UMD College Park Gets $2M to Develop Decarbonization Technology
Energy / Environment / Intergovernmental Relations
UMD College Park Gets $2M to Develop Decarbonization Technology

The Department of Energy recently announced $24 million in investment in Solar-Thermal and Industrial Decarbonization Technologies.  The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently released a new roadmap and awarded $24 million to ten research teams that will advance next-generation concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP) technologies, which utilize the sun to generate heat for electricity production and industrial processing. Five of these ten projects will focus on advancing industrial uses for this technology, specifically in the cement,…

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September 29, 2022
Keeping the Lights on: a Look at an All Electric Future
Energy / Environment
Keeping the Lights on: a Look at an All Electric Future

As the nation charts a course away from carbon-based energy, MACo examines the state of power generation and what it will take to keep the lights on.  Power generation is a policy area that touches all major parts of life. From the macroeconomic level to the very tangible conversations around housing and transportation, choosing how to generate power has significant consequences. This conversation becomes even more pressing when adding climate change to the mix. As…

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September 28, 2022
MD Smart Energy Communities Program Applications Open
Energy / Environment
MD Smart Energy Communities Program Applications Open

The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) is now accepting applications for the Maryland Smart Energy Communities grant program (MSEC) which is open to towns, cities, municipalities, or counties. The MSEC program is open to any incorporated town, city, municipal, or county government in Maryland. The program supports​ local governments as they adopt smart-energy policies and commit to them for the long term. Maryland communities will benefit from sustained reduction of energy usage, cost savings, and additional…

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September 26, 2022
Energy / Environment / Intergovernmental Relations / Transportation and Public Works
California to Phase Out Electric Vehicles – What Really Changes?

Late last month, California officials announced that no new gas could be sold in the state by 2035. The real impacts of the new policy are limited.  California has been in the headlines for the past month after a late August announcement banning the sale of all internal combustion engine cars by 2035. Policy wonks and pundits reacted in a mix of reviews, some saying this is a necessary step to fight climate change while…

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September 19, 2022
Energy Administration Opens $1.6M in Offshore Wind Supply Chain Funding
Energy / Environment
Energy Administration Opens $1.6M in Offshore Wind Supply Chain Funding

The Maryland Energy Administration recently announced $1.6 million in funding for expanding the state's offshore wind supply chain.  The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) recently announced $1.6 million in available funding for the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) Maryland Offshore Wind Capital Expenditure Grant Program. This program will assist new or existing emerging businesses enter the offshore wind supply chain in Maryland by offsetting their capital expenditure investments. Grant funds will be awarded on a first-come first-serve basis…

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September 8, 2022
Montgomery Climate Action Report Highlights Major Successes
Energy / Environment / Housing and Community Development / Human Resources / Parks and Recreation / Planning and Zoning / Transportation and Public Works
Montgomery Climate Action Report Highlights Major Successes

The Montgomery County Climate Action Annual Report highlights 75 accomplishments to reduce climate-related risks.  Montgomery County has released its first Climate Action Plan Annual Report, a work plan detailing Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) accomplishments and Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) plans to combat climate change. The report highlights 75 accomplishments in the first year since the plan was released in June 2021. The Climate Action Plan (CAP) is a strategic plan to cut community-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 80 percent by…

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August 31, 2022
We Are All in this Together: A Discussion on Housing Affordability
Economic Development / Education / Emergency Management / Energy / Environment / Health and Human Services / Housing and Community Development / Intergovernmental Relations / Parks and Recreation / Planning and Zoning / Public Safety and Corrections / School Construction and Capital Budgets / Taxes and Revenues / Transportation and Public Works
We Are All in this Together: A Discussion on Housing Affordability

The shortage of affordable housing is hitting everyone, from senior and mid-career professionals, to college students just starting out. Conduit Street runs down some of the latest discussion about, and contributors to, this important topic. One does not need to look far to find evidence of families everywhere struggling with the increasing costs of rents and mortgages. Affordable housing is a unique issue that hits almost all demographic groups in some way. Household budgets stretch…

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August 31, 2022
Building Equitable Infrastructure: A Luncheon Conversation at #MACoCon
County Budgets / County News / Economic Development / Energy / Environment / Finance and Procurement / Planning and Zoning / Summer Conference / Transportation and Public Works
Building Equitable Infrastructure: A Luncheon Conversation at #MACoCon

The Maryland County Officials Diversity Caucus (Diversity Caucus) and Women of MACo jointly hosted a luncheon at MACo's Summer Conference featuring a much-needed discussion regarding equity and public infrastructure. The Diversity Caucus and Women of MACo are chaired by Commissioner President Craig Mathies, Sr., and Council President MC Keegan-Ayer, respectively. In addition, two speakers joined the luncheon: Delegate Robbyn Lewis and Thomas D. Peterson, President of the Center for Climate Strategies (CCS). Each speaker highlighted inequities resulting…

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August 23, 2022
Energy / Environment / Health and Human Services / Housing and Community Development / Intergovernmental Relations / Planning and Zoning / Transportation and Public Works
What does the Inflation Reduction Act mean for Maryland’s Counties?

Last weekend the Inflation Reduction Act passed the Senate and is expected to be on Biden's desk by the week's end. So what does it mean for counties? There has been a large amount of talk in the media recently about the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). On its face the bill appears to be a response to highly publicized rising costs; something felt by both individuals and local governments alike. But the IRA includes provisions…

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August 9, 2022
Discover the Next Frontier in MD Clean Energy at #MACoCon
Energy / Environment / Summer Conference
Discover the Next Frontier in MD Clean Energy at #MACoCon

Hear from Constellation on the present state of nuclear energy at their Solutions Showcase. Constellation, an Exelon company, is a leading competitive energy company providing power, natural gas, renewable energy, and energy management products and services for homes and businesses across the continental United States. We provide integrated energy solutions—from electricity and natural gas procurement and renewable energy supply to energy efficiency and distributed energy solutions—that help customers strategically buy, manage and use energy. The Next…

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August 9, 2022
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