October 2022

Your monthly SM news & updates
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Maryland Smart Energy Community grants

(proposals due Nov. 15)

More info


Clean Water Montgomery/Chesapeake Bay Trust Grants (proposals due Nov. 17)

More info


Maryland Energy Administration Low-to-Moderate Income Energy Efficiency grants

(proposals due Dec. 1)

More info


Maryland’s Chesapeake and Coastal Grants Gateway (proposals due Dec. 15)

More info


Maryland Energy Administration OPEN Energy grants

(proposals due by March 15, 2022)

More info


MEA Clean Fuels Technical Assistance Program

More info


MEA Public Solar Facility Grant

More info


Montgomery County Green Bank

More info


Montgomery County Energy Efficiency Program

More info


Prince George's County Sustainable Energy grants

More info


Prince George's County Green Energy Loan program

More info


Maryland Urban & Community Forestry Grants

(Maryland DNR)

Deadline: semi-annual

More info


Charles County Forestry Grant Program (Chesapeake Bay Trust)

Deadline: Rolling

More info


Community Engagement & Restoration Mini-grants (Chesapeake Bay Trust)

Deadline: Rolling

More info


Prince Georges County Raincheck Rebate (Chesapeake Bay Trust)

Deadline: Rolling

More info



EVENTS


Prince George's County Green Summit

Date: October 22

Location: Landover

Info


Environmental Justice and You: Energy and Equity

Date: November 5

Location: District Heights

Info


Maryland Association of Floodplain and Stormwater Managers (MAFSM) Annual Conference

Date: November 9

Location: Linthicum Heights

Info


Governor's Grants Office Annual Conference

Date: November 18

Location: Hyattsville

Info





SM COMMUNITIES IN THE NEWS

Frostburg State to build microgrid for emergencies

More



Carroll County seeking new members for Environmental Advisory Council

More info



Wildlife experts give Thurmont advice on bears

More info



Ocean City considers turning down lights to help sea turtles

More info



As plans for tranist-oreinted development unfold around Capital Heights, Prince George's County looks to keep housing affordable

More info



The challenges of building a net-zero home

More info



La Plata launches new WaterSmart program

More info




VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

Join the New Prince George’s County Climate Resident Advisory Group for Climate Action and Environmental Justice

Online applications accepted through Nov. 11


More info



CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2022 SUSTAINABLE MARYLAND CERTIFIED MUNICIPALITIES!

The Environmental Finance Center honored 18 Maryland municipalities at the Maryland Municipal League’s annual Fall Conference on October 11 in Annapolis. To date, 89 municipalities, or 54% of the state's towns and cities, participate in the program, and 26% have achieved the "Sustainable Maryland Certified" designation.


Congratulations to this year's Sustainable Maryland Certified communities!


  • City of Aberdeen (NEW Bronze)
  • City of Annapolis (Silver)
  • Town of Brentwood (Bronze)
  • City of Bowie (Silver)
  • City of College Park (Silver)
  • Town of Colmar Manor (Bronze)
  • Town of Edmonston (Bronze)
  • City of Frederick (Silver, 2022 Sustainability Champion)
  • City of Gaithersburg (Bronze)
  • Town of Galena (NEW Bronze)
  • City of Havre de Grace (Silver)
  • City of Hyattsville (Silver)
  • Town of Middletown (Silver)
  • City of New Carrollton (Bronze)
  • Town of New Market (NEW Bronze)
  • Town of Ocean City (Silver)
  • City of Salisbury (Bronze)
  • Town of Thurmont (Bronze)


Click here for more information about our Sustainable Maryland Certified municipalities.

MARYLAND SMART ENERGY COMMUNITY GRANT APPLICATIONS DUE NOV.15


A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR TOWNS TO FUND SOLAR PROJECTS, ELECTRIC VEHICLES!

Program Description:​ The Maryland Smart Energy Communities (MSEC) program from the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) is designed to support local governments as they voluntarily adopt sustainable, long-term energy policies that lead to reduced energy usage, cost savings, and additional opportunities for renewable energy development.


