Lima gets recognized for a future project that will be the largest one in the state. Wednesday evening, the city got the "Clean Energy Innovator Award" from "Power A Clean Future Ohio" for the floating solar field they are putting on the Twin Lake reservoir, next to the water treatment plant. The nearly five-and-a-half-million-dollar floating solar field will generate around two megawatts of power. The city pays around 200 thousand dollars a year to power the water treatment plant, and this will save the city money in years to come. The solar field will be made up of over 3,400 solar panels over four acres of the reservoir, which will be the largest floating solar field in the state.

December 6, 2024, Press Release from U-Haul Moving & Storage of Lima: LIMA, Ohio — U-Haul® recently completed its adaptive reuse of the former Kmart® building at 2200 Allentown Road, and is now serving customers at the new home of U-Haul Moving & Storage of Lima. The 13.4-acre property was acquired in 2023. U-Haul opened for business at the 104,685-square-foot facility on Nov. 18. Implementation of the U-Haul Adaptive Reuse program led to the ecofriendly repurposing of a vacant big-box store into a state-of-the-art retail, moving and self-storage facility that offers 700 indoor climate-controlled storage units with high-tech security features at affordable price points.

BLUFFTON, OH (WLIO) - Volunteer researchers spent Saturday documenting biodiversity in local nature reserves. 

Electric co-ops and power providers are concerned that the state will not be able to have enough electricity to support its future needs. The U.S. EPA issued a rule that targets electric coal and natural gas plants in the United States. By 2032, any fossil fuel-powered plant will be 90% carbon-emission-free. Electric co-ops say this would mean that carbon-capturing technology would have to be added, making the process more expensive for large operations. If they can't reach the carbon emission level, the plants need to close. Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted says one reason that many companies want to move or expand in Ohio is because of cheap energy, and these mandates could mean the state power needs may not be met.

July 3, 2024, Press Release from the Ohio Department of Development: (COLUMBUS, Ohio) – The Ohio Department of Development wants to give Ohioans a voice in the creation of programs aimed at helping families save on their electric bills and improve the energy efficiency of their homes. Today, Development announced the launch of a statewide stakeholder engagement effort that will support the planning, design, and implementation of the new Ohio Home Energy Savings Program. The State of Ohio was allocated $249 million through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to provide qualifying Ohioans discounts for high-efficiency appliances and equipment, as well as funding for energy efficiency improvements to single- and multi-family homes.

July 1, 2024, Press Release from the the University of Findlay and Bluffton University: FINDLAY, Ohio — University of Findlay announces Bioblitz 2024, a collaborative effort with Bluffton University aimed at exploring and documenting the rich biodiversity within their respective nature preserves. Scheduled for July 13, 2024, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., volunteers and community members are invited to join faculty experts in the day-long exploration of local ecosystems.

Residents of the City of Lima, businesses and non-residential property owners who plant tree this year can take advantage of a 50% rebate on the cost of the trees and having them professionally planted. There are 69 species on the list of approved trees, ranging from the beautiful dogwood to the majestic oak. Eligible trees must be 1.5 to 3 inches in diameter. Every tree that is planted will contribute to improved water quality in our community. Trees intercept rainwater and reduce stormwater runoff. Their extensive root system helps to filter out pollutants. Trees also provide shade to homes, keeping them cooler and saving energy.