Dayton advisory board hears Gem City Solar update, sustainability-plan highlights and Wright-Patterson outreach

Chairperson Sarah McKnight convened the Dayton Environmental Advisory Board meeting on Feb. 13, 2026; board member Sarah Richard called the meeting to order at 12:05 p.m. in McKnight’s brief absence. The board heard updates on a range of city sustainability, water and solid-waste programs and discussed outreach with military and state partners before adjourning at 1:21 p.m.

Meg Maloney, a city sustainability staff member, reported that the Gem City Solar Project closed last month and described it as "the largest community solar agreement within a U.S. city." Maloney said the electricity produced will feed the city’s Electric Aggregation Program and highlighted program elements intended to create local benefits, including construction workforce training, student education on solar construction and plantings beneath the panels. Maloney said the project is expected to save residents about $42 million.

The board received the new City Sustainability Plan, which Maloney said documents more than $29 million in savings to the city and residents over the past five years, the diversion of more than 300,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions, and engagement with over 70,000 people. Maloney also announced the UD Hanley Sustainability Institute & City of Dayton Climate Resilience Grant, open through April 30, with awards up to $40,000 for eligible nonprofits or businesses working with nonprofits. She said the Planning, Neighborhood and Development Department will circulate a zoning survey and that staff will coordinate proposed zoning code additions intended to ease residential and commercial solar installation; she added that large “big-box” data centers are effectively banned within city limits under current policy.

On water and remediation, city staff member Paul Fleischman said the Carco remediation plan is in development. Katie Norris, a city staff member, said the city’s 2025 stormwater permit will be posted on the city website by Oct. 1 and that staff will share a link when available. Theresa McGeady said marketing research and finalized multi-jurisdictional contracts are planned to support the Source Water Protection Program, and she reminded the board about volunteer opportunities at the Children’s Water Festival.

Public Health Dayton & Montgomery County’s Sarah Holod said she is preparing the department’s annual report, noting 69 inspections and seven emergency responses in the reporting period and coordination with jurisdictions and OEPA on cleanups. Bonnie Buthker of the Ohio EPA said consultants for the Southwest Ohio Water Study are in a data-collection phase through the end of March; Buthker said recommendations are expected in the fall with a final report by the end of the DeWine administration and noted an OEPA open house at the new Southwest District offices on March 13 at 220 East Monument Ave.

Kelly Bohrer, a board member reporting for the Solid Waste District, announced that tarping will be required for public deliveries starting Jan. 1, described a failed county-wide composting grant collaborative and next steps being explored by jurisdictions, and said Master Recyclers training has more demand than seats. She noted a record household hazardous-waste collection in January with about 600 cars and said weekly Tuesday hours for hazardous-waste drop-off will resume in March; she also said a Styrofoam collection will be held in April in Huber Heights and that school food-waste grants were awarded to Miami Valley and Incarnation Schools.

Jack Rees of Five Rivers MetroParks said a Master Recycling Program starts in two weeks and an Earth Month kickoff, "Day at the Market," is scheduled for April 4. Matthew Lindsay of the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission said MVRPC is convening member communities and utilities to improve the process for updating boundaries in the Area-Wide Water Quality Management Plan and that Dayton will participate.

In old business, Sarah Richard summarized the annual EAB retreat discussion about the board’s purpose, outreach and responsibilities; the board approved by email a comment regarding a proposed data-center installation. Under new business, Chairperson Sarah McKnight said Wright-Patterson Air Force Base declined to resume monthly meetings with the city because of an ongoing lawsuit; the base recommended certain public meetings instead. Nicole Goers of the U.S. EPA offered to send the board a U.S. EPA letter with links to those public meetings and said she plans to attend the Feb. 23 RAB meeting.

Director of Water Keshia Kinney requested a presentation on the EAB’s history at the next meeting. Staff reported that the Street Tree Grant Program has been passed and that Highview Park Trail construction is expected to finish in May. A motion to adjourn was made by Sarah Richard, seconded by Kelly Bohrer, and the meeting adjourned at 1:21 p.m.

The board did not vote on policies or funding measures at the meeting; several items noted (grants, zoning survey, RAB meeting) will return as staff reports or opportunities for public participation.