Program Purpose: ​The MSEC program serves several purposes: it assists municipal and county governments throughout Maryland as they participate in the State’s transition to affordable, clean and reliable energy; it supports those governments with grants for clean energy projects; it increases in-state renewable energy generation (that supports the State’s renewable portfolio standard goal and its greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal); and, it supports the State’s goal for increasing the number of electric vehicles operating in state.


Type of Program: The MSEC program is a competitive grant program.


Program Application Deadline: 5:00pm, Nov. 15, 2022


Anticipated Program Budget: Maryland Energy Administration anticipates that up to $1,575,000 total will be available as follows: up to $1,280,000 for energy efficiency projects, up to $165,000 for Tier 1 renewable energy projects (solar), and up to $130,000 for transportation petroleum-reduction (electric vehicles) projects.


Click here for application packet


For more information about the MSEC program, contact MEA by email at msec.mea@maryland.gov ​or by phone at 443.694.3358 to speak with Briggs Cunningham, the MSEC program manager.

DOES YOUR HOMEOWNERS OR CIVIC ASSOCIATION IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY NEED SUSTAINABILITY ASSISTANCE?

SM is recruiting homeowners and civic associations in Prince George's County to assist them in forming Green Teams and developing customized sustainability action plans for their communities. Check out the communities we have worked with over the last few years here.


Please contact mikeh75@umd.edu if your community would like to know more about this program.

OCTOBER IS WALKTOBER IN MARYLAND

October is Walkoctober in Maryland, a month where the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and other partnering agencies promote and host events and webinars spotlighting Maryland pedestrians' safety, health, and commuting options in current walk programs and Initiatives.


October 20, 10:30am

Walking and Public Health: Research Insights into the Value of Active Living

Register


October 27, 10:30am

Expanding Access to Pedestrian Infrastructure and Improving Public Safety

Register

ARE YOU A SALT SAVVY NEIGHBOR?

Did you know the salt used on sidewalks, driveways and roads to keep us safe during winter weather is harmful to the environment? While the salt seems to disappear with the melting snow, it doesn’t go away. It dissolves in the snow melt and seeps into the ground making its way to wells or travels to the rivers that provide many residents with drinking water.


Over the last 30+ years WSSC Water has been closely monitoring the source water for the Patuxent and Potomac Water Filtration Plants and has noticed the average salt levels (sodium and chloride) are steadily increasing. The levels peak in the winter months and are higher in years with more winter weather events. Once sodium and chloride dissolve into water they are

difficult and expensive to remove, and local water filtration plants weren’t designed to remove salt. Therefore, the concentrations of sodium and chloride continue to increase.


High salt concentrations harm not only aquatic animals and plants but also home landscaping; corrode vehicles, pavement, bridges and water mains; and lead to discolored water.


As you prepare for the winter season, take the Salt Savvy Neighbor quiz to learn ways to reduce the amount of salt you use in your household in the winter. Remember to sweep up any remaining salt after snow and ice melt. And check your HOA's maintenance policy to ensure your contractors are being Salt Savvy.


For more information:


https://mde.maryland.gov/programs/Water/319NonPointSource/Pages/411-on-Salt.aspx


https://www.wsscwater.com/saltwise

QUOTE


“I am so proud of the City of Bowie for prioritizing sustainability efforts to keep us part of the Sustainable Maryland Certified family. We have been participating in this program for a decade and we don’t plan on stopping any time soon."


-Tim Adams, Mayor, City of Bowie


Sustainable Maryland is an initiative of the Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland. It is a free and voluntary program designed to help Maryland communities choose a direction for their sustainability efforts, improve access to resources needed to implement action, and recognize their accomplishments. Our sponsors include the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Maryland Municipal League. Sustainable Maryland is a proud founding member of the national Sustainable States Network.


For more information about how your municipality can register in the Sustainable Maryland program, plus customized Green Team training and access to student resources that are available to provide consultancy services for municipal planning, please contact 301-405-7956 or mikeh75@umd.edu


Mike Hunninghake

Program Manager 

Sustainable Maryland


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