Sustainability News

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is considering a general wastewater permit, which would allow a streamlined process for data centers to receive authorization to discharge wastewater into surface waters.

Data centers in Ohio can currently only apply for an individualized National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit. That permit requires data centers to follow Ohio’s antidegradation rule, ensuring no pollution that could harm fish or wildlife be released, safer streams for recreation and that drinking water sources are protected.

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is considering a general wastewater permit, which would allow a streamlined process for data centers to receive authorization to discharge wastewater into surface waters.

Data centers in Ohio can currently only apply for an individualized National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit. That permit requires data centers to follow Ohio’s antidegradation rule, ensuring no pollution that could harm fish or wildlife be released, safer streams for recreation and that drinking water sources are protected.

The Ohio University Office of Sustainability is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Sustainability Awards(opens in a new window).

The awards recognize students, faculty, staff, departments and community members or organizations for their outstanding contributions to sustainability at Ohio University or in the local community.

The awards are open to all OHIO faculty, staff or students on any of Ohio University's campuses, and the Community Sustainability Award is open to community members or groups. Award winners will be announced at the Campus and Community Earth Day Celebrations on April 22, 2026. All members of the OHIO community are invited to participate in the events to celebrate Earth Day.

The Ohio University Office of Sustainability is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Sustainability Awards(opens in a new window).

The awards recognize students, faculty, staff, departments and community members or organizations for their outstanding contributions to sustainability at Ohio University or in the local community.

The awards are open to all OHIO faculty, staff or students on any of Ohio University's campuses, and the Community Sustainability Award is open to community members or groups. Award winners will be announced at the Campus and Community Earth Day Celebrations on April 22, 2026. All members of the OHIO community are invited to participate in the events to celebrate Earth Day.

New legislation in Ohio could create a nonpartisan council to examine the growing footprint of data centers. If the bill is passed, the subsequent council would review data centers’ environmental impact, electricity and water use, light and noise pollution and local economic effects.

Data centers are large facilities that store computing equipment and power much of today’s digital infrastructure. As artificial intelligence becomes more prominent, the role of data centers is expanding and so are the resources they consume. The facilities require significant amounts of electricity and water, often driving up local utility costs and raising concerns about pollution.

New legislation in Ohio could create a nonpartisan council to examine the growing footprint of data centers. If the bill is passed, the subsequent council would review data centers’ environmental impact, electricity and water use, light and noise pollution and local economic effects.

Data centers are large facilities that store computing equipment and power much of today’s digital infrastructure. As artificial intelligence becomes more prominent, the role of data centers is expanding and so are the resources they consume. The facilities require significant amounts of electricity and water, often driving up local utility costs and raising concerns about pollution.

Living sustainably during the winter months can be a challenge. Most American households significantly increase their waste production over the holidays and use more energy to keep their homes warm.

According to WifiTalents, holiday waste “surged” 25% during Christmas in 2025.

“Just by nature, our society makes sustainability really pretty difficult,” Athens resident Loraine McCosker said. “But it can be done, and certainly a lot of people have been doing it for a long time.”

Using sustainable practices during the winter might be a challenge city residents are ready to tackle.

“I think it's really neat in Athens because we have a sort of local community that really highly values the environment and sustainability,” Sam Crowl, Athens City Council president and director of sustainability at Ohio University, said.  

Living sustainably during the winter months can be a challenge. Most American households significantly increase their waste production over the holidays and use more energy to keep their homes warm.

According to WifiTalents, holiday waste “surged” 25% during Christmas in 2025.

“Just by nature, our society makes sustainability really pretty difficult,” Athens resident Loraine McCosker said. “But it can be done, and certainly a lot of people have been doing it for a long time.”

Using sustainable practices during the winter might be a challenge city residents are ready to tackle.

“I think it's really neat in Athens because we have a sort of local community that really highly values the environment and sustainability,” Sam Crowl, Athens City Council president and director of sustainability at Ohio University, said.  

It was a privilege to attend the Sustainable Infrastructure Hub Seminar on Nov. 24, focusing on "Organic Waste Management Strategies that Generate Value for Campus and Community."

