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Wednesday, March 11, 2026 | Department of Environmental Protection
The Montgomery County Energy Summit on April 28-29, will debut a new “Let’s Decarbonize!” workshop, a hands‑on decarbonization planning session offered April 29 at the Silver Spring Civic Building.
First, you will be introduced to decarbonization fundamentals using core concepts from the ASHRAE/USGBC/NYSERDA Guide to Strategic Decarbonization Planning. Then, in small groups, attendees will work together to develop a mock building decarbonization plan using information from an actual Montgomery County building covered by BEPS and preparing to comply.
Each group will explore and evaluate strategies to reduce building GHG emissions while considering costs, trigger events, and other key contextual factors. Session attendees should come ready to engage with their peers and get to work!
Register today: Montgomery County Energy Summit 2026
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Montgomery County building owners have just three months remaining to submit their 2025 Building Energy Benchmarking Reports, due Monday, June 1, 2026. Once data is complete in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, reports must be submitted through the Montgomery County Benchmarking Portal. Aggregated Pepco electricity data (via EUDS) has now been updated through December 2025 and is ready to submit.
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Earlier this month, DEP hosted a webinar on BEPS Compliance Options, Timelines, and Strategies. The session focused on practical steps building owners can take now to prepare for the December 31, 2028 interim performance deadline for Group 1 and Group 2 buildings.
The webinar covered planning strategies, compliance pathways, data readiness, and how to map long‑term energy upgrades to BEPS requirements. If you weren’t able to attend, the full recording is now available.
As data center proposals grow and with one major project planned on the former Dickerson power plant site, Montgomery County is advancing new zoning rules to better regulate these high‑energy‑use facilities. The proposed Zoning Text Amendment would set clearer definitions, standards, and siting requirements for data centers.Â
On March 9, 2026, the Economic Development and Transportation & Environment Committees voted 3-2 against Bill 4-26, legislation that would have established a Data Center Task Force to study the impacts of data center development in Montgomery County.
Read more from Bethesda Magazine.
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If you’re looking to turn a building decarbonization concept into a real, on‑the‑ground project, the Maryland Clean Buildings Hub and the Maryland Clean Energy Center (MCEC) are offering a timely deep dive into how to get it done. The webinar, Clean Buildings Idea to Implementation, will walk attendees through the full journey of planning and implementing building upgrades, from early funding strategies to procurement, project management, and real‑world case studies.
Participants will learn how to combine multiple funding sources to bring a project across the finish line, how MCEC supports owners throughout procurement and execution, and how recent Maryland projects have successfully navigated the process.
The Maryland Clean Buildings Hub also provides building owners with incentives, guidance, and technical support to advance decarbonization, offering a newsletter, a YouTube channel, and a full library of tools on the Hub website.
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Take advantage of the following programs before time runs out:
Montgomery County
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FY26 Nonprofit Strategic Planning Grant Program – Deadline: March 11, 2026
Montgomery County’s Office of Grants Management has opened applications for the FY26 Nonprofit Strategic Planning Grant, offering funding to support capacity-building and strategic planning for nonprofits. Awardees may also access additional technical assistance grant pools.
Apply here by March 11 (5 PM EST): NOFO & Application Details
Maryland Energy Administration
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Maryland Ground Source Heat Pump Advantage Pilot Program: Incentivizes the installation of GSHP systems at scale in residential new construction developments. MEA will provide a per-GSHP installation incentive to residential builders, developers, housing authorities or eligible business entities that install GSHP systems in qualifying new construction residential developments. Apply by 3PM on March 15th.
Federal
IMT's Alex Dews joined Pilotlight’s Reframe podcast to discuss why buildings remain one of the most powerful yet underused tools for climate action (listen to the episode)
Rising Utility Bills & Council Oversight (Fox 5)
Maryland Rally Raises Alarm Over Proposal to Tap Clean Energy Fund (Maryland Matters)
Supreme Court Puts Local Climate Lawsuits in the Spotlight (Inside Climate News)Â
IMT newsletter featured a story on the transition of the ENERGY STAR program from EPA to DOE. Read more about the agencies’ (Memorandum of agreement)
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March 11, 5 - 7 pm | Montgomery County Green Bank
Clean Energy & Community Resources Day
March 19, 9 am - 5 pm | Montgomery County Green Bank
The Maryland Climate Tech+ 2026
March 21, 1 - 5 pm | Electrify DC
Healthy Homes Fair
March 21, 11 am - 1 pm | Electrify Equity Inc.
Green Pathways Seminar
March 26, 1 pm | Maryland Clean Buildings Hub
Webinar: Clean Buildings Idea to Implementation
April 8, 9 am - 5:30 pm | National Academy of Science
Climate and Health Summit 2026
April 25, 11am - 4pm | Montgomery County
Greenfest 2026
April 28 - 29 | Department of Environmental Protection
Montgomery County 2026 Energy Summit
May 11 - 13 | Department of Energy
Better Buildings Summit
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