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DECEMBER, 2024
IN THIS ISSUE:
A letter from Montgomery County's Climate Change Officer, Sarah Kogel-Smucker
Following this month’s federal election results, the challenges to climate progress can feel overwhelming. While upcoming changes to federal climate programs may pose setbacks at the national level, Montgomery County remains committed to moving full steam ahead.
There are reasons to remain hopeful. Maryland has made real progress in addressing carbon pollution statewide. A recent analysis found that Maryland cut carbon emissions by 36% between 2005 and 2022 and by 42% per capita during that same period—the most of any state in the nation. The State’s 2023 Climate Pollution Reduction Plan charts a path to net zero climate change pollution by 2045. Federally, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has already provided much-needed funds for good green jobs and bold local climate initiatives.
As of September 2024, the federal government had already spent or committed half of the approximately $105 billion the IRA allocated for grants, awards, and other non-loan spending by federal agencies (analysis here).
State and local progress depends on Montgomery County residents’ sustained and longstanding support of local climate policies. We are currently compiling the County’s Fiscal Year 2024 Climate Action Plan (CAP) Annual Report and will share it early in the new year. The report will describe 2024 progress and exciting plans for 2025.
Thank you for being part of this effort. Let’s keep building momentum—Montgomery County has big climate goals and the collective commitment to achieve them.
Warm regards,
 
Local climate news and updates from Montgomery County, the State of Maryland, and around the DMV.
Photo: Montgomery County DGS
Montgomery County's Department of General Services (DGS) has received two grants totaling $1.5 million from the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) to further the County Department of Transportation’s transition to zero-emission vehicles.
Under the Maryland Energy Administration’s new Medium-duty and Heavy-duty Zero Emission Vehicle Program, these two grants will enable the County to replace outdated, polluting vehicles with nine electric vehicles and one electric loader, supporting the transition to sustainable transportation and addressing public health concerns in underserved communities.
One grant of $1,440,000 will be used to purchase four single-unit short-haul trucks, one single-unit long-haul truck and four transit buses. An additional $60,000 grant will be used to purchase an electric loader to support eight underserved communities in the Gaithersburg area with snow removal, mowing and road repair services.
The impact of this grant is substantial, both economically and environmentally. It is estimated that the use of more than 750,000 gallons of diesel fuel will be reduced over the vehicles' lifetimes, and almost 400 tons of greenhouse gases will be decreased, which is equivalent to taking 85 average-sized cars off Maryland’s roads.
The County’s first zero-emission dump truck will set a precedent for future sustainable transportation initiatives that align with the broader goals of County Executive Elrich's Climate Action Plan to promote sustainability while ensuring economic efficiency through the use of modern, emissions-free equipment.
The County’s climate action goals aim for an 80 percent reduction in emissions by 2027 and 100 percent by 2035. With this grant, the County will replace gas and diesel vehicles, including box trucks, dump trucks and service vehicles, with zero-emission alternatives, significantly cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
Read more on MontgomeryCountyMD.gov
Maryland Leads in Carbon Emissions Reductions
 Credit:Integration and Application Network, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
Here’s some rare good news for Marylanders on climate change: A new analysis of federal government data found that Maryland led the way when it came to states reducing greenhouse gas emissions over a 17-year period.
Maryland cut carbon emissions by 36% between 2005 and 2022 and by 42% per capita, according to the report released by Environment America Research & Policy Center.
The center, part of Environment America, a national network of 30 state environmental groups that includes Maryland PIRG, took data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on greenhouse gas emissions across the nation and used the numbers to evaluate the states’ performance reducing carbon pollution.
Nationally, the United States reduced its overall greenhouse gas emissions by 15% and its per capita emissions by 25% — though the report found significant variations in emissions trends by state for the 2005-2022 period. Maryland was the top state in reducing emissions of planet-warming greenhouse gases, followed by the District of Columbia, Maine, New Hampshire and Georgia.
Read more on Maryland Matters.org
Advocates Expect Maryland to Drive Climate Action When Trump Returns to Washington
Credit: Jonathan Newton, Getty / The Washington Post
With Republicans on track to win control over both chambers of Congress and Donald Trump returning to the White House in January, the responsibility for keeping the clean energy transition going has passed to states. Maryland, where Democrats hold the governorship and control both chambers of the legislature, is primed to lead that charge from the front, experts and advocates believe.
“Maryland has the most aggressive short-term greenhouse gas reduction goals in the country,” said Kim Coble, executive director of the Maryland League of Conservation Voters. “We have been a leader across the nation, and fortunately, our governor is committed to being a national leader on this. So Maryland has an important and significant role to play.”
