Third Act Ohio co-facilitator Mary Beth Naim and her grandchildren support the Great Ohio Climate March, to be held May 16-28. (Photo provided by Melinda Zemper)

MARIETTA – The Ohio chapter of a group representing older Americans is inviting individuals to get moving in an effort to educate the public and advocate for clean, renewable energy alternatives.

Third Act Ohio is partnering with multiple environmental organizations for the Great Ohio Climate March May 16-28. The procession will begin in Athens, continue through Salt Fork State Park and finish at the statehouse in Columbus with a daily average hiking distance of 5-12 miles.

The purpose of the hike is to inform the public about the implications of fossil fuel fracking while providing clean, renewable energy examples, according to a press release from Third Act Ohio.

On the final day of the hike, there will be a rally at the statehouse to urge legislators to implement energy laws that protect the environment.

“Ohio may have once been at the forefront of energy, but it’s incredibly backward for the energy future of our state and a livable planet,” Third Act Ohio co-facilitator Ditte Wolin said in the release. “Ohio should be a model for what states can do with dependable, clean and emissions-free reliable renewable energy.”

The 13-day hike will include trekking across unpaved roads and dirt trails. When hikers reach Salt Fork, they’ll observe fracking well pads and injection wells, the release said.

According to Third Act Ohio, Salt Fork consists of 20,000 acres with over 10,000 acres leased for drilling.

While at Salt Fork on May 23, hikers can invite their friends and family for a day of entertainment with music and games. An education session will take place about renewable energy and the impacts of fracking on the land and its residents.

“We’re dead last among midwest states in the production of electricity from wind,” said Wolin. “Our state’s backward energy policy has quashed enough solar projects to power the cities of Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati.”

Wolin said hikers could choose how they wanted to participate, whether hiking for certain portions or the entire 13 days.

From Salt Fork, the hikers will continue for five more days to reach Columbus on May 28. The trek will include mostly off-trail bike paths and sidewalks.

On the way to Columbus, hikers will pass data centers. They’ll trek down Broad Street into Columbus and arrive at the statehouse.

According to Third Act Ohio, the participants in the hike will speak with legislators about fracking and environmental concerns.

There will be nearly 20 environmental organizations participating alongside Third Act Ohio in the hike, including Save Ohio Parks, Buckeye Environmental Network, Sierra Club Ohio, FracTracker Alliance and People Over Petrol.

Registration for the hike is available online until April 15 at greatohioclimatemarch.org.

More information is available by contacting Third Act Ohio co-facilitator Mary Beth Naim at ohio@thirdact.org.

Amber Phipps can be reached at aphipps@newsandsentinel.com