Moms Clean Air Force

Fighting for Our Kids' Health

Ohio

Moms are working in Ohio to fight for clean air and a stable climate. We host events, share information about what’s going on, and create opportunities for mothers to talk to their legislators about their concerns. Please join us in Ohio, and let us know about your priorities.

85,963

members in Ohio

How we’re making a difference in Ohio

Ohio Moms Respond to Covid-19

As we cope with the Covid-19 response in Ohio, Moms Clean Air Force is cancelling our in-person April events. Keeping our families safe is our top priority.

Hope will not be cancelled. We are stronger together, and a better future for our children keeps us motivated. All staff are working from home. We are meeting with each other and our lawmakers virtually, and we are exploring ways to best support Ohio communities, especially those for which Covid-19 is an extreme hardship. Read how Ohio moms and families are coping with Covid-19 here.

But as the science shows that breathing polluted air can worsen the impacts of Covid-19, the EPA continues to push forward dangerous proposals that weaken lifesaving pollution regulations. For the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, we are asking that everyone take this Earth Day action from home: Join Moms Clean Air Force in demanding that EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler must go so that EPA can do its job and protect the health of our children and communities.

Moms Clean Air Force helps Ohio push for bold climate legislation.

In November 2019, Congressman Donald McEachin (VA-04) introduced the 100% Clean Economy Act of 2019 with Representatives Deb Haaland (NM-01), Debbie Dingell (MI-12), Earl Blumenauer (OR-3), Paul Tonko (NY-20), and Chellie Pingree (ME-01). This ambitious national bill aims to eliminate all climate pollution—including from transportation, electricity, buildings, and agriculture—by no later than 2050.

In the months leading up to the release of the bill, Ohio moms met with Members of Congress across the state to urge them to join as co-sponsors. Moms Clean Air Force Ohio thanks Representatives Joyce Beatty (OH-03) and Tim Ryan (OH-13) for being among the over 150 original co-sponsors leading on this issue.

Click here to learn more about the bill.

Ohio Moms help raise awareness around racial disparities in infant mortality throughout the state.

While infant mortality rates in Ohio reached the second all-time low in 2017 since 1939, this statistic only paints half the picture. The rates of infant mortality of white babies is steadily decreasing as the rates of infant mortality of black babies rises. The disparities are staggering—black infants die at three times higher rates than white infants in Ohio. In fact, from 2013 to 2015, Ohio had the highest black infant mortality rate in the country.

At the 2018 Mom Power Summit in Columbus, Moms Clean Air Force Ohio helped shine a spotlight on this issue. Five speakers with expertise in environmental pollution and infant mortality presented on the leading causes of infant mortality and what can be done to help address them. Ohio nurses received continuing education credits for participating in the summit. Attendees also included representatives from the Columbus mayor’s office, Councilwoman Liz Brown’s office, and Congresswoman Joyce Beatty’s office.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio is continuing this fight, pushing the state to address this issue head on. We are also working to educate moms and health care providers on the effects of environmental pollution on infants through our Baby Power campaign.

Moms Clean Air Force members and partners at the 2018 Mom Power Summit learn about the leading causes of infant mortality, Columbus, Ohio.

Ohio and Midwest Moms Clean Air Force members make powerful statement to the Big Three Automakers.

Moms Clean Air Force has been fighting against the rollback of the Clean Car Standards. These standards lower climate-harming pollution and help families save money at the pump—but the Trump administration is trying to dismantle them. One of the main auto-producing states, Ohio is critically important in this fight.

To urge automakers to oppose the rollback, Moms Clean Air Force members from Ohio, Illinois, and Michigan delivered over 13,000 petitions to the Big Three Automakers as well as published op-eds and launched a social media accountability campaign. Moms also attended the September 2018, EPA hearings in Dearborn, Michigan, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Fresno, California, to make it clear that moms across the country want cleaner cars and expect our automakers to provide them.

Helping Ohio’s communities build a clean energy future.

In February 2020, Moms Clean Air Force and partner organizations across Ohio launched Power a Clean Future Ohio, an initiative that connects local elected officials with businesses, faith groups, and advocacy organizations to help them identify equitable, local solutions to the climate crisis. Together, political, business, faith, and climate leaders are working to inform and incentivize community-level action to reduce climate pollution and spur economic growth and development.

On the launch of Power a Clean Future Ohio, Moms Ohio organizer Tracy Sabetta said,

Moms stand shoulder to shoulder with local leaders, supporting them, urging them to do more, and celebrating the innovations that improve the quality of our air for our kids. We have the power to make change in our own backyards and protect our children’s health.