Even so, anxiety is setting in as residents consider what a second Trump term could mean for Maryland, including the fate of billions of dollars in federal funding granted during the Biden administration for the clean energy transition.
During a Nov. 8 cabinet meeting, Gov. Wes Moore tried to allay some of those fears when he said that his administration had been preparing for a possible Trump victory for months. “In February, I convened my advisors to begin scenario-planning for possible outcomes of the 2024 presidential election. We have worked tirelessly for months, analyzing how Donald Trump’s plans might impact Maryland,” he said, without touching upon the specifics of his plan.
National and international climate change news that affects life in the U.S. and beyond.
A Landmark Climate Change Case Opens at the Top UN Court As Island Nations Fear Rising Seas
 Credit: Associated Press / Peter Dejong
The top United Nations court took up the largest case in its history on Monday, hearing the plight of several small island nations helpless in combating the devastating impact of climate change that they feel endangers their very survival. They demand that major polluting nations be held to account.
Over the next two weeks, over 100 countries and international organizations will participate in hearings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, Netherlands as part of historic proceedings on climate change.
After years of lobbying by island nations who fear they could simply disappear under rising sea waters, the U.N. General Assembly asked the International Court of Justice last year for an opinion on “the obligations of States in respect of climate change.”
In the decade up to 2023, sea levels have risen by a global average of around 4.3 centimeters (1.7 inches), with parts of the Pacific rising higher still. The world has also warmed 1.3 degrees Celsius (2.3 Fahrenheit) since preindustrial times because of the burning of fossil fuels.
Any decision by the court would be non-binding advice and couldn’t directly force wealthy nations into action to help struggling countries. Yet it would be more than just a powerful symbol since it could be the basis for other legal actions, including domestic lawsuits.
Read more on Associated Press: APNews.com
AI’s Hunger for Electric Power is Threatening U.S. Climate Goals
The explosion of data center development across the United States to serve the artificial intelligence industry is threatening decades of progress cutting greenhouse gas emissions, as utilities lay plans for scores of new gas power plants to meet soaring electricity demand.
 Credit: Michael Williamson/The Washington Post
The fast rising emissions from electricity use have emerged as one of the most vexing — and unexpected — challenges for world leaders as they negotiate agreements for containing global warming this month at the U.N. Climate Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, called COP29. Even as wind and solar projects are rapidly coming online around the world, experts say energy demand from data centers that are needed for artificial intelligence is growing much faster.
Europe and Asia face a data center dilemma similar to the United States, with the industry’s power needs helping drive a gas boom that imperils regional climate goals. Ireland, the Netherlands and Singapore have all stopped allowing power grid hookups to large new data centers amid climate and grid stability worries.
As part of the U.S. pledge to cut its total greenhouse gas emissions in half by the end of the decade, compared to 2005 levels, President Joe Biden has vowed to eliminate all power grid emissions by 2035. But there are 220 new gas-burning power plants in various stages of development nationwide, according to the market data firm Yes Energy. Most of those plants are targeted to come online before 2032. Each has a lifespan of 25 to 40 years, meaning most would not be fully paid off — much less shut down — before federal and state target dates for transitioning power grids to cleaner electricity.
The trend may continue. President-elect Donald Trump and his advisers have repeatedly vowed to scrap rules on power plant emissions, which could unleash even more fossil plant construction and delay retirements of existing plants.
Read more on WashingtonPost.com
How Climate Risks Are Driving Up Insurance Premiums Around the U.S.
 Credit: The Guardian
Concern over the climate crisis may evaporate in the White House from January, but its financial costs are now starkly apparent to Americans in the form of soaring home insurance premiums – with those in the riskiest areas for floods, storms and wildfires suffering the steepest rises of all.
A mounting toll of severe hurricanes, floods, fires and other extreme events has caused average premiums to leap since 2020, with parts of the US most prone to disasters bearing the brunt. A climate crisis is starting to stir an insurance crisis.
Across all US counties, those in the top fifth for climate-driven disaster risk saw home premiums leap by 22% in just three years to 2023, compared to an overall average of a 13% rise in real terms, research of mortgage payment data has found. The Guardian has analyzed the study’s data to illustrate the places in the US at highest risk from disasters and insurance hikes.
Read more in The Guardian
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.
The Home Depot’s Veterans Housing Grants: Applications due December 13, 2024, March 21, 2025, or July 3, 2025. Nonprofit organizations that meet specific criteria are welcome to apply for support for construction or rehabilitation of housing for veterans (at or below 80% AMI). Awards typically range from $100,000 to $500,000, and cost-share must be at least 50%.