As a student working with the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service, it was inspiring to see how closely our school is tied to these critical regional sustainability efforts, especially since the event was moderated Dr. Sara Davis, the Sustainability Infrastructure Hub coordinator. The seminar, which featured a diverse panel of experts, hammered home a key idea of sustainability is much more than just taking out the trash, it’s about leadership, policy, and creating true value from waste, specifically focusing on organic waste (food, agriculture waste, and bio solids).

The discussion centered on how local partnerships are making Athens a leader in the state.

It was a privilege to attend the Sustainable Infrastructure Hub Seminar on Nov. 24, focusing on "Organic Waste Management Strategies that Generate Value for Campus and Community."

As a student working with the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service, it was inspiring to see how closely our school is tied to these critical regional sustainability efforts, especially since the event was moderated Dr. Sara Davis, the Sustainability Infrastructure Hub coordinator. The seminar, which featured a diverse panel of experts, hammered home a key idea of sustainability is much more than just taking out the trash, it’s about leadership, policy, and creating true value from waste, specifically focusing on organic waste (food, agriculture waste, and bio solids).

The discussion centered on how local partnerships are making Athens a leader in the state.

Bobcats are ready for Thanksgiving break, a five-day weekend filled with rest in preparation of finals week starting Dec. 8.

While some students make the journey home to celebrate with loved ones around the dinner table, others remain in town for the holiday.

For those staying in town, Ohio University is hosting a variety of celebrations, including community dinners and themed meals. Nov. 26, the Patton College of Education is hosting a Home Away From Home Holiday Meal in Patton Hall room 120 on 100 E. Union St. from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Registration ends at noon Nov. 21.

The Home Away From Home Meal provides 150 traditional and international meals for dine-in or take-out and accommodates those with dietary restrictions. Along with traditional Thanksgiving foods, the event includes vegetarian, halal and vegan options, such as a quinoa dish and vegan chocolate brownies. 

The Sustainable Thanksgiving Dinner invites all Bobcats to enjoy a vegan and vegetarian potluck Nov. 20 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., hosted by the Office of Sustainability. Students are encouraged to bring a dish and share a recipe, though bringing food is not required. 

Bobcats are ready for Thanksgiving break, a five-day weekend filled with rest in preparation of finals week starting Dec. 8.

While some students make the journey home to celebrate with loved ones around the dinner table, others remain in town for the holiday.

For those staying in town, Ohio University is hosting a variety of celebrations, including community dinners and themed meals. Nov. 26, the Patton College of Education is hosting a Home Away From Home Holiday Meal in Patton Hall room 120 on 100 E. Union St. from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Registration ends at noon Nov. 21.

The Home Away From Home Meal provides 150 traditional and international meals for dine-in or take-out and accommodates those with dietary restrictions. Along with traditional Thanksgiving foods, the event includes vegetarian, halal and vegan options, such as a quinoa dish and vegan chocolate brownies. 

The Sustainable Thanksgiving Dinner invites all Bobcats to enjoy a vegan and vegetarian potluck Nov. 20 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., hosted by the Office of Sustainability. Students are encouraged to bring a dish and share a recipe, though bringing food is not required. 

At Ohio University, bicycling is a sustainable means of commuting to and from campus and across Athens. Whether cyclists are riding in the bike lanes uptown, passing through one of the picturesque residence hall greens(opens in a new window) or pedaling down the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway(opens in a new window), using a bicycle for transportation is cheaper, better for the environment and healthier than using an automobile.

The League of American Bicyclists(opens in a new window), the premier grassroots advocacy organization encouraging better bicycling and protecting the rights of people who bike, has honored Ohio University with a silver-level Bicycle Friendly University award(opens in a new window) in recognition of OHIO’s continued achievements in promoting and enabling safe, accessible bicycling on campus.

At Ohio University, bicycling is a sustainable means of commuting to and from campus and across Athens. Whether cyclists are riding in the bike lanes uptown, passing through one of the picturesque residence hall greens(opens in a new window) or pedaling down the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway(opens in a new window), using a bicycle for transportation is cheaper, better for the environment and healthier than using an automobile.

The League of American Bicyclists(opens in a new window), the premier grassroots advocacy organization encouraging better bicycling and protecting the rights of people who bike, has honored Ohio University with a silver-level Bicycle Friendly University award(opens in a new window) in recognition of OHIO’s continued achievements in promoting and enabling safe, accessible bicycling on campus.

