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FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024
IN THIS ISSUE:
A letter from Montgomery County's Climate Officer, Sarah Kogel-Smucker
It’s budget season here at County government. Thankfully, when it comes to combatting climate change, Montgomery County puts its money where its mouth is, having added $168.8 million to implementing the County’s Climate Action Plan since it was issued in 2021. The County Council is currently considering the County Executive’s recommended Fiscal Year 2025 operating budget to fund County government operations from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025. To continue the County’s momentum on climate solutions the recommend budget adds $9 million in new climate spending, including to:
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Promote solar energy through a Solar Technical Program Manager and funds to develop a Solar Strategic Plan.
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Accelerate the purchase of zero emission County vehicles.
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Increase stakeholder engagement and public outreach on reducing local residential and business carbon pollution.
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Support disadvantaged communities in accessing federal climate funds.
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Expand the public Electric Vehicle charging network.
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Build resiliency hubs to keep power on at key community facilities during power outages.
Read more about the proposed climate budget here. The proposed climate budget enhancements received an initial positive reaction in Council work sessions and now the budget is before the full Council. The Council must take final action in the budget no later than June 1st. I hope that these critically important proposed climate investments get included in the Council’s final budget and will keep you updated.
Warm regards,
 Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich delivered his fourth “State of the County” address at the Executive Office Building in Rockville on Thursday, May 2.
The County Executive shared his administration’s progress and success in supporting education, creating economic development opportunities and creating jobs; investing in technology, programs and staffing efforts to enhance public safety efforts; producing, preserving and protecting affordable housing; being a national leader in combatting climate change and the need to for comprehensive tax structure and tax reform to address growing infrastructure and service needs.
The video of the State of the County event can be viewed here.
 
Local climate news and updates from Montgomery County, the State of Maryland, and our surrounding region.
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) and the County Department of General Services (DGS) have released a Zero Emission Bus (ZEB) Transition Plan to convert the County’s transit fleet of nearly 400 Ride On buses to zero-emission vehicles by 2035. The Ride On bus system currently operates 14 electric vehicles.
The ZEB plan is purposely flexible to accommodate for emerging technology and relies heavily on State and Federal grants that MCDOT has so far been successful in receiving. Recent grant awards have totaled more than $30 million for environmentally friendly transportation solutions over the last two years.
The County has secured a contract to purchase 100 additional battery electric buses over the next three years. However, the range limitations of current battery electric vehicles present a challenge for current longer-range bus routes. Alternative technology is being sought to compensate for these longer-range needs. MCDOT secured a Federal grant last year for its first 13 hydrogen buses and a clean hydrogen fueling station at the Gaithersburg bus depot. DGS is managing the project and will break ground on that project next year.
For more information, click here.
Montgomery County Executive Elrich and Department of Environmental Protection Join Arbor Day Celebration and Announce Grant from State's ‘5 Million Trees Initiative’
Montgomery County joined the celebration of Arbor Day by marking the completion of a $814,000 grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust for the Maryland “5 Million Trees Initiative.” County Executive Elrich, Climate Change Officer Sarah Kogel-Smucker and DEP Director Jon Monger helped celebrate at an Arbor Day event at Viers Mill Elementary School in Silver Spring.
Maryland’s 5 Million Trees Initiative seeks to plant five million native trees on public and private land by 2031. This year, a grant was awarded to the County’s Tree Montgomery program to plant 1,400 trees at 27 schools in urban areas with low-income and high unemployment.
 Montgomery County Recycling + MCPS: 2024 Sustainability Poster Contest
On Monday, April 15, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) students, their families, and County staff were invited to the 2024 Sustainability Poster Contest.
 The winners were presented with awards for their depictions of this year’s theme ‘The Journey of Recycling’ and commended for the activism. Montgomery County Recycling in partnership with MCPS hosts the annual event to increase awareness and demonstrate our commitment to environmental sustainability and sustainable actions related to energy conservation, waste reduction, and responsible recycling.
