October 4, 2019
Solar siting remains a hot issue across the state. Multiple workgroups are considering potential policy recommendations and legislation for the 2020 Session while counties grapple with zoning and preemption issues. Over the last month, MACo has been busy across the state representing county interests and offering advice on this challenging issue.
Conduit Street Coverage: MACo Talks Solar
Online registration for MACo's Winter Conference is now open!

This year's theme "Building for the Future" will focus on county governance challenges and best practices – from the foundation to the rooftop – that will decide Maryland’s future. Topics to be discussed include school construction, clean energy infrastructure and solar siting, “The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future,” medical cannabis in the workplace, land use and zoning, long term traffic safety planning, and engaging with constituents.


Conduit Street Podcast Corner:
In the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson discuss the latest news and notes from Annapolis, including the emergence of new details from the Kirwan Commission's formula funding workgroup; an update on the multistate appeal of the federal government's $10,000 cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions; a court ruling on the constitutionality of Chicago's "Netflix tax;" and a breakdown of a tax assessment loophole known as the "dark store theory."
Listen to any MACo Podcast Episode: www.mdcounties.org/Podcast
Counties In Action
Frederick partners with Hood College for community Food Security Network
Montgomery Public Libraries host free STEM events throughout October, November
Queen Anne's Sheriff's Office receives $54K Port Security Grant

Corporate Partner Corner

MACo's Gold Corporate Partner, BGE, recently awarded more than $300,000 to local non-profit organizations in support of their environmental stewardship projects.


Now in its seventh year, the annual BGE Green Grants program has benefitted hundreds of innovative community projects with more than $2 million in charitable giving from BGE.

"We are honored to invest in and celebrate the work of so many organizations whose leadership at the grassroots level continues to be an invaluable source of positive change for the land, water, and air in our Maryland communities," said Alexander Núñez, BGE's senior vice president of regulatory and external affairs. "These passionate people are an inspiration to us at BGE, and we are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to their success and further develop an indispensable extension of our environmental stewardship."

Grants range from $500 to $10,000. Organizations that received a Green Grant are located in BGE's  geographic service area  and will use their award for a project that falls into at least one of BGE's environmental focus areas: conservation, education, energy efficiency, pollution prevention, and community engagement. Prospective grant recipients must be 501(c)(3) non-profits with a board of directors and must meet  additional criteria  to be eligible.

BGE's dedication to corporate social responsibility aligns with its parent company, Exelon. Together, Exelon and its subsidiaries committed, as part of a 2012 merger, to maintaining an average of $7 million in annual charitable giving in Maryland over 10 years. The BGE Green Grants Program is a significant part of that  commitment .

The 2019 Green Grants awardees were honored at an event on Sept. 26 at the Irvine Nature Center in Owings Mills, Md.

For more information on the Green Grants program , and a list of recipients, visit BGE's website.

First time receiving this weekly email? Like what you see?
SUBSCRIBE to get more county news and updates from MACo!
MACo values your privacy and email inbox space.
if you wish to opt-out of receiving future versions of this weekly email and to choose which emails you do want to receive from MACo.
NOTE: If you use Constant Contact's SafeUnsubscribe link, it will prevent us from sending you
ANY email from Constant Contact, including conference notifications and legislative updates.
Our unsubscribe form will allow you to choose the kinds of emails you receive from MACo.