(This story is part of series introducing a new awards program by the Dayton Business Journal called Inno Under 25, about young entrepreneurs, innovators and business owners in the Dayton region.)
Meg Maloney isn't afraid of change.
After graduating from University of Dayton in 2018, Maloney moved across the country to accept an environmental job in California — a state ripe with sustainability challenges like rising sea levels, wildfires and drought. It seemed the perfect fit for a young innovator determined to make a lasting impact.
And for a year, it was. But when her mentor Dr. Ryan McEwan encouraged her to return to Dayton for sustainability work, Maloney didn't need much convincing.
"The sustainability issues in Dayton are very unique," she said. "That's partly what drew me back here: How can I help continue moving sustainability forward within the region?"
Maloney recently signed on as a full-time sustainability specialist with the City of Dayton. There, she's leading a wide cross-section of innovative projects aimed at reviving the economy, investing in renewable energy, providing green jobs, increasing environmental awareness and saving people money.
One of her biggest passion projects focuses on Old North Dayton, McCook Field and Riverside, where Maloney is working with community partners to explore redevelopment options for three Superfund sites: the Behr Dayton Thermal Products plant, the Valleycrest Landfill and the Valley Pike VOCs site.
The 102-acre former landfill has lots of reuse potential, Maloney said — possibly gardens or a community solar farm. She's also seeking ways to provide free rooftop solar power for residents whose homes were exposed to vaporous trichloroethylene, a harmful industrial contaminant.
"Not a lot of cities have old manufacturing issues, and not every city has three Superfund sites right next to each other," Maloney said. "It's very unique, and it calls for us to come together as a community and think of creative solutions to help people."
That's what Maloney did earlier this year too, when she helped Dayton establish a green energy-based electric aggregation plan. Under that program, the city is buying renewable energy credits to procure 100% renewable energy for all residents through its broker/aggregator, the Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council.
"That means everyone’s energy will be derived from renewable sources in the City of Dayton limits," she said. "We are one of the largest cities in Ohio leading the charge on 100% renewable energy."
Dayton still has its eye on future renewable energy opportunities, Maloney said — like at the Kitty Hawk and Madden Hills golf courses, where the city is in the preliminary stages of exploring the possibility of installing solar. That's an effort Maloney is leading.
She also won a $50,000 grant to help the city launch a unique summer camp program, Dayton Sprouts, designed to educate youth about sustainability and healthy living.
"My whole goal through undergrad and graduate school was to do sustainability work for a city, so this is my dream job," Maloney said. "I feel really lucky to be here, because Dayton is a hub for innovation — a place where I can try to make large-scale change."
"People support people here," she said. "This is a community I really care about."
Meg Maloney
Age: 25
Title: Sustainability specialist
Employer: City of Dayton
Areas of expertise: Environmental biology, renewable energy, climate resilience, environmental education, sustainability