National and international climate change news that affects life in the U.S. and beyond.
Carbon Dioxide Levels Have Passed a New Milestone
 Carbon dioxide acts like Earth’s thermostat: The more of it in the air, the more the planet warms. In 2023, global levels of the greenhouse gas rose to 419 parts per million, around 50 percent more than before the Industrial Revolution. That means there are roughly 50 percent more carbon dioxide molecules in the air than there were in 1750.
As carbon dioxide builds up in the atmosphere, it traps heat and warms the planet. More carbon dioxide, warmer temperatures.
Every additional amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere contributes to more warming, which is why climate scientists stress the need to get to zero emissions. Currently, carbon dioxide levels are rising at near-record rates. According to data released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Global Monitoring Laboratory earlier this month, last year had the fourth-highest annual rise in global carbon dioxide levels.
Read more in The New York Times
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Big Oil Privately Acknowledged Efforts to Downplay Climate Crisis, Joint Committee Investigation Finds
Big oil has privately acknowledged its efforts to downplay the dangers of burning fossil fuels, US Democrats have found. Major fossil-fuel firms have also pledged support for international climate efforts, but internally admit these efforts are incompatible with their own climate plans. And they have lobbied against climate laws and regulations they have publicly claimed to support, documents newly revealed by the committee show.
Read more in The Guardian
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We are excited to share the below news and opportunities below. These important grants are offered by both local and federal funding opportunities, and are made available to local governments, universities, community organizations, businesses and individuals.
FY24 Resident and Community Gardening Grants Program
The Office of Food Systems Resilience (OFSR), in partnership with the Office of Grants Management (OGM), is soliciting grant applications for the County’s FY 2024 Resident and Community Gardening Grant Program from organizations that expand resident and community food production capacity as a means of increasing local food security. $200,000 in total grant funding is available for initiatives that will expand local food production through home and community farming and gardening. Funding may be awarded to new initiatives or expansion of existing programs.
The minimum award that applicants may request is $10,000 and maximum award is
$50,000. The performance period for these grant awards is anticipated to be on/about
May 31, 2024 to on/about August 31, 2025.
For more information, visit the program page or click here.
Biden-Harris Administration Announces $2 Billion to Fund Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants as Part of Investing in America Agenda
The Biden-Harris Administration has announced a groundbreaking $2 billion investment in environmental and climate justice through the Community Change Grants program. Administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), these grants constitute the largest single investment in environmental justice, supporting community-led projects focused on clean energy, climate resilience, and environmental justice challenges. The funds, part of President Biden's Investing in America agenda and facilitated by the Inflation Reduction Act, aim to empower disadvantaged communities historically overlooked and burdened by pollution. The program offers two tracks for submission, totaling approximately $2 billion, with specific Target Investment Areas identified, including support for tribes, territories, and border communities. Rolling applications will be accepted until November 21, 2024, and oral presentations from applicants are encouraged. Additionally, $200 million is allocated for technical assistance to enhance community access to resources for environmental and climate justice activities. EPA will host informational webinars to provide further details and address questions.
For more information, click here.
This month's student highlight comes from Compostology, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that began with two Maryland high schoolers in 2020 and reached representation in the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP28 in Dubai this past December with over 50 local members and more global advisees.
 In their words:
We spearhead food waste action, policy, and education. Its youth leaders will guide students and any passionate community members in leveraging the unique voices of secondary students for change, on local, state, national, and even international levels. Recognized by the U.S. EPA, and awarded $48,000 by the World Wildlife Fund, we implement composting and food recovery programs in schools that not only help the environment by reducing food waste in the landfills and subsequent greenhouse gases, but also facilitate peer-to-peer environmental and civic education and action. Learning about composting and the environment in general enables students to carry this message forward in their lives and implement a greener, more sustainable future.