Fighting dirty bailout politics.

A private jet, a multi-million-dollar misinformation campaign, and physical attacks on whistleblowers—these are all part of the battle being waged in Ohio to defend what is being called the “worst energy bill of the 21st century.”

HB 6, passed in July 2019, grants the state’s largest utility company, FirstEnergy Solutions, a total of more than $1 billion in taxpayer subsidies to save two dying nuclear power plants. It also subsidizes two of the region’s dirtiest coal plants in Ohio and Indiana and guts Ohio’s successful renewable energy and energy efficiency programs.

This incredibly unfavorable bill passed with widespread opposition. Environmental groups, the majority of Ohio residents, ratepayer groups, and even fossil fuel lobby groups all opposed the bailouts. However, FirstEnergy Solutions poured an estimated $60 million into a campaign to pass the bill and threatened key campaign funding for Ohio members of the House and Senate.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio is organizing families to support efforts to overturn this bailout that places industry profits ahead of the well-being of Ohio families. Moms are educating and empowering residents to learn the facts and see through the million-dollar disinformation campaigns being used to scare voters into supporting the bill.

A strong voice at the Ohio Energy Table.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio is a founding partner of the Ohio Energy Table, a statewide coalition of environmental, conservation, health, faith, and labor partners working to promote clean energy and energy efficiency. Through our participation in the Energy Table, we work closely with state lawmakers and administration officials on energy and environmental policies.

Moms & Mayors

Through the Moms & Mayors program, Moms Clean Air Force members across the country are engaging in local advocacy efforts in support of advancing carbon reduction strategies to create a healthier future for our children. Moms in Ohio are working with Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley, through Power a Clean Future Ohio, to build momentum around local clean air and clean energy initiatives across the state.

Our cities are making strong climate commitments.

Despite state and federal efforts to hinder the transition to renewable energy, Ohio cities are fighting back with strong commitments to 100% clean and renewable energy. In September 2018, Cleveland became the first city in Ohio to commit to 100% renewable energy by 2050. Cincinnati soon followed, committing to an even more ambitious goal of 100% renewable energy by 2035.

Columbus, the largest city in Ohio, is now fighting its own battle to pass 100% clean energy legislation. Moms Clean Air Force Ohio is mobilizing around the city to make it loud and clear: Ohio moms want clean energy for our children.

Our children breathe polluted air.

Smog, or ground-level ozone, is a big issue in Ohio’s three largest metropolitan areas. Cuyahoga (Cleveland), Franklin (Columbus), and Hamilton (Cincinnati) Counties all received an F grade from the American Lung Association in 2019 based on the number of code orange and red ozone air pollution days. Ozone irritates the lungs, can trigger asthma attacks, interferes with normal lung development, and increases the risk of respiratory infections.

But Ohio’s smog issues extend beyond these major cities.

Fifteen out of 34 counties in Ohio that monitor ozone air pollution received a D or F grade.

(source)

Fracking endangers our communities and children.

In 2017, Ohio produced 21 times more natural gas than it did in 2012, primarily from the Utica Shale region. There are currently over 100,000 active oil and gas wells, compressors, and processors in the state with 3,295,000 Ohioans living within a one-half-mile radius of these sites, according to the Oil and Gas Threat Map. Because of their proximity to the infrastructure of the shale boom, these millions of residents are at increased risk of exposure to toxic pollution from natural gas operations. As Ohio’s fracking industry is booming, Ohio families and communities bear the costs.

A dangerous by-product of the fracking industry, wastewater is injected deep into the bedrock of Ohio communities. A “slurry” of water and sand, fracking wastewater also contains arsenic, lead, formaldehyde, mercury, and other often-undisclosed toxins. This practice has widespread impacts, including earthquakes, toxic spills, and the contamination of groundwater.

And Ohio isn’t just “disposing” of its own wastewater; much of Pennsylvania’s wastewater gets trucked across state lines and dumped into Ohio communities to bypass stricter regulations in Pennsylvania.

Moms Clean Air Force is committed to protecting frontline communities from oil and gas pollution and is a partner in the Ohio Methane Coalition, supporting strong, effective U.S. EPA regulations to reduce harmful methane emissions from both new and existing natural gas and oil wells. Ohio moms have also been fighting the proposed rollback of the New Source Performance Standards, a federal regulation that protects communities around the country from pollution from new oil and gas operations.

