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April is Earth Month! To celebrate this month of sustainability, conservation and ecology, this edition of the Glass Gazette will focus on the work I’ve been doing as chair of the Transportation & Environment Committee to support our local environment and our fight against climate change.
Last year I led the council’s efforts to prohibit the use of gas powered leaf blowers. That legislation will go into effect on July 1, when stores will no longer be able to sell noisy leaf blowers. As we transition personal and professional lawn equipment from gas to electric powered, the council has recently approved an incentive program that will help residents and lawn care businesses make the shift. The program will allow county residents to receive a $100 rebate for the purchase of an electric leaf blower and for qualifying businesses to receive a rebate of up to $1,500.
This measure will help residents and small landscaping businesses purchase greener equipment, which will also help make our residential communities greener, cleaner and quieter.
 Councilmember Glass speaks about the benefits of electric leaf blowers.
Montgomery County has declared a climate emergency and we are making progress to reach our goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2027 and achieving 100% carbon neutrality by 2035.
To do this, the County is implementing Building Energy Performance Standards for commercial and multifamily buildings that are over 25,000 square feet. This would limit their emissions going forward. Over the past several months, the Transportation & Environment Committee has held a series of discussions on how to best implement these standards while helping residents and supporting our economy. We’ve met with healthcare partners, affordable housing providers, biotech companies, homeowners associations, and houses of worship to help them make this transition to greener buildings. I look forward to continuing these conversations.
One of the best ways for residents to reduce their carbon emissions is to drive electric vehicles. EV’s are the future of transportation and for good reason: they are cleaner, easier to maintain, and less expensive overall than standard vehicles. The average car emits nearly five metric tons of carbon dioxide every year, and 42% of our local greenhouse gas emissions come from the transportation sector.
Luckily, Montgomery County’s EV Purchasing Cooperative Pilot (EVPC) is designed to support residents and local businesses in owning and leasing new and pre-owned electric vehicles. The EVPC brings together community partners, participating organizations, and “Electrified Dealers” to answer questions, organize events, support unique local benefits for EV drivers, and make EV ownership attractive, convenient, and cost-effective.
 The county's Electric Vehicle Purchasing Co-op makes buying an EV easy.
As one of our most important natural resources, trees play a vital role in enhancing our quality of life and contributing to the well-being of residents and wildlife. A thriving tree canopy improves air quality and water runoff, reduces heat islands and naturally keeps our homes cooler.
Earlier this year, the council passed legislation I introduced with Councilmember Andrew Friedson that allows for more trees to be planted across the county. This law updates the fee structure for trees removed in the county’s right-of-way, ensuring that there is funding to replace them with new trees. During the legislative process we learned that 10,000 trees had not been planted over the last decade because of the funding gap. I’m proud to have led this effort so we can continue planting more trees in more areas of the county.
 Councilmember Glass admires saplings that will become a part of our vital tree canopy.
If you’re looking for a way to help make your community greener, you should consider signing up for a watershed cleanup! While nobody should be leaving their trash in our parks or waterways, we need good neighbors to help remove the litter and keep our water clean and safe for wildlife, plants and people.
Last weekend, I joined Little Falls Watershed Alliance for a stream cleanup. It was a wonderful way to connect with friends and neighbors while enjoying the beautiful nature. Cleanups are scheduled all year round, but if you’ve never been to one before, Earth Month is the perfect time to start. To find a cleanup near you or to host your own, visit the Montgomery Parks website.
 Councilmember Glass at the cleanup with Little Falls Watershed Alliance
A resident reached out to me about a tree in her neighborhood that was causing significant property damage. Its dead branches had been falling, including one that crushed a car -- thankfully no one was hurt. My office contacted MCDOT’s Division of Highway Services to follow up on her 311 request, and they sent a crew to remove the dead branches. The crew also stayed to answer neighbors’ questions and provide more information should another incident arise.
GreenFest 2024 is on Saturday, April 27 at BlackRock Center for the Arts! This annual festival is an opportunity for people of all ages to come together, celebrate our environment, and learn about ways to make Montgomery County greener. Dozens of groups, vendors and organizations come together to educate the public on programs and services. You can find more details about the festival here.
Please do not reply to this email. To contact my office, email me at Councilmember.Glass@montgomerycountymd.gov.
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