Maryland MEA Energy Efficiency Equity Grant Program: Applications due January 16, 2025. The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) welcomes applications from nonprofits registered in MD for energy efficiency projects (retrofits and upgrades to new and existing construction). Projects and related activities must benefit Maryland residents experiencing low and moderate income. MEA energy programs are focusing on electrification and zero direct emissions technologies. The minimum request is $9,500 and the maximum is not set.
Maryland MEA Commercial, Industrial & Agricultural FY25 Grant Program (Energy Savings): Grants are on a first-come, first-served basis; the application deadline is February 14, 2024. The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) welcomes applications from eligible applicants including facility owners that operate businesses (registered corporations, LLPs, LLCs, GPs, etc.) or non-profit entities operating in specific areas. Grant funds can be used to accelerate investment into clean, energy-efficient building technologies by defraying their installation cost in existing or new facilities, agricultural facilities, or combined heat & power. Grants can also support displacement of fossil-fuel use in commercial, industrial, or agricultural facilities. Awards typically range from $100,000 to $250,000 per project, with a maximum of $400,000. Cost-share is at least 25%.
Maryland MEA FY25 Commercial Solar Grant Program: Grants are on a first-come, first-served basis; the application deadline is March 31, 2024. The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) welcomes applications from nonprofits or state-registered business located in or serving LMI overburdened/underserved populations. Funds may be used to purchase solar PV systems (applicant-owned or third-party owned). The maximum grant is $500,000. Cost-share varies from 50% to 75% or by maximum kW allowance.
Maryland Solar Access Program Grants for Residential Solar Systems: Opening soon. There is no closing date as it will operate on a first-come, first-served basis. These grants will provide up to $7,500 (at $750/kW) for new household solar PV systems. Eligibility is limited to households with a total income that does not exceed 150% of the statewide area median income. The application requires two phases, including an initial application to reserve funds. Please read the FAQs.
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:
Program Manager I: Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Program (Montgomery County, MD): The Department of Environmental Protection is seeking a dynamic and experienced Program Manager I for the Watershed Restoration Division, Monitoring and Planning Section to manage and coordinate the Illicit Discharge and Elimination (IDDE) Program. View Job
Director, Policy-Calvert Impact OTOF, LLC (Remote MD): Working under Climate United, using funding from the EPA under the Inflation Reduction Act to rapidly deploy low- and zero-emission products, technologies, and services to all American communities. This full-time Director of Policy will lead the policy and government relations work including shaping and executing comprehensive policy strategies, analyzing federal and state policy landscapes, and educating and engaging elected officials and state and federal staff in the work of the program. View Job
Senior Research and Policy Analyst, Right to Zero. Earthjustice (Washington, DC): The Senior Research and Policy Analyst supports the programmatic focus on energy and air pollution issues by providing strategic and technical assistance. Working for the premier nonprofit environmental law organization, Earthjustice, this position sits within the Right to Zero team and reports to the Director of Right to Zero; focusing on analyzing, writing and editing. View Job
Strategy/Finance Intern for Electrify America (Reston, VA or Remote): Electrify America’s Internship Program targets undergraduate and graduate students who are eager to acquire practical real world experience in the EV industry. This program is designed for high potential, highly-mobile. View Job
Energy Analyst (Economics) for The Brattle Group (Washington DC): The Brattle Group is looking for Energy Analysts (EAs) an integral part of their project teams, collaborating with senior consultants and experts. View Job
Community Sustainability Coordinator – Non-Merit (Baltimore, MD): The Community Sustainability Coordinator will work with the Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) and the Energy & Sustainability Coordinator to cultivate a culture of environmental sustainability across Baltimore County by developing, coordinating, and leading initiatives in partnership with County agencies and community-based organizations. View Job
Westfield Wheaton Reusable Bag Giveaway (December 7, 2024): Join DEP at Westfield Wheaton Mall for a free reusable bag giveaway and energy-saving tips. No registration required. Free admission. More Information.
Water Quality Advisory Group Meeting (December 9, 2024): A virtual meeting to discuss clean water initiatives and provide recommendations on water quality issues. Open to the public. Free admission. More Information.
Dickerson Area Facilities Implementation Group (DAFIG) Meeting (December 10, 2024): Quarterly public meeting to discuss facility management in the Dickerson area. Contact David Rosenbaum for location and accommodations. Free admission. More Information.
Building Performance Improvement Board Meeting (December 18, 2024): A monthly Zoom meeting to discuss building performance and energy efficiency. Open to the public. Free admission. More Information.
Illumination Station (Multiple Dates in December): 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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