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NOVEMBER, 2024
IN THIS ISSUE:
A letter from Montgomery County's Climate Change Officer, Sarah Kogel-Smucker
This past week, we had the honor of hosting Governor Wes Moore, Congressman Jaime Raskin, and other state and local leaders to discuss an important climate issue: ensuring sufficient electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in low- and moderate-income areas. Together, we explored the federal, state, and local partnerships needed to ensure all Marylanders, including those in under-resourced communities, have access to EV charging. To make the transition to cleaner, greener, electric vehicles we’ll need chargers near our homes, workplaces, and other key destinations.
A huge thank you to the officials who joined County Executive Marc Elrich, our team, and the Montgomery County Green Bank for this important discussion, including Governor Wes Moore, Congressman Jaime Raskin, State Delegate David Fraser-Hidalgo, and State Senator Craig Zucker, along with Montgomery County Councilmembers Laurie-Ann Sayles and Kristen Mink. We also thank representatives for U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman Glenn Ivey for their engagement.
It was hopeful to see so many Maryland leaders focus on climate solutions and equity by drilling down into the details of incentivizing EV charging infrastructure. We also appreciate ORLO and the tenants of the Seneca Woodvale Apartments in East County for hosting us and demonstrating how publicly funded EV chargers can serve multifamily communities.
The feature story below covers more about the Governor’s visit and our ongoing work to promote transportation electrification. We look forward to continuing these efforts together so we can all contribute to a cleaner, greener Montgomery County.
Warm regards,
 
 
Local climate news and updates from Montgomery County, the State of Maryland, and around the DMV.
Montgomery County Launches ‘Food Scraps Recycling Drop-Offs’ Program at Three Farmers Markets
Credit: Montgomery County, DEP
The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has launched its Food Scraps Recycling Drop-Offs program at three farmers markets throughout the County. Food Scraps Recycling Drop-Offs provide residents with the opportunity to recycle their food scraps through composting.
The following food scraps can be recycled at a drop-off location:
- Bread and grains
- Coffee grounds and tea leaves (remove filters)
- Cooked food
- Dairy (cheese and yogurt)
- Eggshells
- Fruit and vegetable scraps (including pumpkins)
- Meat, fish and bones
Food Scraps Recycling Drop-Offs operate during the same times as the farmers markets. Food scraps can be dropped off year-round at these three farmers markets:
- Bethesda Central Farmers Market. 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sundays. 7600 Arlington Road, Bethesda.
- Downtown Silver Spring Market. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. 1 Veterans Plaza, Silver Spring.
- Olney Farmers and Artists Market. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sundays. Maryland Route 108 and Prince Phillip Drive, Olney.
Note: Visit the website for farmers markets updates and changes.
Credit: Joule Case
Montgomery County has received a $150,000 grant from the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) for its Food Truck Electrification Pilot program, the first program of its kind in the region. The Food Truck Electrification Pilot program aims to to replace diesel-powered food truck generators with electric power systems, significantly reducing carbon emissions and improving public health.
The MEA grant award will enable the Food Truck Generator Electrification Pilot to provide direct subsidies to food truck operators to offset the cost of electric generator systems that range in cost from $10,000 to $25,000.
Food truck operators may submit a form to express interest and receive more information about converting food truck generators to electric. Montgomery County’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will communicate more details and begin accepting information later this year.
The electric generator systems are projected to earn back their cost within two years through fuel savings. In collaboration with the Montgomery County Green Bank, the Food Truck Generator Electrification Pilot will offer a cash rebate plus 0 percent interest loans for the cost of equipment and installation, enabling operators to switch to electric generators and avoid upfront costs.
Data show that a typical fossil fuel powered food truck generator produces more than four times as much carbon dioxide (CO2) each year as a passenger vehicle. The MEA grant will enable the County to provide funding assistance to up to 25 food trucks out of a total of 185 licensed food businesses in the County.
Read more in additional article from WTOP
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The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has released the latest Energy Benchmarking Report that highlights properties between 25,000 and 250,000 square feet for the first time. The report shows a high reporting rate for the fifth consecutive year and illustrates energy savings. It also includes new tools to help building owners and residents better understand the benchmarking data. The Energy Benchmarking Law was adopted in 2014 and requires building owners to track and report the energy usage of commercial and multifamily buildings 25,000 square feet or greater. Reporting requirements began in 2015. Under the law, buildings are required to meet building energy performance standards (BEPS), reducing energy use over time. |
The Energy Benchmarking Report highlights results and trends from the 2023 calendar year. The report was created to deepen understanding of energy consumption patterns, identify energy-saving opportunities and help businesses bottom lines through consistent data collection and tracking.
Visit the DEP website to learn more about energy benchmarking. Subscribe to the Commercial Energy Newsletter for building energy news and updates.
National and international climate change news that affects life in the U.S. and beyond.
FEMA flood maps underestimated the risk in North Carolina
 Credit: Flooding caused by the storm that started as Hurricane Helene covering streets in Asheville, N.C., Sept. 2024. | Billy Bowling/EPA
A Washington Post analysis shows how the Federal Emergency Management Agency's flood maps underestimated the risk homeowners faced in areas devastated by Hurricane Helene, according to data analyzed by The Washington Post.
The analysis of flood risk data from First Street, a climate modeling group, found that just 2 percent of properties in the mountainous counties of western North Carolina fall inside areas marked as having a special risk of flooding. That “Special Flood Hazard Area” designation.
