The Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology is hosting three information sessions and one webinar on the release of Maryland's Phase 3 Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP). The WIP details the actions that must be taken by the State and local governments to meet the 2025 nutrient pollution reduction goals under the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load. The sessions and webinar run from April to May 2019, and will include an overview of the draft…

Registration is now open for the Maryland Environmental Trust (MET) 2019 Land Conservation Conference and Symposium. This year's conference runs from May 16 (Thursday) through May 17 (Friday) at the Maritime Conference Center in Linthicum Heights. Friday is largely targeted towards counties and will include panels with local elected officials and county technical staff. Attendees can register for one or both days. From MET's webpage on the event: Each year, this Conference gathers the land…

A Bay Journal article (2019-03-20) recounted the history and current status of Maryland's innovative Climate Leadership Academy. The Academy, the first of its kind in the nation, offers training to state and local governments employees on planning and responding to climate change. While governments are the target audience, other groups are also able to participate. Educational sessions offered by the Academy vary in length and duration. The article stated that the creation of the Academy was announced during…

Solar development, particularly the siting of utility scale solar facilities that produce more than 2 Megawatts of power, remains an ongoing issue at both the state and county level. This article summarizes the status of seven different solar bills in the waning days of the 2019 Session. Status of Solar Legislation in the 2019 Session HB 532/SB 744 Protecting Natural Resources and Preserving Productive Farms - Commission on the Development of a Blueprint for Solar…