Q2 Climate Work Plan Released - Check out the climate progress we've been making!

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Climate News

Covering the latest climate news in Montgomery County, MD

“Implementing the Climate Action Plan is an all-hands-on-deck effort and requires concerted action to address emissions from the buildings, transportation and energy sectors and to also enhance climate resilience, all while prioritizing racial equity and social justice in the community 
-County Executive Marc Elrich

Thursday, February 17, 2022 | Department of Environmental Protection


Montgomery County Releases Second Quarter Updates of Climate Action Plan Implementation that Include Progress on Dozens of Actions

Montgomery County CAP Logo

Montgomery County has released its Second Quarter updates of the Fiscal Year 2022 Climate Work Plan. The updates highlight the progress that is being made to implement actions in the Climate Action PlanThese quarterly updates provide a near real-time view into the climate actions taking place right now and how they relate to the County’s climate goals. The Quarter 2 updates are available here. 


Montgomery County Launches Purchasing Co-op to Spark Public Interest in Electric Vehicles

Electric cars at a charging station

Last month, county officials and transportation partners launched a cooperative purchase pilot program to work toward making electric vehicles more attractive and affordable to county residents, alongside an education campaign about electric vehicles. County Executive Marc Elrich and his administration have asked residents to sign a pledge that their next vehicle will be electric. Read more about the program here and sign the pledge today!


Montgomery County joins National Building Performance Standards Coalition

BPS Coalition sign-on image

Montgomery County joined forces with state and local governments across the country—including in Prince George’s County, Annapolis and Washington, D.C.—in the National Building Performance Standard (BPS) Coalition. Through the coalition launched by the White House Council on Environmental Quality, Montgomery County commits to increase community and local stakeholder engagement to co-design BPS and complementary policies and programs with the goal of adopting BPS programs by Earth Day 2024. See the County’s announcement and track Montgomery County's BEPS progress here


County Executive Elrich unveils $5.1 billion capital budget focusing on education, climate change, racial equity

County Executive Marc Elrich

In January 2022, County Executive Marc Elrich proposed the highest capital budget of $5.1 billion in the county’s history in total funds for 2023 to 2028. The capital budget prioritizes projects surrounding racial equity and climate change for the first time. The budget is up 17.2% from the last capital budget approved by the County Council in 2020. The director of the Office of Budget and Management for the County Jennifer Bryant stated that much of the budget is intended to support the county’s Climate Action Plan and recent racial equity laws passed in the previous few years. Read the news article here and review the entire capital budget here


City of Gaithersburg Seeking Volunteer Fixers

Clip art of a wheel and tools

The Gaithersburg Environmental Affairs Committee is planning its first ever Fix It Fair in April at Casey Community Center. Residents can make an appointment to bring in personal items for free repair. The “right to repair” and the ability to fix material is crucial to transitioning away from a disposal society as this is key to saving useful materials from landfills. More details and other Green Month events will be posted on the City’s website. 


State of Clean Energy 2021

state of clean energy 2021

The Clean Energy Business Network and the Business Council for Sustainable Energy recently launched the 2021 State of Clean Energy consisting of a series of interactive infographics illustrating the clean energy economy throughout the United States. These infographics feature state specific information and statistics like energy efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions. Read more about Maryland Energy Innovation Center’s blog post on the state of clean energy from the past year and make sure to check out the full interactive infographic.  


Interview with Climate Team Member Michael Boldosser

Speech bubble clip art

Michael Boldosser is a member of Montgomery County’s Climate Planning Team who also works on the County’s Hazard Mitigation Program. He talks about his responsibilities on the team, recent work, future goals for the county, and tips for community engagement. Read the full interview here. 


Green Jobs Board

Job Opportunities

If you are looking for open positions in climate and sustainability related jobs, check out DEP’s Green Jobs Portal! New listings include positions with Montgomery County Government Climate Internship and Fellowship Program this summer, Enterprise Community PartnersHip Hop Caucus, and many more! 


Climate News Round-Up

Newspapers

To read: Regional Climate News 

Climate Activists Up the Pressure on Lawmakers as Session Starts (Maryland Matters 

As Republicans threaten two years of climate legislation, Democrats go on defense (Virginia Mercury) 

MACo Urges Local Flexibility for Solar Tax Breaks (Conduit Street 

Report Card Shows Maryland Is Unprepared for Damage Inflicted by Climate Change (CBS Baltimore) 

To read: National/International Climate News 

Natural Gas Bans Are New Front in Effort to Curb Emissions (Pew) 

The happiest number I’ve heard in ages (The Crucial Years) 

Inside Clean Energy: Wind and Solar Costs Have Risen. How Long Should We Expect This Trend to Last? (Inside Climate News) 

The Billion Dollar Weather Disasters that Struck the US Last Year (Route Fifty) 

California proposes big changes to rooftop solar incentives (Los Angeles Times) 

Power companies back EPA climate authority at Supreme Court (E&E News) 

Tracking Biden’s Environmental Actions (The Washington Post) 

House Democrats to Launch Three Climate Task Forces (The Washington Post 

The farmers profiting from the solar boom (Energy Monitor) 

US Army Releases First Ever Climate Strategy Emphasizing Resilience (Environmental Leader) 

ExxonMobil Outlines Plan to Achieve Net Zero Carbon Emissions by 2050 (Daily Energy Insider 

 

To listen: Comedians Conquering Climate Change with Esteban Gast (Generation180) 

Smarter Thermostats, Lower Bills, and Lower Emissions, with Casey Wichman (Resources Radio 

Professor Katharine Hayhoe: Who Is Saving Us?  (ClimateGenn Podcast) 

John Doerr and Ryan Panchadsaram: An Action Plan for Solving Our Climate Crisis Now (Climate One) 

2021 Year in Review: Energy and Environmental Policy with Jennifer Haverkamp and Sarah Ladislaw (Resources Radio 

Climate Miseducation (Climate One 

 

To watch: Judge Cites Climate Crisis, Cancels Oil and Gas Leases Approved by Biden Administration (PBS 

EV Purchasing Cooperative Event Briefing (Montgomery County YouTube 

Here’s How to Prepare for a Climate Disaster That Will Likely Affect You One Day (The Washington Post) 

Life in the Arctic: How Climate Change Is Killing a Culture (The Guardian) 

What World Leaders Are Doing to Slow Climate Change (Today) 

NASA’s Earth Minute: Sea Level Rise (NASA Climate Change 

Global Warming from 1880 to 2021 (NASA


Upcoming Events

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Featured Climate Event! 
March 5th | Virtual Event 
Contemporary Conversations with Elizabeth Kolbert 

February 19-21 | Home Depot in Aspen Hill and Bethesda 
ENERGY STAR Tax Free Weekend 

March 8-9 | In-Person Event, UMD and Towson Universities 
Gubernatorial Climate Forums 

March 19th | In-Person Event, Montgomery College, Rockville Campus 
Go Electric Event 

March 21st | Virtual Event 
MWCOG Air and Climate Policy Advisory Committee 

March 28-31 | Virtual Event 
American Climate Leadership Summit  

April 5-6 | Hybrid In-Person and Digital Event, Silver Spring Civic Building 
2022 Montgomery County Energy Summit 

April 23rd | In-Person Event, Casey Community Center 
Fix It Fair