Past Events

April 2020

Ohio Moms participated in a virtual Earth Day Town Hall featuring Senator Sherrod Brown. Cleveland was an epicenter of change 50 years ago when the response to the Cuyahoga River catching fire played a central role in igniting a nationwide movement that led to the first Earth Day, the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the passing of the Clean Water Act. On this 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day, Sen. Brown and other panelists addressed the multiple, intertwined crises faced today with the Covid-19 pandemic, societal inequities, and climate change.

October 2019

Members of Moms Clean Air Force from around the country, including Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas, testified in Dallas at the only public hearing on the EPA’s proposed repeal of the methane rule. Read more here.

October 2018

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio organizer Laura Burns presented at a United Methodist Women district meeting in Canfield.

Field organizer Laura Burns participated in a telepresser organized by the Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) in response to methane rollbacks.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio hosted a GOTV event in Mansfield in cooperation with the Richland County Board of Elections.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio tabled at the Happy Healthy Holy Conference with the Evangelical Environmental Network.

September 2018

Field organizer Laura Burns was the featured speaker for the Capitol Area United Methodist Women district meeting on September 22. She spoke to 68 women about climate change, children’s health, and the biblical imperative to care for others.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio tabled at the Loundonville Health Fair.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio tabled at the Wexner Center for the Truth Has Changed event.

August 2018

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio attended a solar conference in Bexley with Mayor Kessler.

July 2018

Field organizer Laura Burns presented at a Clean Cars press event.

Members of Moms Clean Air Force Ohio attended the fifth annual Play-In for Climate Action on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

June 2018

Field organizer Laura Burns spoke at All Souls UU Church.

May 2018

Field organizer Laura Burns joined Midwest field organizer Kelly Nichols in Detroit to deliver over 13,000 petition signatures from Moms Clean Air Force members demanding that the Big Three Automakers—Ford, Chrysler, and GM—continue enforcing the Clean Car Standards.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio hosted a Mama Summit in Columbus to learn about and celebrate local action on climate change. Representatives from the Columbus mayor’s office, Councilwoman Liz Brown’s office, and Congresswoman Joyce Beatty’s office were present.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio tabled at the United Methodist Women assembly with Beth Bond from the Evangelical Environmental Network.

April 2018

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio is tabled at the Coshoctan Earth Day Festival.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio spoke on a bipartisan climate solutions panel.

Moms Clean Air Force participated in the Malone Faith and Creation event in partnership with the Evangelical Environmental Network and Youth Evangelicals for Climate Action.

March 2018

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio participated in the kick-off of the 22nd Anniversary Earth Stewardship Celebration in Mansfield.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio participated in WooTalks Methane and Pipelines.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio hosted a showing of the film Keeping Watch.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio hosted a house party to connect with new and existing members and learn more about climate and health issues.

February 2018

Field organizer Laura Burns spoke on a Climate Solutions Panel at Ohio State University.

January 2018

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio hosted a State of the Union watch party at Gateway Film Center.

December 2017

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio hosted a Health Summit in Cincinnati.

September 2017

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio members traveled to Washington, DC, to meet with lawmakers and urge them to protect EPA’s budget.

August 2017

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio tabled at the Madsion Farmers’ Market.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio tabled at Ohio State University-Mansfield for the Involvement Fair.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio members testified at a Citizen Hearing focused on the EPA budget.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio attended a free screening of An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power in Columbus.

July 2017

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio tabled at the Oneness Family Fest in Cincinnati.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio members attended the 2017 Play-In for Climate Action in Washington, DC, where they met with Senator Brown and Senator Portman’s staff.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio marched in the Columbus Red White and Boom parade.

Field consultant Laura Burns spoke at an accountability event at Senator Portman’s Cincinnati office.

June 2017

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio attended the Cuyahoga River memorial event.

Field organizer Laura Burns participated in a DC fly-in organized by Earthjustice focused on communicating with members of Congress and EPA staff on ozone and children’s health.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio tabled and spoke at the Cincinnati Climate Rally.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio tabled at event with OEC at the Women’s Club in Cincinnati.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio sponsored the Green Cincinnati Thought Leader event.

May 2017

Field organizer Laura Burns spoke during the Sunday service at the Bellville Unitarian Universalist Church.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio hosted Mama Summit 2017 at the Statehouse in Columbus. Participants joined for advocacy training and lobby visits to advocate for the health and wellness of our children.

April 2017

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio attended and spoke at the Peoples Climate Rally in Cincinnati.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio attended the Coshocton Earth Day Celebration.

Field organizer Laura Burns spoke on a panel at a Keep Wayne Wild event.

March 2017

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio hosted a press conference in Mansfield to highlight disapproval of President Trump’s executive order that attacks clean air safeguards.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio attended the Raising Richland County Community Garden Summit.