For nine years, Ohio University has been recognized as a “Tree Campus USA,” a national recognition program by the Arbor Day Foundation that seeks to support colleges and universities in planting and celebrating trees.

This award may come as no surprise, for the cherry blossom trees along the Hocking River always bring crowds excited to take pictures of the spring blossoms.

However, the main draw for Bobcats and locals is the trees on College Green. In the winter, the barren trees lay in a stark landscape against grey, snowy skies. In the fall, they glimmer with oranges and yellows, leaving crushed brown leaves underfoot. 

For nine years, Ohio University has been recognized as a “Tree Campus USA,” a national recognition program by the Arbor Day Foundation that seeks to support colleges and universities in planting and celebrating trees.

This award may come as no surprise, for the cherry blossom trees along the Hocking River always bring crowds excited to take pictures of the spring blossoms.

However, the main draw for Bobcats and locals is the trees on College Green. In the winter, the barren trees lay in a stark landscape against grey, snowy skies. In the fall, they glimmer with oranges and yellows, leaving crushed brown leaves underfoot. 

The city of Athens is leading a project to reduce carbon emissions by 50% by 2030. In February 2020, the Athens City Council passed a resolution that declared a climate emergency and expressed the city’s intention of limiting carbon emissions and becoming more energy conscious.

Since passing the initiative, Athens has made many steps to increase solar energy usage. The city established a 2.1 megawatt solar array next to the Athens Community Center, powering 100% of the swimming pool, 50% of ​​the wastewater treatment plant and a large portion of the community center itself.

Athens City Mayor Steve Patterson said the city uses solar power at the Athens Armory, and both solar and geothermal energy at the Athens Fire Department Station on East Stimson Avenue. The city was able to implement geothermal energy at the fire station by utilizing the heat from the Earth, due to its location on the Hocking River.

The city of Athens is leading a project to reduce carbon emissions by 50% by 2030. In February 2020, the Athens City Council passed a resolution that declared a climate emergency and expressed the city’s intention of limiting carbon emissions and becoming more energy conscious.

Since passing the initiative, Athens has made many steps to increase solar energy usage. The city established a 2.1 megawatt solar array next to the Athens Community Center, powering 100% of the swimming pool, 50% of ​​the wastewater treatment plant and a large portion of the community center itself.

Athens City Mayor Steve Patterson said the city uses solar power at the Athens Armory, and both solar and geothermal energy at the Athens Fire Department Station on East Stimson Avenue. The city was able to implement geothermal energy at the fire station by utilizing the heat from the Earth, due to its location on the Hocking River.

When Collin Thacker began studying wildlife biology, he never expected to fall in love with a tiny, often overlooked flower. Now, in his senior year, Thacker has helped identify what may be four entirely new species of violets in the mountains of Virginia, two of them in the heart of Shenandoah National Park.

The discovery is the result of months of meticulous fieldwork, research and mentorship under OHIO professor Harvey Ballard, Ph.D., whose enthusiasm for violets sparked Thacker’s unexpected botanical journey.

“Dr. Ballard and his infinite passion for violets is just incredibly contagious,” Thacker said. “When I began my time with Dr. Ballard, I couldn’t pick out a violet in a field full of them. But he was so knowledgeable and helpful that I found it pretty easy to catch on.”

Thacker’s work has focused on the collection, observation and cultivation of violet species in the wild. As part of his research, he has spent countless hours identifying subtle morphological differences, or traits, that might otherwise go unnoticed.

When Collin Thacker began studying wildlife biology, he never expected to fall in love with a tiny, often overlooked flower. Now, in his senior year, Thacker has helped identify what may be four entirely new species of violets in the mountains of Virginia, two of them in the heart of Shenandoah National Park.

The discovery is the result of months of meticulous fieldwork, research and mentorship under OHIO professor Harvey Ballard, Ph.D., whose enthusiasm for violets sparked Thacker’s unexpected botanical journey.

“Dr. Ballard and his infinite passion for violets is just incredibly contagious,” Thacker said. “When I began my time with Dr. Ballard, I couldn’t pick out a violet in a field full of them. But he was so knowledgeable and helpful that I found it pretty easy to catch on.”

Thacker’s work has focused on the collection, observation and cultivation of violet species in the wild. As part of his research, he has spent countless hours identifying subtle morphological differences, or traits, that might otherwise go unnoticed.