We also introduce and advocate for policies regarding waste, food systems, and education. We have co-written Maryland State Bill 124, enacted after we trained 17,000 Maryland students to advocate for the bill - a $1.25M grant program funding similar student-led food waste and education programs. This grant now funds 26 schools’ composting programs. After securing 4 other local policies and launching 76 Montgomery County programs, we’ve onboarded partners from 7 countries and 13 U.S. states. To do this, we created the Coalition to Re-Imagine Food Waste, which consists of monthly meetings during which we empower passionate people around the world to bring our mission of composting to their own communities. We spread our work and message to ensure a healthy and sustainable future for all.
Lots of exciting opportunities available for job seekers. Check out DEP’s Green Job Portal for climate and sustainability jobs, including these highlighted positions:
Demand Response Energy Analyst (Hybrid): To support our growth, ICF is seeking an entry level candidate to provide program support for our utility program team in Maryland. Working closely with program and portfolio managers, this individual will coordinate and contribute to various deliverables such as creating and managing progress reports, conducting research on demand response initiatives for other utilities, supporting program stakeholders and participants, and researching products and enhancements. View Job
Clean Vehicles Campaigner: Join Public Citizen, a national, non-partisan, public interest group with more than 500,000 members and supporters. We hold the government and corporations accountable with campaigns and advocacy before Congress. View Job
Climate Campaign Manager: Join Dayenu, a Jewish Call to Climate Action is hiring a Climate Campaign Manager to lead impactful climate advocacy campaigns and help build a spiritually rooted Jewish climate movement. View Job
Climate and Federal Infrastructure Grants - Incoming Grants (Program Manager II): Make a difference both locally AND globally as you help the County leverage federal grants on projects that are primarily connected the Climate Action. We are looking for strong project management skills and experience applying for federal grants. OGM plans to contact eligible applicants for interviews on May 8. This position is open until filled. View Job
 Montgomery County Recycling Awareness Week (Monday, May 20 – Friday, May 24) at various locations throughout the County. For more information, click here.
Hands On Home Maintenance (Saturday, May 11, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm) at All Eco Design Center, 2662 University Blvd W, Wheaton, MD. Wish you were handier around the house? Join this judgement-free, hands-on 101 workshop to learn essential skills for DIY repairs and maintenance. Great for renters and homeowners alike! Gain insights to prevent common problems, handle emergencies, and feel confident in managing your home. Tickets are $249/person. For more information, click here.
Water Quality Advisory Group (Monday, May 13 7:00 – 8:30 pm). Join in the virtual formal stakeholder group for public involvement in the County's watershed protection and restoration strategies. It includes 15 resident members and 3 non-voting agency members. For more information, click here.
Building Performance Improvement Board Meeting (Wednesday, May 15, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm) at 2425 Reedie Dr, 5th Floor Conference Room, Wheaton, MD (virtual option available). For more information, click here.
Resilience Hub Workshop (Tuesday, May 21, 8:30 am – 3:00 pm) at the Silver Spring Civic Building. Join us for a dynamic, participatory workshop to learn more about the underlying concepts and framework for building out effective resilience hubs. The workshop will include examples; an exercise to facilitate connections, cooperation, and brainstorming with partner agencies and organizations; a panel with local practitioners; and discussions with experts on how to maneuver logistical and financial hurdles in the development of resilience hubs to benefit your community. Registration is required to attend and is now open, but space is limited. For more information, click here.
Capital Area Solar Switch Webinar (May 23, 1:00 – 2:15 pm), virtual attendance. Are you considering enhancing your home or business with the power of solar energy? Now’s the perfect opportunity! Join Montgomery Energy Connection for this FREE Solar 101 event, where you can delve into the world of solar power. This informative session is open to everyone intrigued by the potential of solar energy. Free – for more information, click here.
Illumination Stations (Various Dates in May), an innovative initiative launched by Montgomery County’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) where residents can learn about energy efficiency and exchange old incandescent and compact fluorescent bulbs for new energy-efficient LED light bulbs throughout the month. This not only promotes energy savings but also highlights the importance of adopting greener technologies in our daily lives. For more information, click here.
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