The County Executive recently announced that Adriana Hochberg, previously serving as an Assistant Chief Administrative Officer, began serving as the County’s first Climate Change Officer effective August 30. In this new role, Adriana will lead the implementation of the County’s recently released Climate Action Plan and promote sustainability efforts throughout the County. Read more.

Montgomery County became one of the first jurisdictions in the country to launch a pilot of U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Automated Permit Processing (SolarAPP+).  SolarApp+ is an expedited residential solar permitting process that will reduce the review and processing time for solar installations.  Read more about this exciting initiative.

One of the most effective ways Montgomery County residents can contribute to reducing emissions is to electrify home appliances and systems.

If you’re in the market for a new heating and cooling system, heat pumps offer an energy-efficient alternative to furnaces, boilers, and air conditioners. Learn more about switching to an electric heat pump.

Ready to upgrade your kitchen? Induction cooking offers many advantages compared to a traditional natural gas range and better efficiency compared to an electric cooktop. Read on to learn about how induction cooking works, different induction cooking options, and comparisons to electric and gas cooktops.

ENERGY STAR New Homes are at least 10% more energy efficient than a home built to code and cuts energy bills by 20% on average. The EmPOWER program for ENERGY STAR New Home construction bridges the gap between cost and sustainability by offering rebates directly to the builder for ENERGY STAR certified construction and equipment.

Read more about this program and how to access this incentive program from your energy utility company.

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation recently installed 42 electric vehicle charging station wayfinding signs in Bethesda, Silver Spring and Wheaton to make drivers aware that they can easily find opportunities to charge their environmentally friendly vehicles.

Read more about the program and check out the WTOP news coverage.

If you are looking for open positions in climate and sustainability jobs, check out DEP’s Green Jobs Portal! New listings include positions with Fairfax County, World Resources Institute, Chesapeake Bay Trust, John Hopkins University, and many more!

To read

Regional Climate News

Coverage about the proposed Montgomery County Building Energy Performance Standards: Bethesda Beat, IMT, The Washington Post, WTOP, and the Montgomery County Press Release.

How Montgomery County Embraced Electric Scooters and the Future of Shared Micromobility (Greater Greater Washington)

Maryland’s Energy Supply Reform Bill Explained (My Green Montgomery)

Opinion: Move Toward a Clean-Energy Future in Md. Means Moving From Reliance on Gas (Maryland Matters)

MCDOT Finding New Ways to Encourage Use of Electric Vehicles (WDVM)

Md. Lawmakers and Environmentalists Working Over the Summer on Climate Change Legislation (Maryland Matters)

Davis & Feldman: With Wind Projects, Maryland Is Addressing Escalating Climate Crisis (Maryland Matters)

Greenhouse Gas Pact Will Open Door to Weatherization for Virginia Households (Energy News Network)

Research Letter: The Impact of COVID-19 on CO2 Emissions in the Los Angeles and Washington DC/Baltimore Metropolitan Areas (AGU)

National/International Climate News

IPCC Climate Change Report: 5 Key Excerpts From the UN’s Findings (The Washington Post)

Energy Efficiency: The Unsung Hero of the Climate Fight (RAP Online)

Climate Change is Disrupting US Forests and Coasts. Here’s What Ecologists Are Seeing at 5 Research Sites (Route Fifty)

US Automakers Pledge Huge Increase in Electric Vehicles (AP News)

Earth's Energy Imbalance Removes Almost All Doubt from Human-made Climate Change (NBC News Science)

Climate Change Is Already Disrupting the Military. It Will Get Worse, Officials Say (Defense One)

It’s Not So Simple: Debunking 5 Myths about Healthy and Sustainable Diets (Our Daily Planet)

This Mini Golf Course Reminds You About the Horrors Of Climate Change (NPR)

A Hotter Future Is Certain, Climate Panel Warns. But How Hot Is Up to Us. (The New York Times)

To listen
Chesapeake Uncharted Podcast (Bay Journal)

Climate Cast (MPR News)

To watch
On Demand Platform Dedicated to the Future of Our Planet (Waterbear)

Micro-documentaries: Craig, Colorado: Coal Town in Transition (Center for the New Energy Economy at Colorado State University)