistance compliments classroom training and enhances worker’s on-the-job-training experience.
Ohio Center for Lead Abatement (OCLA)
Since 1993, COAD’s Ohio Center for Lead Abatement has provided a wide range of training courses and technical assistance for contractors and professionals in the environmental remediation industry including worker, inspector, risk-assessor and supervisor/contractor training. OCLA provides training for private contractors, community-based organizations, nonprofits, and local governments. OCLA is funded in part by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ohio Department of Development (ODOD) and the Ohio Department of Health (ODH). The OCLA is a licensed provider of EPA-approved lead abatement and hazard mitigation training courses. COAD is a member of the EPA Region III and V Lead Training Consortium, coordinated by the University of Maryland – Baltimore.
First Energy Community Connections Program - is funded by FirstEnergy to help improve the homes of its low-income Ohio customers by increasing safety and energy efficiency through applied measures and education. This program has operated since 2010 and will continue through 2024.
WarmChoice® Program – Continually operated since 1987. The WarmChoice® Program is funded by Columbia Gas of Ohio to help improve the energy efficiency and affordability of the homes of its low-income natural gas customers. COAD provides technical assistance in program development, metrics, and delivery model for Columbia Gas of Ohio’s WarmChoice® Program, serving 150% and below poverty, is a long-standing contract with the utility provider. This contract has been on-going without interruption for over twenty years and is a $3.8 million annual contract to provider initial inspections, development of work orders and final third-party inspection upon completion of units. This program targets high-consumption consumers and provides retrofit measures and energy efficiency applications to homeowners and tenants. The program has served as a model for other DSM programming and has been touted as highly successful. This groundbreaking program has operated since 1987 and will continue with COAD’s success through 2022.
Universal Service Fund Electric Partnership Program – Operated continually since 2002, is designed to improve the electric efficiency of low-income households who participate in PIPP (Percentage of Income Payment Plan) by performing in-home audits, installing appropriate electric Baseload and thermal energy efficiency measures and conducting consumer energy education. COAD has administered the USF EPP for the 31 county-region since that time and has leveraged USF EPP funds with the HWAP since 2008. COAD USF EPP targets high-consumption consumers and provides retrofit measures and energy efficiency applications to homeowners and tenants with a crew based approach. Funding provided is a total of $5,392,069 for PY21 encompassing four major utility service areas; AEP Ohio, First Energy, Duke and DP&L (now AES Ohio).
Home Weatherization Assistance Program (HWAP) – Continually operated since 1975. HWAP is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy to weatherize the houses of low-income citizens. The program reduces low-income households' energy use, thus creating more affordable housing for those in most need. Services include attic, wall and basement insulation; blower door guided air leakage reduction; heating system repairs or replacements; and health and safety testing and inspections. All measures are provided based on an on-site energy audit and on cost effective guidelines developed using a computerized energy audit. Individualized client education is an important component of the program. COAD has weatherized more than 100,000 dwellings in Ohio since 1975.
COAD has consistently met or exceeded planned unit goals. Impact studies commissioned by the state and partner utilities consistently show COAD achieving higher than average energy savings. The COAD HWAP is crew based and approaches site work in a whole-house manner that adheres to the SWS.
The exceptional quality of COAD’s work is in large part due to well trained staff residing in the service area. They are local people helping friends and neighbors. Finally, COAD is unique in that it provides monthly performance statistics to the Delegates that are used to manage production by clearly demonstrating Planned versus Actual production based on actual support expenditures and completions.
HWAP Enhancement- The purpose of the Enhancement program is to enhance the energy efficiency efforts of HWAP, using a separate funding stream designed to cover the costs of specific allowable measures for targeted households. The Enhancement program strives to provide a holistic approach to weatherizing homes in the most cost- effective manner by leveraging available resources. Program benefits include reducing housing hazards and promoting energy efficiency which will improve housing conditions and public health.
The Enhancement program will target households at or below 175% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines whose homes have been deferred for weatherization services or have been previously weatherized. Previously weatherized homes are only eligible for furnace repair or replacement and labor categories related to furnace repair or replacement through the Enhancement program. Currently services include, heating repair/replacement, roof repair, plumbing, ventilation and infestation. COAD receives over $1.5 million in funding across our service territory.
Ohio Housing Trust Fund- COAD has successfully operated the Housing Assistance Grant Program through the Ohio Housing Trust Fund (HTF) for over 20 years. The program service area currently includes 18 counties within COAD’s service area. COAD received $422,000 over two years to serve 59 homes. The primary purpose of HTF is to provide emergency home repair and handicapped accessibility modifications to income-eligible homeowners. These services help provide a safe, affordable, accessible and durable environment allowing homeowners to remain in their homes thus preventing homelessness.
A key feature with the HTF program is to partner, or leverage funds with other programs which creates greater capacity in order to meet the challenges of home repair. Energy efficiency services through community action agencies are one source of partnership. Another one is the 504 Grant program through USDA Rural Development.
COAD uses housing emergency repair funds to correct hazardous situations that are dangerous to the occupant(s) such as remedying housing code and safety violations, replacing existing or pending structural defects, and improving handicapped accessibility and mobility. More specific eligible improvements include:
* Building envelope structural repairs, including the roof, ceiling, walls and foundation
* Gutter & down spout repair and/or replacement
* Heating system repair or replacement
* Domestic hot water system repair or replacement
* Septic system repair or replacement
* Other severe plumbing-related problems
* Bathroom repair or replacement
* Electrical repairs and upgrades
* Ramps, handrails, grab bars, etc.
* Interior/exterior repairs and alterations to allow handicapped mobility, including kitchen and bathroom modifications