In those mountainous areas, according to a Post analysis of First Street’s data, the number of properties at risk could be seven times higher than what FEMA flood maps indicate. The discrepancy shows how the agency’s maps — which rely only on floods observed in the past and don’t take into account flooding from heavy rain, small streams and tributaries, or climate change’s future impact — can fall short when assessing current risks in a wetter, hotter world.
In Buncombe County, where rising waters swamped areas like Asheville and Swannanoa, First Street’s maps show a much larger area of flood risk than the FEMA maps do. About 2,100 properties out of about 125,000 in the county are in FEMA’s flood zone, compared with 19,500 under First Street’s model, according to The Post’s analysis.
Read more in The Washington Post
New Reports Ahead of COP29 Show The World Is Spinning Its Wheels on Climate Action
 Credit: Aziz Karimov/Getty Images
The currently projected warming of about 3 degrees Celsius is “too hot to handle,” says Ko Barrett, a NOAA climate advisor and deputy secretary general of the World Meteorological Organization.
A trio of reports released ahead of next month’s COP29 climate conference in Azerbaijan all show that the existing national policies to cut greenhouse gas emissions under the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement will heat the planet by close to 3 degrees Celsius by 2100, as warming has accelerated in the past few years.
The plans “fall miles short of what’s needed to stop global heating from crippling every economy, and wrecking billions of lives and livelihoods across every country,” United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell said Monday in New York as the organization released the latest evaluation of the national plans that are the backbone of the mitigation side of global climate action.
Under the non-binding Paris Pact, 198 countries agreed to develop plans to cut greenhouse gas pollution and refresh them every five years to reach the shared goal of limiting global warming to close to 1.5 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial level, a target some scientists now say is out of reach.
The COP 29 climate conference starts on Nov. 11 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Read more in Inside Climate News
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Led by the South, clean energy sector added more than 150,000 jobs last year
The Inflation Reduction Act has fueled job growth in the clean energy industry. Clean energy and clean vehicle companies added nearly 150,000 new jobs in 2023, the first full year of the Inflation Reduction Act, the report found. Of that total, the South added more than 54,000 clean energy jobs, accounting for 36% of all new jobs in the region. By comparison, the Midwest, Northeast and West combined added 95,000 clean energy jobs in 2023.
Read more in NBC News
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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.
Office of Grants Management (OGM): FY25 Low and Middle Income (LMI) Electrification Grant Program:
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is soliciting grant applications from nonprofits for one competitively selected federally funded subgrantee to upgrade one or more low-income communities with energy-efficient electric appliances, heating, and hot water systems. The goal of the grant project is to complete fuel-switching activities in at least 30 single-family units or at least.
OGM will continue to post open grant programs on the OGM County Website and the SM Apply online application platform. However, these new tools will more proactively advertise opportunities and allow stakeholders more time to consider and plan for future opportunities.
CLOSING: 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.
Lots of exciting opportunities available for job seekers. Check out DEP’s Green Job Portal for additional climate and sustainability jobs, including these highlighted positions:
Director, Planning and Sustainability, City of Bowie, MD: The City of Bowie is seeking an experienced professional with a proven record of success to serve as the next director of our Department of Planning and Sustainability. View Job
Recycling Volunteer Coordinator (Program Specialist II), Montgomery County: DEP is seeking an experienced individual to join the Waste Reduction and Recycling Section in the Recycling and Resource Management Division. The Program Specialist II will oversee the Recycling Volunteer Program and must have knowledge of recycling, reuse and waste reduction to have a positive impact. View Job
Interdisciplinary General Physical Scientist/General Engineer Department of Energy: The Building Energy Codes Program in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building Technologies Office is now accepting applications from highly qualified candidates who are eager to contribute to the advancement. View Job
Senior Policy Advisor for Clean Energy Finance: Third Way’s Climate and Energy Program is seeking a Senior Policy Advisor for Clean Energy Finance who can advance our efforts to research, design, and promote policies to leverage public and private capital to finance the accelerated deployment of mature and emerging clean energy technologies and supply chains. in the US and abroad. View Job
Land Use Planning Policy Analyst, Department of Environmental Protection, Montgomery County, MD | (Apply by November 8): DEP is seeking to fill a fulltime Land Use Planning Policy Analyst position (specializing in Environmental Planning) in the Recycling and Resource Management Division to independently develop comprehensive strategic plans. View Job
Montgomery County H2O Summit (November 9, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm), join in at the Agricultural History Farm Park for a day filled with exciting talks focused on urban watershed research and planning. Learn from experts in the field and connect with like-minded individuals who share a passion for protecting our precious water resources.
Montgomery County Green Bank and Climate First Bank Partnership Celebration (November 6, 4:00 - 6:00 pm), a special event celebrating the launch of a new residential solar financing program, a strategic partnership between Montgomery County Green Bank and OneEthos powered by Climate First Bank. This networking event will feature brief presentations detailing the program and is ideal for solar installers, nonprofit organizations, local banks, and anyone interested in sustainable energy solutions. Refreshments will be provided, and space is limited. Free, rsvp.
Illumination Station (Multiple Dates in November): These information tables offer insights on lowering utility bills, applying for energy assistance, and obtaining energy-saving items. Sessions are hosted at different library branches throughout the county. No registration required. Free admission. For specific dates and locations, click here.
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