February 2017

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio hosted a rally outside Senator Portman’s Columbus office to let him know that moms disapprove of his vote to confirm Scott Pruitt to head EPA. View a video clip here.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio hosted a rally to thank Senator Brown for his commitment to vote no on Scott Pruitt’s nomination to head EPA.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio attended the Earth Stewardship Celebration Kickoff.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio joined the Richland County Environmental Stewardship Committee.

January 2017

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio field organizer Laura Burns traveled to DC with her children to meet with her senators to express why the nomination of Scott Pruitt to head EPA is concerning for Ohioans. Later in the month, Laura attended Scott Pruitt’s EPA nomination committee hearing in DC.

November 2016

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio mobilized Frontline Moms in response to legislation that would turn Ohio’s clean energy standards into unenforceable goals for the next three years and allow Ohio’s largest mercantile customers to opt out of energy efficiency programs completely.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio attended a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on SB 320.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio was represented at the CAC Thought Leaders Forum at Ohio State University with speakers from Ohio State’s Byrd Polar Climate and Research Center and a public health speaker.

Field manager Tracy Sabetta attended an editorial board meeting with the Canton Repository.

September 2016

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio field organizer Laura Burns attended a Thought Leaders on Climate event in Cleveland.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio attended the Ohio EPA Rover Pipeline hearing in Wooster.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio hosted a GOTV breakfast at the NC State Urban Center in Mansfield.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio hosted a Play-In for Climate Action in Mansfield.

August 2016

Representatives from Ohio Environmental Council, Moms Clean Air Force, and other local environmental groups discussed the health and environmental impacts of compressor stations at an Environmental Health Town Hall.

June 2016

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio hosted a School’s Out Food Drive contributing to the over 4,542 pounds of food collected by Moms Clean Air Force chapters nationwide.

Field organizer Laura Burns taught a summer science class on pollution and clean energy at Little Buckeye Children’s Museum.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio attended the Good Jobs, Green Jobs Conference.

May 2016

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio attended the Audubon Grange Gardening for Climate event.

Field organizer Laura Burns was interviewed by Cincinnati Fox19 news for a report on the air pollution in Hamilton County.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio attended the Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on Senate Bill 320.

Field manager Tracy Sabetta represented Moms Clean Air Force during a presentation to the Ohio Senate Democratic Caucus on May 4. Tracy discussed the health benefits of implementing the Clean Power Plan at the state level and reinstating Ohio’s renewable energy and energy efficiency standards. All 10 state senators and their staff were present and asked questions about the information presented.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio recruited mother Rashay Layman to participate in a roundtable discussion with Columbus City Councilwoman Liz Brown linking climate change and the need to fill the current Supreme Court vacancy.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio appeared as a guest on Mansfield Public Television show “I Love My Job.” 

April 2016

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio attended the Shelby Earth Day Festival.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio hosted a Read-In at Ashland Public School.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio tabled at Coshoctan Earth Day Festival.

Moms Clean Air Force worked with partners to host a Faith and Climate Day of Action, a combined press conference and advocacy day with 15 diverse Ohio faith-based organizations.

A Moms Clean Air Force Ohio representative spoke at American Heritage Girls (junior high/high school troop).

March 2016

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio attended a Women in Conservation event in Columbus.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio hosted a Play-In for Climate Action at Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland, featuring educational kids’ activities and a press conference.

Moms Clean Air Force hosted a Read-In and “Pollution and You” presentation at Ashland Junior High.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio hosted a Read-In at the Coshocton Public Library.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio hosted a State of the Climate simulcast with Ohio Interfaith Power & Light at the Ontario Library.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio hosted a Read-In at Mansfield Christian School.

February 2016

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio co-hosted a Moms and Docs Roundtable with Environment Ohio.

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio helped host a discussion of climate and clean energy in Ohio’s communities with NextGen Founder and President Tom Steyer at the Museum of Contemporary Art in downtown Cleveland. In attendance were more than 100 state and local elected officials, business owners, faith leaders, public health officials, and others. Speakers included Tom Steyer, NextGen Climate; Rev. Otis Moss, Senior Pastor of Chicago’s Trinity United Church of Christ; Claire Boettler, President of the Ohio Public Health Association; David Beach, Director of the Green City Blue Lake Institute at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, emcee.

January 2016

Moms Clean Air Force Ohio attended the Ladies Who Lead event in the Ladies’ Gallery of the Ohio Statehouse. Speakers included Supermom Michele Timmons, Teresa Brown of Women of Steel, and Representative Nickie Antonio.

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