It will soon be time to submit your calendar year 2025 energy benchmarking report! Benchmarking reports are due by Monday, June 1, 2026.

Reports can be submitted via the Montgomery County Benchmarking Portal as soon as you have data through December 31, 2025 uploaded in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. We expect aggregated electricity data from Pepco / BGE (via EUDS) to be available March 1. 

DEP will be emailing reminders to all benchmarking contacts in the coming weeks highlighting updates to the reporting portal and sharing resources. 

If you have questions or need help, you can schedule an appointment with DEP or apply for the Montgomery County Green Bank Technical Assistance Program which can help match you with a service provider and may help to subsidize benchmarking or data verification. 

➤ See the Montgomery County Benchmarking Website for additional details

Congressional appropriators have reached a bipartisan deal to fund ENERGY STAR at $33 million for FY2026, marking the first time the program has its own dedicated line item in a federal budget bill. This milestone underscores strong support for ENERGY STAR’s role in driving energy efficiency and climate progress—a victory championed by a broad business coalition.

While the House has already approved the bill, the Senate faces a January 30 deadline to finalize spending and avoid a shutdown. If passed without changes, this funding will keep ENERGY STAR on par with previous years and strengthen its impact nationwide.

Montgomery County has launched the Flood Risk Explorer, an interactive map that identifies flood-prone areas in the Sligo Creek watershed. This tool shows areas at higher risk of flooding during severe rainstorms—both now and in the future.

Montgomery County has released its Fiscal Year 2025 Climate Action Plan (CAP) Annual Report, highlighting major progress toward sustainability and resilience. This year, the County initiated 80 of the 84 actions outlined in the CAP, with 63 actions completed, well underway, or integrated into operations. A key achievement includes the installation of the County’s third Mesonet weather station, in partnership with the University of Maryland Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, to enhance local climate monitoring. The CAP serves as a roadmap to meet climate goals, strengthen resilience to a changing climate, and address environmental inequities.

➤ Read the press release

Check out DEP’s Green Job Portal for open positions in climate and sustainability jobs! 

Local News

Montgomery County says there’s progress on climate change goals (WTOP)

Abandoned coal mine becomes Maryland’s largest 160-MW solar farm with 324,000 panels (Interesting Engineering)

Maryland delays EV charger fees amid intense criticism from advocates, industry (Maryland Matters)

Climate study, energy planning, data center bills become law after Moore vetoes are overridden (Maryland Matters)

Other News

Energy Star Program Appears Safe – For Now (Facilities Net)

Clean energy is still winning. These 10 charts prove it. (Canary Media)