With the Bowling Green community’s growing focus on environmental action and protection, the University, the City of Bowling Green and several smaller organizations will be recognized by a community green team.
The Black Swamp Green Team will be hosting Creation Care Celebration Sunday to recognize the policy initiatives of both the University and the City for more environmental responsibility and sustainability, Black Swamp Green Team member and University chemistry professor Neocles Leontis said.
“There’s some things happening that are just simply amazing,” Leontis said. “I’m not just talking about the solar array; although that is really amazing.”
The megawatt photovoltaic solar array is planned to fill a 100-acre field. The city will be able to sell a partial amount of megawatts to other towns that are part of American Municipal Power, the city’s power provider. AMP has entered into a joint development agreement through Next Era Energy called BG AMP Solar LLC, meaning that upon presentation to the board and council’s decision, construction on the solar field can begin.
Leontis said Green Energy Ohio will hold their annual convention in Bowling Green this summer because of the city’s coming solar panels.
Leontis also wants to recognize the electric car charging ports behind Sam B’s and Grounds for Thought at the event.
“It’s a start…. In five years, they’ll be dozens,” Leontis said.
He also said the car charging ports are a great business attraction for the city. In the near future, when more people are driving electric cars, the city will be able to advertise charging ports on travel apps to draw drivers from the highway into the town. During their visit, these drivers may eat at restaurants and visit the shops while they charge their cars.
Another important environmental project the city is working on is the complete streets initiative. When complete streets are finished in the city, the streets will be easy and safe to use for community members of all ages and abilities, as well as for all transit methods, including pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.
“These are all things that will help people get around with lower costs and lower emissions,” Leontis said.
The University is also being recognized for its plan to become carbon neutral by 2040.
“Hopefully it will be soon enough,” he said.
In his article, “Does each of us individually have a moral duty of justice to reduce our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions?,” Leontis laid out that humans are adding roughly 40 giga-tons of carbon dioxide each year to the atmosphere. That means at the current emission rates, we will exceed the remaining carbon quota in about 20 years.
The Black Swamp Green Team is a roughly year-old organization that aims to “ensure that our region does its part in the worldwide effort to avoid climate disruption and ensure a sustainable and prosperous future for our children,” according to Leontis.
The recognition event with be from 1-3 p.m. on Sunday, April 17, at Peace Lutheran Church.
“For me, I’m a scientist. I’ve been following this issue for years,” Leontis said. “I have children…. The situation is absolutely frightening.”
