The Northern Ohio Recovery Association (NORA) is minimizing its carbon footprint while expanding services to vulnerable men and women within the community by breaking ground on an all-electric-powered addition to its Cleveland campus.
Located within the heart of FirstEnergy’s Illuminating Company service area, NORA gathered with FirstEnergy officials, community members, and local officials on Aug. 31 to celebrate the construction of its new Recovery Village, which will contain 16 supportive housing units for Cleveland residents in treatment or recovery from substance use.
Oftentimes, appliances used for cooking, heating, and laundry are gas-powered. The new NORA building will meet all of those needs with electricity delivered by FirstEnergy.
Gas appliances can release potentially harmful air pollutants, according to the Rocky Mountain Institute, a nonprofit organization pushing for the nationwide transition to clean energy. The organization says all-electric buildings are climate-friendly, save consumers money, and prevent harmful air pollutants from being released indoors and outdoors.
“NORA’s vision for an all-electric facility aligns with FirstEnergy’s values of environmental stewardship and community involvement and sets an inspiring example,” said Mark Jones, Vice President of Customer Engagement. “I am truly excited to witness the tangible impact this facility will have on the lives of individuals in the community while also demonstrating the potential for sustainable energy to positively shape our future.”
In June, NORA was awarded $1 million in federal funding for a community project aimed at economic revitalization in Cleveland. The funding came from U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown’s Community Project Funding initiative, which is designed for members of Congress to request funding to improve their communities.
NORA provides culturally relevant chemical dependency services with dignity and respect to youth, adults, and families in northeast Ohio. The organization’s goal is to establish innovative care to support continued recovery of those in the local community and to empower individuals, their families, and communities to support lifestyles of recovery.
Photos and a video from the Aug. 31 groundbreaking ceremony can be viewed on FirstEnergy’s Flickr page.
“Together, we are shaping a future that is cleaner, more sustainable and rooted in the principles of environmental responsibility,” said Jones.
Media Contact: Hannah Catlett 440-554-5346