Read more about the article Baltimore County Weighs Critical Area Protections for Energy Storage Facilities
County News / Energy / Environment / Planning and Zoning
Baltimore County Weighs Critical Area Protections for Energy Storage Facilities

Baltimore County is considering new landscaping requirements for energy storage facilities near the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area. The proposal would add another local standard as counties continue siting large energy projects. Bill 106-26 would require an energy storage device located adjacent to or within the Critical Area to include a berm with dense landscaping tall enough at planting to screen the building from view. Baltimore County already requires landscaping buffers when data centers or energy…

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October 15, 2026
Read more about the article Baltimore County Streamlines Development Review, Expands Online Records Access
Rain drops rippling in a puddle
Agriculture / County News / Environment / Information Technology / News You Can Use / Risk Management
Baltimore County Streamlines Development Review, Expands Online Records Access

Baltimore County has launched a new online groundwater records portal and standardized stormwater requirements for certain agricultural projects, expanding efforts to simplify regulatory processes and improve access to county services.   The improvements are part of Baltimore County Builds, an ongoing initiative to make development, permitting, and regulatory processes more efficient and easier to navigate for residents, businesses, and property owners. The County's new Ground Water Management Records Portal provides 24/7 access to public records…

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October 14, 2026
Read more about the article Frederick County Secures New Funding To Expand Reforestation Program
County News / Environment / News You Can Use
Frederick County Secures New Funding To Expand Reforestation Program

Frederick County is expanding its Creek ReLeaf reforestation program with more than $1.5 million in new state and federal grants, supporting efforts to convert eligible land into permanently protected forests. Frederick County's Creek ReLeaf program is accepting applications from landowners who want to convert open or underused land into permanent forests. Eligible property owners with at least two contiguous acres may receive up to $9,000 per acre, along with five years of professional forest maintenance…

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October 8, 2026
Read more about the article Conduit Street Podcast: News or Noise? What Matters Now, What Comes Next
County News / Cyber / Elections / Energy / Environment / Health and Human Services / Information Technology / State Budget and Fiscal Issues
Conduit Street Podcast: News or Noise? What Matters Now, What Comes Next

The Conduit Street Podcast monthly roundup of “News or Noise?” is back, as we dig into the headlines from recent weeks, looking for the real takeaways.   Tune in to the Conduit Street Podcast weekly, wherever you get your podcasts! Subscribe to the Conduit Street Blog and stay in the know!

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October 2, 2026
Read more about the article Washington County Adds 167 Acres to More Than 44,000 Acres of Preserved Land
Agriculture / County News / Environment / Planning and Zoning
Washington County Adds 167 Acres to More Than 44,000 Acres of Preserved Land

The latest agricultural easement builds on the County's broader strategy to permanently protect farmland and open space. Washington County has permanently preserved another 167.56 acres of agricultural land, bringing the total to more than 44,000 acres of permanently protected land across the county. The long-established dairy farm on Broadfording Road in Clear Spring was protected through an easement under the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation (MALPF), funded by both Washington County and the state program.…

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October 1, 2026
Read more about the article Frederick Launches Dashboards To Track Climate and Energy Progress
County News / Energy / Environment
Frederick Launches Dashboards To Track Climate and Energy Progress

New public dashboards allow residents to track local projects and progress toward goals outlined in Frederick's Community-Wide Climate and Energy Action Plan. Frederick County and the City of Frederick have launched new online dashboards giving residents a public view of progress on local climate and energy initiatives. The City and County developed their Community-Wide Climate and Energy Action Plan (CEAP) in 2025 with support from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. The plan sets strategies…

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October 1, 2026
Read more about the article Frederick County Teams Fire, Solid Waste Divisions To Tackle Lithium-Ion Battery Risks
Emergency Management / Environment / Public Safety and Corrections / Risk Management
Frederick County Teams Fire, Solid Waste Divisions To Tackle Lithium-Ion Battery Risks

Frederick County is bringing together its fire and rescue and solid waste teams to address growing public safety risks from improperly discarded lithium-ion batteries. The Frederick County Divisions of Fire and Rescue Services (DFRS) and Solid Waste and Recycling (DSWR) are launching a joint initiative to help residents safely handle and dispose of lithium-ion batteries, which can pose fire risks in homes and throughout the waste collection system. Lithium-ion batteries are found in everyday electronics…

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September 24, 2026
Read more about the article Harford Taps Real-Time Weather Data To Strengthen Emergency Response
County News / Emergency Management / Environment / Information Technology / News You Can Use / Risk Management
Harford Taps Real-Time Weather Data To Strengthen Emergency Response

Three locations in Harford County have joined the Maryland Mesonet, giving county emergency officials access to more localized, real-time weather data to help prepare for and respond to severe weather. The network's weather stations, known as mesonet towers, measure conditions including temperature, wind speed and direction, rainfall, and soil moisture. Harford County Emergency Services can use the information to monitor changing conditions and make more informed decisions before and during weather-related emergencies. The statewide network…

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September 24, 2026
Read more about the article Maryland Weighs Impact of Changes to Federal Bay Policy
Environment
Maryland Weighs Impact of Changes to Federal Bay Policy

New federal executive order changes the framework for Chesapeake Bay restoration, prompting officials to assess impacts on funding and coordination. President Donald Trump has rescinded a 2009 Obama-era executive order that established a federal framework for coordinating Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts. The new order directs federal agencies to focus resources on projects the administration considers most likely to produce measurable water-quality improvements and encourages states and local governments to reconsider stormwater management fees. Maryland officials…

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September 22, 2026
Read more about the article Bay Underwater Grasses Expanded Nearly 13%
Environment
Bay Underwater Grasses Expanded Nearly 13%

DNR data shows expansive bay grass growth in 2025.  Underwater grass abundance increased in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries last year. In Maryland’s portion of the Bay, underwater grass coverage expanded from 36,799 acres in 2024 to 41,419 acres in 2025, an increase of nearly 13% in a single year. Bay-wide, SAV acreage reached an estimated 89,385 acres – up 7% from 83,252 acres in 2024. The 2025 acreage represents about 36% of…

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September 22, 2026
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